Transcript Introduction to the Concept

Educational Research:
Introduction to the Concept
EDU 8603
Educational Research
Richard M. Jacobs, OSA, Ph.D.
Research...

The systematic application of a
family of methods employed to
provide trustworthy information
about problems
…an ongoing process based on many
accumulated understandings and
explanations that, when taken together
lead to generalizations about problems
and the development of theories
The basic steps of research...
Scientific and disciplined inquiry is an
orderly process, involving:
 recognition and identification of a
topic to be studied (“problem”)
 description and execution of
procedures to collection information
(“method”)
 objective data analysis
 statement of findings (“results”)
Types of research...
Basic…
…the process of collecting and
analyzing information to develop
or enhance a theory
Applied…
…conducted for the purpose of applying
or testing theory and evaluating its
usefulness for solving problems
Evaluation…
…concerned with making decisions about
the quality, effectiveness, or value of
programs, products, or practices
The research continuum…
laboratory
field
BASIC
APPLIED
theory
development
current
problems
why it works
what works
produces concepts
provides data
pure
research
evaluation
research
Approaches to reasoning...
Inductive…
…developing generalizations from
a limited number of specific
observations or experiences
…highly dependent on the number
and representativeness of the
specific observations used to
make the generalization
Deductive…
…developing specific predictions from
general principles, observations, or
experiences
…dependent on the truth of the
generalizations used as a basis for its
logic
Relating reasoning with research
methods…
pure
research
laboratory work
field work
QUANTITATIVE
QUALITATIVE
researcher
objectivity
researcher
intersubjectivity
logical positivism:
factual
post-structuralism:
depth
“snapshot”
“portrait”
evaluation
research
Research methods...
Quantitative…
…collects and analyzes numerical data
obtained from formal instruments
Qualitative…
…collects and analyzes nonnumeric
data over an extended period of time
to situate meaning within a particular
perspective or context
Quantitative methods...
descriptive research (“survey research”)
 correlational research
 causal-comparative research
(“ex post facto research”)
 experimental research


descriptive research (“survey research”)
…collects data in order to answer
questions about the current status of
the subject or topic of study
…uses formal instruments to study
preferences, attitudes, practices,
concerns, or interests of a sample

correlational research
…determines whether and to what
degree a relationship exists between
two or more variables
…the presence of a correlation does
not indicate a cause-effect
relationship primarily due to multiple
confounding factors
Correlation coefficient (r)…
-1.00
strong negative
0.00
+1.00
strong positive
no
relationship
A positive correlationship…
y
x
A negative correlationship…
y
x
No correlationship…
y
x
No correlationship…
y
x

causal-comparative research (“ex post
facto research”)
…at least two different groups are
compared on a dependent variable
or measure of performance (called
the “effect”) because the
independent variable (called the
“cause”) has already occurred or
cannot be manipulated
Variable...
…a concept (e.g., intelligence,
height, aptitude) that can
assume any one of a range of
values
Research variables...
Independent…
…an activity or characteristic
believed to make a difference
with respect to some behavior
…(syn.) experimental variable,
cause, treatment
Dependent…
…the change or difference occurring a
a result of the independent variable
…(syn.) criterion variable, effect,
outcome, posttest

experimental research
…the researcher selects participants
and divides them into two or more
groups having similar characteristics
and, then, applies the treatment(s) to
the groups and measures the effects
upon the groups
Quantitative method decision tree…
Is there a cause-effect relationship?
Is the independent
variable manipulated?
Experimental
CausalComparative
Is there a relationship or
prediction being made?
Correlational
Descriptive
Qualitative methods...
historical research  grounded theory
 ethnography
 phenomenology
 ethology
 case study
 ethnomethodology  action research
 symbolic interaction


historical research
…studies available data to study,
understand, and interpret past events

ethnography
…studies cultural patterns and
perspectives of participants in their
natural settings

ethology
…compares the origins, characteristics,
and culture of different societies

ethnomethodology
…studies how people make sense of
their everyday activities in order to
behave in socially accepted ways

symbolic interaction
…investigates how people construct
meaning and shared perspectives by
interacting with others

grounded theory
…investigates how inductively-derived
theory about phenomenon is grounded
in the data of a particular setting

phenomenology
…considers how the experience of
particular participants exhibits a
unique perspective

case study
…examines the characteristics of a
particular entity, phenomenon, or
person

action research
…practitioner-based systematic
reflection upon practice aimed at
improving professional practice
Generally speaking, qualitative
researchers….
…spend a great deal of time in the
settings being studied (fieldwork)
…rely on themselves as the main
instrument of data collection
(subjectivity; intersubjectivity)
…analyze data using interpretative lenses
…employ expressive language and voice
in descriptions and explanations
…seek depth of perspective (i.e., “waves
of data” requiring ongoing
interpretation)
…judged in terms of believability,
trustworthiness, coherence, and logic
of interpretations
Types of criticism...
Internal…
…evaluates the worth or
trustworthiness of the content of
the data
External…
…assesses the authenticity of the
data source

data sources…
…primary
…secondary
…tertiary
Limitations of the scientific and
disciplined inquiry approach…



not able to investigate philosophical
and/or moral/ethical problems (“shoulds”
and “oughts”) only factual matters
the presence of intervening and
confounding variables make assertions
probable rather than proven
imperfections in sampling, instruments,
procedures
Mini-Quiz…

Identify the research methodology…
…a study of the research on the effect
of anxiety on achievement from 1900
to 1990
historical
…a study of the effect of socioeconomic
status on self-concept
causal-comparative
…a study to compare the achievement
of two groups: one group taught in
an anxiety-producing environment
and one group taught in an anxiety
reducing environment
experimental
…a study of the personal and
educational interactions in a group
of teachers developing social
studies standards for a high school
curriculum
qualitative
…a study to compare the achievement
of a group of students classified as
high-anxious and a group classified
as low-anxious
causal-comparative
…a study of teachers’ attitudes toward
unions
historical
…a study of the effect of large-group
versus small-group instruction upon
achievement
experimental
…a study of SAT preparation by three
students, with particular emphasis
on their anxiety
qualitative
…a study to determine the relationship
between scores on an anxiety scale
and scores on an achievement
measure
correlational
…a survey of teachers to determine
how and to what degree they believe
anxiety affects achievement
descriptive
This module has focused on...
introductory research concepts
…which enable educators to access,
understand, and evaluate research
findings and the claims purported
by researchers
The next module will focus on...
research problems
...as the foundation for a literature
review and the formulation of a
hypothesis