EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH I

Welcome First Bimester

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GENERAL OBJECTIVES

Define basic concepts of Educational Research.

Identify the multiple research designs and their characteristics.

CHAPTER 1
SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

What is Science?
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary knowledge attained through study or practice," Wikipedia: Science refers to any systematic knowledge or practice. In its more usual restricted sense, science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge based on scientific method, as well as to the organized body of knowledge gained through such research. 5

What is research?
Creswell (2008) Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue. Anderson (1998) Research in education is a disciplined attempt to address questions or to solve problems through the collection and analysis of primary data

Why is Educational Research important?

Education needs improvement. Educators face a lot of problems. Research: Problem-solving activity Develops results that help to answer questions. Answers help to do things better. Educators become more efficient.

How to Research
Identify a research problem
issue in education that needs to be solved) (a problem or

Review the literature

information related to the topic)

(locate valuable (the

Specify a purpose for research

objective or intent of your research)

Collect data
sample)
information gathered )

(means to gather information from the

(analyze the
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Analyze and interpret the data Write the Report

Sources of Knowledge
Authority (experience of monarchs, despots and clerics) Tradition (The passing down of customs of a culture
from generation to generation.)

Expert opinion

(Broad awareness and familiarity with the subject matter)

Personal experience (Peoples experience) Reason common sense (Involves reasoning by

observing specific cases)

Documentation

(Usually government documents or knowledge that society keeps stored)

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Other sources
Libraries
library) (specialized library and become with

Books (provide summaries and general backgrounds) Periodicals (journals)(major inf. of prior
researches)

Theses and dissertations

research in the same field) vogue.

(new areas of

Conferences

(are indicator of what research is in (technological tool a vast

On-line data bases

amount of research inf.)

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Scientific knowledge

Reasoning Deductive Inductive

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Ways of reasoning
Deductive reasoning A thinking process in which one proceeds from general to specific statements using prescribed rules of logic. Deductive reasoning arrives at a specific conclusion based on generalizations. The major premise, The minor premise, The conclusion
PREMISE a proposition that forms the basis of an argument.

Example
All men are mortal major premise

Socrates is a man (Therefore,) Socrates is mortal

minor premise

conclusion

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Inductive reasoning Inductive reasoning takes events and makes generalizations. In inductive reasoning a conclusion is reached by observing examples and generalizing from the examples to the whole.
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Examples
1. I always hang pictures on nails. Therefore: All pictures hang from nails. 2. Many speeding tickets are given to teenagers. Therefore: All teenagers drive fast.

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Summary
In a good deductive argument, the premises entail the conclusion. That is, if the premises are all true, then the conclusion has to be true. In a good inductive argument, the premises make the conclusion probable. That is, despite that the premises are true, the conclusion is probably true.
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Forms of Research
Basic Research Basic research is concerned with searching for knowledge, that is fundamental and contributes to theory formation. Gay and Airasian (2003) Basic research involves the process of collecting and analyzing information to develop or enhance a theory.
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 Applied Research This research is concerned with knowledge which has immediate applications. Gay and Airasian (2003) Is conducted to evaluate its usefulness in solving practical educational problems.

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Forms of Research

Basic Research

Applied Research

Data

Data

Theory Development

Solve Educational Problems

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Forms and Types of Research

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How can the researcher influence the research?

By having expectations for certain outcomes. By making influenced interpretations of observations.

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The influence of the Researcher

Selection of the topic Design of the experiment Interaction between the researcher and experimental conditions Interpretation of the data
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CHAPTER 2
Types of research and the Scientific Method

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Scientific Method
Wikipedia. Scientific method refers to bodies of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. A scientific method consists of the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.24

Historical Method Organizational Evaluation Method

Descriptive Method Experimental/ quasiexperimental Method Correlational Method

Policy Research Method

Case Study Method Program Evaluation Method

Scientific Method
(General Method)

Qualitative Method
Anderson (2000) 25

In summary What is a research Method?

Is an approach to addressing a research question or problem Research methods all need data, though its precise nature varies from one approach to another as does the method by which it is processed
Anderson (2000)
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Steps of the Scientific Method Comparison between Mason and Bramble (1997) Wikipedia

1.Identification of a problem area 2.Clarification and definition of the problem 1.Define the question or problem 2.Gather information and resources (observe)

3.Proposal of a plausible 3. Form hypothesis solution and observation according to an approach designed to test the solution.

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Steps of the Scientific Method Comparison between Mason and Bramble (1997) Wikipedia 4.Decisions of the proposed solution based upon the data gathered and observations made.
5.Comparison of the proposed solution with previous findings and other observation to determine how the solution may be integrated with what is already known.

