Fraenkel7 Ppt Ch01

8/7/2019 Fraenkel7 Ppt Ch01

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McGraw-Hill 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

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The Nature ofThe Nature of

Educational ResearchEducational ResearchChapter OneChapter One


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The Nature of ResearchThe Nature of Research

Chapter OneChapter One


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What is Educational Research?What is Educational Research?

The ability to answer a question or concern facingThe ability to answer a question or concern facingmany of us in the area of Education.many of us in the area of Education.

Teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, andTeachers, counselors, administrators, parents, and

students continually need to seek information instudents continually need to seek information inorder to perform their jobs.order to perform their jobs.


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How Does One Obtain Information?How Does One Obtain Information?

People do the following to obtain information:People do the following to obtain information:

Consult expertsConsult experts

Review books and articlesReview books and articles

Question/observe colleaguesQuestion/observe colleagues Rely on past experienceRely on past experience

Use intuitionUse intuition

Using scientific research provides another way toUsing scientific research provides another way to

obtain informationobtain information Information is reliable and accurateInformation is reliable and accurate

Allows an understanding of why research is valuableAllows an understanding of why research is valuable


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Ways of Knowing That Things ExistWays of Knowing That Things Exist

Sensory ExperienceSensory Experience

Agreement/Sharing with OthersAgreement/Sharing with Others

Expert OpinionExpert Opinion

Logical ReasoningLogical Reasoning The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method


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Ways of Knowing (Figure 1.1)Ways of Knowing (Figure 1.1)


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The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

Testing ideas in the public arena by formulating aTesting ideas in the public arena by formulating ahypothesishypothesis (a tentative, testable assertion about(a tentative, testable assertion aboutcertain behaviors, phenomena, or events) within acertain behaviors, phenomena, or events) within a

rigorous format.rigorous format. Must be reproducible and described in sufficientMust be reproducible and described in sufficient

detail through 5 distinct steps:detail through 5 distinct steps:

State the problemState the problem

Define the purpose of the studyDefine the purpose of the study

How to gather the informationHow to gather the information

How to organize and analyze the information obtainedHow to organize and analyze the information obtained

How the information is interpretedHow the information is interpreted


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The Chaos TheoryThe Chaos Theory

A major principle from the 1970s thatA major principle from the 1970s thatemphasizes the rarity of general laws, andemphasizes the rarity of general laws, andstates that if the data base is large enough,states that if the data base is large enough,

repeated patterns can be discovered andrepeated patterns can be discovered andused, even when the conditions are chaotic.used, even when the conditions are chaotic.

Even with highly complex data, predictabilityEven with highly complex data, predictabilityexists if patterns can be found across time.exists if patterns can be found across time.


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Types of ResearchTypes of Research

Research is the formal, systematic application of scholarship,Research is the formal, systematic application of scholarship,disciplined inquiry, and most often the Scientific Method to the studydisciplined inquiry, and most often the Scientific Method to the studyof problems.of problems.

Research methodologies include:Research methodologies include:

Experimental researchExperimental research Ethnographic researchEthnographic research

Correlational researchCorrelational research Historical researchHistorical research

CausalCausal--comparative researchcomparative research Action researchAction research

Survey researchSurvey research


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Basic and Applied ResearchBasic and Applied Research

Basic research attempts to clarifyBasic research attempts to clarifyunderlying processes, usually expressed asunderlying processes, usually expressed as

a theory.a theory.Applied research examines theApplied research examines the

effectiveness of particularly educationeffectiveness of particularly educationpractices.practices.


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Experimental ResearchExperimental Research

Most conclusive of all scientific methods.Most conclusive of all scientific methods.

The researcher establishes treatments andThe researcher establishes treatments andstudies the effects, which can lead to clearstudies the effects, which can lead to clear

interpretations.interpretations. The independent variable: What is being testedThe independent variable: What is being tested

The dependent variable: What is the outcome (i.e.,The dependent variable: What is the outcome (i.e.,score)score)

Single Subject Research is another form ofSingle Subject Research is another form ofExperimental Research.Experimental Research.


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12Example of Experimental Research Results (Figure 1.2)Example of Experimental Research Results (Figure 1.2)


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Correlational ResearchCorrelational Research

Examines a relationship among two or moreExamines a relationship among two or morevariables; looks for avariables; looks for a cause and effect.cause and effect.

Can help make more intelligent predictions.Can help make more intelligent predictions.

This approach requires no manipulation orThis approach requires no manipulation orintervention, except to administer theintervention, except to administer theinstrument.instrument.

Used when you want to look for and describeUsed when you want to look for and describerelationships that may exist naturally.relationships that may exist naturally.


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14Is this Assumption Correct? (Figure 1.3)Is this Assumption Correct? (Figure 1.3)


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CausalCausal--Comparative ResearchComparative Research

Determines the cause for, or consequences of,Determines the cause for, or consequences of,differences between groups of people.differences between groups of people.

