1. Chapter 3 Preparing and Evaluating a Research Plan Gay and Airasian
Educational Research
Chapter 3
Preparing and Evaluating a Research Plan
Gay and Airasian

2. Topics Discussed in this Chapter
Characteristics of a research plan
General considerations in developing a research plan
Components of a research plan
Evaluation of a research plan

3. Characteristics of a Research Plan
A research plan is a detailed description of the procedures that will be used to investigate your topic or problem

4. Characteristics of a Research Plan
General components of a research plan
Justification for the hypotheses or exploration of the research problem
Detailed presentation of the steps to be followed in conducting the study

5. Characteristics of a Research Plan
A quantitative plan will…
state the hypothesis,
determine the participants,
select measuring instruments,
choose a specific research design,
specify procedures to conduct the study, and
stipulate the statistical techniques.

6. Characteristics of a Research Plan
A qualitative plan will…
identify the general research issue,
explain how the researcher intends to gain entry to the research site,
identify the participants,
estimate the time that will be spent in the field,
determine the best ways to collect data, and
identify appropriate ways to analyze the data.

7. Characteristics of a Research Plan
Purposes of a written research plan
Forces the researcher to think through every aspect of the study
Facilitates the evaluation of the proposed study
Provides detailed procedures to guide the conduct of the study

8. General Considerations
Three general issues to consider when developing a research plan
Ethics of research
Legal restrictions
Co-operation from participants

9. General Considerations
Ethics of research
Six ethical principles
Competence
Integrity
Professional and scientific responsibility
Respect for people’s rights and dignity
Concern for other’s welfare
Social responsibility

10. General Considerations
Ethics of research
Additional ethical issues in qualitative research
Unique emerging nature of qualitative designs increase the likelihood of unanticipated and unreviewed ethical issues
Unique personal involvement and engagement of the researcher with the research context and participants raise issues related to the objective collection and interpretation of data as well as the possibility of observing potentially illegal or unprofessional behavior

11. General Considerations
Legal restrictions
National Research Act of 1974
Protects participants
Protection from harm
Informed consent
Stipulates that proposed research activities involving human subjects must be reviewed and approved by an authorized group
Internal Review Boards and Committees on Human Subjects

12. General Considerations
Legal restrictions
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
Protects student’s privacy
Access to student’s records
Need for written permission to use data identifying students
Known as the Buckley Amendment

13. General Considerations
Deception
Situations in which complete information related to the study is not given to participants
Focus is on the likelihood that such information would influence or change participant’s responses
Some research studies can be negatively affected by informing participants of certain details
Use of deceptive practices must be undertaken very, very carefully

14. General Considerations
Cooperation of participants
Gaining entry to the research site
Approval needed at several levels
Site
Administrators
Teachers
Students
Approval is not cooperation

15. General Considerations
Cooperation from participants
Strategies to enhance cooperation
Clearly explain the benefits of the study
Afford stakeholders the opportunity to review drafts of the report for their approval
Brief stakeholders on the findings
Provide professional development sessions for stakeholders

16. Components of a Research Plan
Five major components
Introduction
Method
Data analysis
Time Schedule
Budget

17. Components of a Research Plan
Introduction
Three sections
Statement of the topic
Review of the literature
Statement of hypotheses
The topic is identified with a discussion of the background and rationale
Quantitative topics are stated at the beginning of the research plan while qualitative statements emerge as the research is conducted

18. Components of a Research Plan
Introduction (continued)
Review of the literature
Provides an overview of the topic and positions the study in the context of what is known, and more importantly what is not known, about the topic
Quantitative reviews are done in the beginning of the study while qualitative reviews are ongoing as issues are identified

19. Components of a Research Plan
Introduction (continued)
Statement of hypotheses
A formal statement specifying the hypothesis, support for specific expected relationships between variables, and operational definitions of all variables
Quantitative statements reflect deductively reasoned hypotheses while qualitative studies do not usually discuss hypotheses

20. Components of a Research Plan
Method
Five sections
Participants
Instruments
Materials/apparatus
Design
Procedures
Identifies the number, source, characteristics of the population and sample, and sampling procedures
Quantitative studies identify large samples and probability sampling techniques while qualitative studies identify small samples and non-probability sampling techniques

21. Components of a Research Plan
Method (continued)
Instruments
Descriptions of the specific measures of each variable, the technical characteristics of the instruments, and the administration and scoring of the instruments
Quantitative studies describe non-interactive instruments (e.g., tests, questionnaires, surveys, etc,) while qualitative studies describe interactive techniques (e.g., interviews and unstructured observations)

22. Components of a Research Plan
Method (continued)
Materials/apparatus
Descriptions of specific material such as manuals, computer programs, etc.)
Design
Descriptions of the basic structure of the study and the specific research design chosen
Quantitative studies describe structured, static designs while qualitative studies describe flexible, emergent designs

23. Components of a Research Plan
Method (continued)
Procedures
Detailed descriptions of all the major steps that will be followed in conducting the study, assumptions of the study, and limitations of the study
Quantitative and qualitative studies differ in terms of the emphasis placed on different steps, but they do not differ in terms of the steps discussed

24. Components of a Research Plan
Data analysis
Descriptions of the techniques used to analyze the data
Quantitative studies focus on the selection and application of appropriate statistical procedures to analyze numerical data while qualitative studies use appropriate procedures to interpret narrative data

25. Components of a Research Plan
Time schedule
Description of the major activities and corresponding anticipated completion dates
Budget
Descriptions of anticipated costs that are likely to be incurred

26. Evaluation of a Research Plan
Informal assessment
Critiques by the researcher, advisors, peers and colleagues, etc.
Critiques by experienced researchers
Formal assessment
Field tests
Pilot studies
Modifications based on the results of both informal and formal evaluations