4.Perform experiment and collect data 5.Analyze data 6.Interpret data and draw conclusions that serve as a starting point for new hypotheses 7.Publish results 8.Retest (frequently 28 done by other scientists)

Types of Research
Types of Research

Basic Forms of Research Applied Problem

Historical Descriptive Experimental

Classic categorization by Tamayo y Tamayo (2005)

Research Type Descriptive

Methods/ Approaches Case study Content analysis Ethnography Historiography Observation

Experimental

Comparative Correlational Ex-post facto Quasi-experimental Observation

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Tips to conduct a research

Be aware of the different types of research. With this knowledge, select the correct method to be used in the research. The types of research can be combined

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General Steps for research

The planning The research process process Clarify or define Think about the research the problem/need Specify the project time frame Identify the topic Define the research questions Gather Conduct a literature search information Write a literature review
Anderson (2000)32

The planning process Identify strategies, tools, and methods and then consider alternatives and SWOT (strengths , weaknesses, opportunities, threats)

The research process Select a research design Define a study population Develop data collection instruments Discuss the limitations Forecast the ethical issues Project how the data will be analyzed Create the budget
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The planning process Implement Evaluate

The research process

Collect data Analyze and interpret data Write and disseminate research findings Identify lessons learned

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Characteristics of educational research

1. Educational Research attempts to solve a problem. 2. Research involves gathering new data from primary or first-hand sources or using existing data for a new purpose. 3. Research is based upon observable experience or empirical evidence. 4. Research demands accurate observation and description. 5. Research generally employs carefully designed 35 procedures and rigorous analysis.

6. Research emphasizes the development of generalizations, principles or theories that will help in understanding, prediction and/or control. 7. Research requires expertise-familiarity with the field; competence in methodology; technical skill in collecting and analyzing the data. 8. Research attempts to find an objective, unbiased solution to the problem and takes great pains to validate the procedures employed.
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9. Research is a deliberate and unhurried activity which is directional but often refines the problem or questions as the research progresses. 10.Research is carefully recorded and reported to other person interested in the problem.

Anderson (2000)
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Historical Research
Slavin (2007)To find connections between events in the past. In education, it can help to explain why particular educational practices did or did not work in the past.
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The steps of the Historical Research

First stage Second stage Third stage Fourth stage Fifth stage The problem is formulated. Availability of the necessary data. Collection of historical data. Determine the authenticity and accuracy of the material. Knowledge gained is integrated and synthesized into explanations. The data and interpretation of previous steps are integrated to form a more general 39 concept.

Descriptive Research
Mason and Bramble (1997) Represents a broad

spectrum of research activities having the common purpose of describing situations, events, or phenomena In other words, descriptive research involves a variety of activities which describe present situations in real contexts and the description might be quantitative or qualitative.
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Quantitative: description of data is based on counts or measurements which are generally reduced to statistical indicators such as frequencies, means and ranges. (quantification of the phenomena) Qualitative: data can be presented in prose, or through audio tape, photographs of films. (observations, impressions and interpretations of researchers.
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Ex Post Facto Research

After the fact referred to as causal comparative. Investigations are conducted to search for causes of things that have already happened by comparing previously established conditions. It is useful when the variables being investigated cannot be controlled by the experimenter. (could be a problem)
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Experimental/Quasi-Experimental
Involves systematic manipulation of experimental conditions in which extraneous influences are controlled or eliminated. Experimental studies involve comparing conditions under various setting of the treatment
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Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Subjects might be divided into two groups (random assignment of subjects) One group undergo a treatment condition (experimental or treatment group)

The other group receives a neutral treatment (control group)

Group comparison after the treatment is applied The only difference between the two groups should be the treatment.
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Assignment First Bimestre

OBJECTIVE PART Activity 1 True and false statements. ESSAY PART Activity 2 Write two examples of deductive and two examples inductive arguments and write the concept of each one.
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Activity 3 Find an article in a professional journal that reports a research study, then identify the steps of the scientific method and write the correct information under the name of the corresponding step.
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Activity 4 Describe in your own words each type of research. And give the title of a research done according to each type and the source from which you retrieved each one. Historical Research Descriptive Research Experimental Research Quasi-Experimental Research
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Final Suggestions
Work with a dictionary all the time. When you retrieve information from the internet copy the name of the source, so you can cite and avoid plagiarism. Search any source in English or Spanish that can contribute to understand the topics of this subject.
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QUESTIONS ???

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