1. Education 793 Class Notes Welcome! 3 September 2003

2. 2 Today’s agenda Introduction to the course and each other Overview of the course –Structure –Intended outcomes –Major Activities/Assignments Things to do –Background information form –Assessment of preparation level –Chapter 1: Research Design in Behavioral Sciences –Smile for the camera!

3. 3 Structure The course is organized into three sections: –Research Design and basic educational research concepts –Descriptive statistics -- Methods designed to describe or summarize quantitative data –Inferential statistics -- techniques designed to help us draw inferences about populations based on data from samples Through the course and laboratory exercises students will develop a working knowledge of SPSS statistical software.

4. 4 Intended Outcomes Education 793 is a first course in undertaking quantitative research in the field of education. By the end of this course you should have a fair idea of how to begin to make sense out of a body of quantitative data Our focus will be on developing: –A conceptual understanding of quantitative research methods –Expertise in using various tools useful in conducting educational research, and –Skill in communicating research results to others (in written form and through presentations)

5. 5 Course Textbooks and Resources Statistical Reasoning for the Behavioral Sciences: Richard J. Shavelson Writing for Social Scientists: Howard Becker Coursepack and Class Website

6. 6 Grading for the Course 40% Weekly Lab Assignments 30% Final Research Report 20% Mid-Term Examination 10% Class Participation

7. 7 Chapter 1: Research Design Scientific Method –Problem formulated –Hypotheses identified –Data collected –Inference drawn about population –Alternatives identified using theory

8. 8 Purpose of Empirical Research Provide answers to questions about behavior using the scientific method Research and knowledge that the questions generate evolve as new theories, challenge earlier theories and build on, sometimes change existing theories Examples –Describe, predict, assess causal links

9. 9 Process of Empirical Research Identify a problem Review theories, existing research Formulate hypotheses Design a study Collect the data Analyze the data Interpret the data, make conclusions

10. 10 Role of Statistics Sampling strategy for the study –Random, stratified, cluster, systematic Descriptive measures –Describe the group Inference from sample to population –Sample, statistics –Population, parameters

11. 11 Parameters and Statistics

12. 12 Classification of Variables Independent Variable—A variable that is manipulated or selected by the researcher to observe its relation to a subject’s response Dependent Variable– A subject’s response to an independent variable or an observed outcome Intervening Variable—A variable that is not directly observed but is inferred from the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

13. 13 Types of Variables Nominal—groups, names or categories Ordinal—nominal variables that can be ordered in a hierarchical fashion. Provides information about the rank of a person or object Interval—When equal distances can be identified between ordinal variables, but zero point is arbitrary Ratio—An interval scale with a meaningful zero or starting point

14. 14 Validity Validity– The extent to which: –the interpretation of the results of a study follow directly from the study itself –the results may be generalized to other situations

15. 15 Types of Validity Internal validity—the extent to which the outcomes of a study result from the variables that were manipulated, measured or selected in the study External validity—the extent to which the findings of a particular study are generalizable to the real world Trade off between internal validity and external validity. Control over everything for internal validity leaves little or no external validity

16. 16 Types of Designs Experimental –Random assignment, control groups Quasi-experimental –Study human behavior in natural settings –No random assignment Observational Studies (ex post facto designs) –Used to describe relationships between variables

17. 17 Things to do Before you leave –Background information form –Smile for the camera! Before next week –Work through the preparation assessment worksheet –Read the assigned chapters

18. 18 Next week Research Design –Skim Chapter 1 Frequency Distributions –Chapter 3: p. 43-69 Central Tendency and Variability –Chapter 4: p. 81-114