Types of Educational Research & Corresponding Sources of Data Introduction to Educational Research (5th ed.) Craig A. Mertler & C.M. Charles Chapter 2 Types of Educational Research & Corresponding Sources of Data

Variables and Educational Research Research helps us understand variables and relationships among them Variables versus constants Ways of classifying variables: Continuous and discrete variables Independent and dependent variables Confounding variables: Intervening—unobservable traits Organismic—permanent physical traits Extraneous—temporary Controlled—those whose effects have been accounted for

Types of Educational Research Can be organized by (1) practicality, (2) methodology employed, or (3) type of research question Research categorized by PRACTICALITY: Basic research—theory-based Applied research—conducted to solve immediate problems Research categorized by METHODOLOGY: Qualitative vs. quantitative research—address specific type of data generated Experimental vs. nonexperimental research— describing cause-effect relationships or describing current status, respectively Studies classified using one of each pairs of descriptors

Types of Educational Research (cont’d.) Research categorized by RESEARCH QUESTION: Ethnographic—explains social behavior; nonexperimental; qualitative Historical—explores conditions, events of the past; nonexperimental; qualitative/quantitative/both Descriptive—describes current status; nonexperimental; qualitative/quantitative/both Correlational—explores degree of relationship between two or more variables; nonexperimental; quantitative

Types of Educational Research (cont’d.) Action—to improve conditions in a particular setting without generalizing; experimental/nonexperimental; qualitative/quantitative/both Evaluation—conducted to make judgments about programs, etc.; experimental/nonexperimental; qualitative/quantitative/both Causal-comparative—examines influence of pre-existing condition (IV) on an outcome variable (DV); nonexperimental; quantitative Experimental—examines effect of a cause (IV, through manipulation) on an effect (DV); experimental; quantitative

Sources of Research Data Data—information collected on people, settings, objects, etc. Primary sources—firsthand information; accurate Secondary sources—interpretations of primary data; subject to error Meta-analytical data—analysis of several existing studies Specific sources of data: Participants Procedures Settings Objects Records Documents Informants

Procedures Used in Collecting Data Verbal description Notation Recording Analysis Questioning Surveys Interviews Testing Measurement

Qualities Required in Research Data Authenticity and believability—informal, unstructured assessments External criticism—determining whether or not data comes from legitimate sources (authentic); purely judgmental Internal criticism—examination of data accuracy and lack of bias (believable) Validity and reliability—formal, structured assessments Validity - determining whether or not data deal directly with topic Reliability—determining whether or not data are consistent

Participants, Samples, & Populations Data is collected from Participants who are members of Samples in order to learn about Populations

Applying Technology… Dr. William Trochim's Research Methods Knowledge Base electronic textbook (http://trochim.human.cornell.edu/kb)