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© 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Quotation A researcher is….. “…. a scholarly person of the highest integrity….” (Best, 1981) © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Nature of Research Chapter 1 © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

What is Educational Research? The ability to answer a question or concern facing many of us in the area of Education, in a systematic way. Teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, and students continually need to seek information in order to perform their jobs. © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

PURPOSES OF RESEARCH To obtain new information To look at relationships between variables To develop new knowledge To verify existing knowledge To develop new theories or expand on existing theories

PURPOSES OF RESEARCH To utilise or apply a new technique or technology To explain situations or problems To understand, predict, or control a result

How Does One Obtain Information? People do the following to obtain information: Consult experts Review books and articles Question/observe colleagues Rely on past experience Use intuition Using scientific research provides another way to obtain information Information is reliable and accurate Allows an understanding of why research is valuable © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ways of Knowing That Things Exist Sensory Experience Sharing with Others Expert Opinion Logical Reasoning (Inductive vs Deductive) The Scientific Method © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Characteristics of the Scientific Method Objectivity Empirical nature Precision Testable Open to scrutiny © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Scientific Method Testing ideas in the public arena by formulating a hypothesis (a tentative, testable assertion about certain behaviors, phenomena, or events) within a rigorous format. Must be reproducible and described in sufficient detail through 5 distinct steps: State the problem Define the purpose of the study (State Objective, RQ, Formulate Hypothesis) Gather the information/data Organize and analyze the information/data obtained Interpret the information & make conclusion © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Types of Research Research is the formal, systematic application of scholarship, disciplined inquiry, and most often the Scientific Method to the study of problems. Research methodologies include: Experimental research Ethnographic research Correlational research Historical research Causal-comparative research Action research Survey research Case study research © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Basic and Applied Research Basic research attempts to clarify underlying processes, usually expressed as a theory. Applied research examines the effectiveness of particularly education practices and applying educational theories to explain the practices. © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Experimental Research Most conclusive of all scientific methods. The researcher establishes treatments and studies the effects, which can lead to clear interpretations. The independent variable: What is being tested The dependent variable: What is the outcome (i.e., score) Single Subject Research is another form of Experimental Research. © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Example of Experimental Research Results © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Correlational Research Examines a relationship between or among two or more variables. Can help make more intelligent predictions. This approach requires no manipulation or intervention, except to administer the instrument. Used when you want to look for and describe relationships that may exist naturally. © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Causal-Comparative Research / Ex-post Facto Research Determines the cause(s) for, or consequence(s) of, differences between groups of people, after the fact that the incident has happened. Interpretations are limited because the investigator can not say conclusively whether a particular factor is a cause or a result of a behavior. Differences may occur but the investigator will not be able to say for sure what caused the difference. © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Survey Research Obtains data to determine specific characteristics of a group. Variety of survey techniques exist, such as: Descriptive: asks same set of questions (e.g., questionnaire, interview) Open-ended questions There are 3 difficulties involved with survey research: Ensuring that questions are clear and not misleading Getting participants to answer questions honestly Getting enough questionnaires back so valid interpretations can be made © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethnographic Research A form of Qualitative Research Emphasizes documenting or portraying the everyday experiences of individuals by observing and interviewing them in a naturalistic setting. Data can include descriptions, audiotapes, video footage, flowcharts showing relationships, etc. © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Historical Research Another form of Qualitative Research. Some aspect of the past is studied. Data are collected and evaluated objectively in order to establish whether causes, effects, or trends of a past event may explain present or future events or occurrences. © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Action Research Differs from previously discussed methods in two ways: Generalizations to other persons, settings, or situations is of minimal importance researchers focus on getting information that will enable them to change conditions in a particular situation (i.e., identifying methods to improve special educational services at a school) Subjects become active members of the research process by collecting data, etc. © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Case Study Research A form of qualitative or mixed methods research In-depth study of a single case (unit of analysis can be one person, a classroom, a school, an institution, etc.) Dual case and multiple case study designs © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Quantitative and Qualitative Research Quantitative research Deals primarily with numbers Assumes facts and feelings can be separated Detached observer Aimed at the general Qualitative research Data involve words Assume that world is made up of multiple realities Immersed researcher Aimed at the particular © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Research Process The schematic components of research are as follows: Statement of the problem: description of the background and rationale for performing the study Hypothesis: prediction of what is expected to occur, or relationship expected between the variables (factors being considered) Definitions: key terms in the problem statement © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Research Process (cont.) Review of Literature: past or current studies that are relevant to the study Sample: subjects of the study Instrumentation: what will be used to measure or collect data Procedures: step-by-step directions, outlining what will occur from beginning to end Data Analysis: Interpreting and explaining findings from the data © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Research Process © 2016 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.