1. Educational Research Methods Aims: You should be able to - devise a suitable research question; - locate research questions and methods in terms of research design; - search for relevant background information; - start to identify data collection methods

2. Asking research questions Identify three research questions you would be interested in answering

3. Types of questions What.. Which … Where… ? Why …. ? How ….? Descriptive Exploratory Interpretive

4. Research paradigms A B Traditional, Positivist, Scientific Experimental Prescriptive Reductionist Autocratic, privileged Detached, ‘objective’ Non-traditional Artistic Naturalistic Descriptive Holistic Democratic, participative, ‘self’

5. Type A research Assumptions: natural science - predictable and measurable relationships Aims: Measure differences, controlling variables Theory comes before doing the research Strengths: Definable outcomes which can lead to practical action. Generalisable findings Weaknesses: Validity in relation to complex human behaviour

6. Type B research Assumptions: Social science - people not objects Aims: understand meanings - describe concepts; suggest relationships No regularities - theory emerges from evidence Strengths: Rich understanding Hypotheses and theories ground in real world Weaknesses: Not usually generalisable Intensive and time consuming

7. ParadigmMethod TechniqueType of Data B A Case study Survey Experiment Observation Interview Questionnaire Tests Qualitative/ quantitative Qualitative/ quantitative Mainly quantitative Mainly quantitative

8. Action Research Plan Re-plan Act Evaluate Reflect

9. Practitioner research Advantages Experience of context Insight into situation Easy access Personal relationships Insight might help research design Familiarity Possible problems Preconceptions Not open-minded Constraints as insider Personal relationships Status as ‘insider’ researcher Familiarity

10. Literature search What is already known about: the topic; the principles behind the research question; the specific question.

11. Data collection methods Observation Interview; focus group Questionnaire Tests

12. Bibliography Bell, J (1987) Doing your research project: A guide for first-time researchers in education and social science. Milton Keynes: Open University Press Cohen, L and Manion, L. (1994) Research Methods in Education. 4 th Edn London: Routledge Wellington, J.J. (1996) Methods and Issues in Educational Research. Division of Education: University of Sheffield