"What Does that Even Mean?" Improving Research Accessibility through the Creation and Application of a Tailored Dictionary

Yorkshire

The scientist-practitioner model underscores the importance of effectively translating research into practice. However, family science research can be difficult for professionals and lay people alike to understand due to the use of scientific jargon. To narrow the gap between research publication and practice, the Military REACH team produced an eight-step process to create a dictionary of terms relevant to research and the military. This dictionary aids Military REACH’s target audiences (i.e., military families, helping professionals, and military leadership and policy makers) in comprehending complex terminology and, therefore, facilitates the understanding and implementation of research. To date, over 220 terms have been included in this online dictionary. Application of the eight-step method will also be discussed to facilitate the adaptation for other online dictionaries.