Interpretations are limited because theInterpretations are limited because the

investigator can not say conclusively whether ainvestigator can not say conclusively whether aparticular factor is a cause or a result of aparticular factor is a cause or a result of abehavior.behavior.

Differences may occur, but the investigator willDifferences may occur, but the investigator willnot be able to say for sure what caused thenot be able to say for sure what caused thedifference.difference.


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Survey ResearchSurvey Research

Obtains data to determine specificObtains data to determine specificcharacteristics of a group.characteristics of a group.

Variety of survey techniques exist, such as:Variety of survey techniques exist, such as: Descriptive: asks same set of questions (i.e., interview)Descriptive: asks same set of questions (i.e., interview) OpenOpen--ended questionsended questions

There are 3 difficulties involved with surveyThere are 3 difficulties involved with surveyresearch:research:

Ensuring that questions are clear and not misleadingEnsuring that questions are clear and not misleading

Getting participants to answer questions honestlyGetting participants to answer questions honestly

Getting enough questionnaires back so valid interpretationsGetting enough questionnaires back so valid interpretationscan be madecan be made


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Ethnographic ResearchEthnographic Research

A form of Qualitative ResearchA form of Qualitative Research

Emphasizes documenting or portraying theEmphasizes documenting or portraying theeveryday experiences of individuals by observingeveryday experiences of individuals by observing

and interviewing them in a naturalistic setting.and interviewing them in a naturalistic setting. Data can include descriptions, audiotapes, videoData can include descriptions, audiotapes, video

footage, flowcharts showing relationships, etc.footage, flowcharts showing relationships, etc.


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Historical ResearchHistorical Research

Another form of Qualitative Research.Another form of Qualitative Research.

Some aspect of the past is studied.Some aspect of the past is studied.

Data is collected and evaluated objectively inData is collected and evaluated objectively inorder to establish whether causes, effects, ororder to establish whether causes, effects, ortrends of a past event may explain present ortrends of a past event may explain present orfuture events or occurrences.future events or occurrences.

The major problem with this research is theThe major problem with this research is thequestion of using an event or time sequence asquestion of using an event or time sequence asa true outcome.a true outcome.


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Action ResearchAction Research

Differs from previously discussedDiffers from previously discussedmethods in two ways:methods in two ways:

1)1)

Generalizations to other persons, settings,Generalizations to other persons, settings,or situations is of minimal importanceor situations is of minimal importance

researchers focus on getting information that willresearchers focus on getting information that willenable them to change conditions in a particularenable them to change conditions in a particularsituation (i.e., identifying methods to improvesituation (i.e., identifying methods to improve

special ed services at a school)special ed services at a school)

2)2) Subjects become active members of theSubjects become active members of theresearch process by collecting data, etc.research process by collecting data, etc.


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General Research TypesGeneral Research Types

Descriptive studiesDescriptive studies

Associational researchAssociational research

Intervention studiesIntervention studies


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Quantitative and Qualitative ResearchQuantitative and Qualitative Research

Quantitative researchQuantitative research Deals primarily with numbersDeals primarily with numbers

Assumes facts and feelings can be separatedAssumes facts and feelings can be separated

Detached observerDetached observer Aimed at the generalAimed at the general

Qualitative researchQualitative research Data involve wordsData involve words

Assume that world is made up of multiple realitiesAssume that world is made up of multiple realities Immersed researcherImmersed researcher

Aimed at the particularAimed at the particular


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Critical Analysis of ResearchCritical Analysis of Research

Critics raise philosophical, linguistic,Critics raise philosophical, linguistic,ethical, and political concerns such as:ethical, and political concerns such as:

Question of RealityQuestion of Reality

Question of CommunicationQuestion of Communication

Question of ValuesQuestion of Values

Question of Unstated AssumptionsQuestion of Unstated Assumptions

Anything taken for granted before being testedAnything taken for granted before being tested

Question ofSocietal ConsequencesQuestion ofSocietal Consequences


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The Research ProcessThe Research Process

The schematic components of researchThe schematic components of researchare as follows:are as follows: Statement of the problem: description of theStatement of the problem: description of the

background and rationale for performing thebackground and rationale for performing thestudystudy

Hypothesis: prediction of what is expected toHypothesis: prediction of what is expected tooccur, or relationship expected between theoccur, or relationship expected between the

variables (factors being considered)variables (factors being considered) Definitions: key terms in the problemDefinitions: key terms in the problem

statementstatement


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The Research ProcessThe Research Process

(cont.)(cont.)

Review of Literature: past or current studiesReview of Literature: past or current studiesthat are relevant to the studythat are relevant to the study

Sample: subjects of the studySample: subjects of the study Instrumentation: what will be used toInstrumentation: what will be used to

measure or collect datameasure or collect data

Procedures: stepProcedures: step--byby--step directions, outliningstep directions, outliningwhat will occur from beginning to endwhat will occur from beginning to end

Data Analysis: statistical procedure to analyzeData Analysis: statistical procedure to analyzeand explain the dataand explain the data


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The Research Process (Figure 1.4)The Research Process (Figure 1.4)

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