Educational research is used to create the theories upon we design educational policies and practices are designed. Theories help to organize relevant empirical facts (empirical means they can be observed or measured), in order to create a context for understanding phenomena. Put another way, a theory is a way to explain a set of facts. If reality were a dot-to-dot picture, a theory would be a way to connect a set of data dots

Theories are built, not on a single research study, but on a collection of data gleaned from a variety of different research studies. Good theories are well substantiated, connecting a wide variety of data dots, all of which have been confirmed through experiment and observation.

Theoretical models of reading are used to understand the reading process as well as to design and evaluate instructional practices. As such, the theoretical model of reading one adheres to has tremendous impact on the type of reading instruction and interventions that are used. Described in this podcast are two common theoretical models of reading, each providing vastly different views of the reading process and struggling readers.