Conducting Educational Research : Guide to Completing a Major Project

by Daniel J. Boudah

• ISBN13: 9781412979023
• ISBN10: 1412979021
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-09-13
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc

Summary

Designed to be used during the research process, Conducting Educational Research walks readers through each step of a research project or thesis, including developing a research question, performing a literature search, developing a research plan, collecting and analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and sharing the conclusions with others. Throughout the book, Daniel J. Boudah covers all types of research (including experimental, descriptive, qualitative, group designs, and single subject designs) and helps readers link research questions to designs, designs to data sources, and data sources to appropriate analyses.Key Features:- Technology in Research boxes help readers take advantage of related technologies and online resources- In Their Own Words sections provide tips and suggestions from students who have completed projects- End-of-chapter Your Research Project in Action sections prompt students to apply what they have learned to their current research projects- In-text learning aids, including chapter-opening outlines and objectives and chapter-ending summaries and discussion questions, help readers master the material.

Table of Contents

Preface

Research in Education

Conducting Research in Education: Art or Science?

The Current Research to Practice Gap

Examples of Research at the Policy and Classroom Levels

Research Types, Designs, and Methodologies

Putting it All Together

Selected Organizations that Support Research in Education

Summary

Activities

Answers to Activities

Your Research Project in Action

Further Readings

References

Identifying a Research Problem, Question, and Searching Relevant Literature

Identifying a Research Problem

Identifying a Possible Research Question

The Purposes of a Literature Review

The Process of Conducting a Literature Search

Putting it All Together

Summary

Discussion Questions

Your Research Project in Action

Further Readings

References

Understanding Relevant Literature and Writing a Literature Review

Analyzing literature search outcomes

Writing a Literature Review

Revisiting and Revising Research Questions

Putting it All Together

Summary

Discussion Questions

Your Research Project in Action

Further Readings

References

Issues in Validity and Trustworthiness

What are Validity, Reliability, and Trustworthiness?

Types of Validity and Their Threats

Reliability

Trustworthiness

Ways to Address Challenges to Trustworthiness

Putting it All Together

Summary

Discussion Questions

Your Research Project in Action

Further Readings

References

Designing and conducting experimental research

Experimental and Quasi-Experimental

Questions Point to Designs

Group Designs

Single Subject Designs

Measurement of Dependent Variables

Types of Data

Putting It All Together

Implementing Interventions

Summary

Discussion Questions

Your Research Project in Action

Further Readings

References

Designing and Conducting Qualitative Research

What is Qualitative Research?

Qualitative Design: The Planning Process

Putting It All Together

Summary

Discussion Questions

Your Research Project in Action

Further Readings

References

Designing and Conducting Descriptive Research

Types of Quantitative Descriptive Research

Survey Methods

Conducting Descriptive Research

Accessing Extant Databases

Putting It All Together

Summary

Discussion Questions

Your Research Project in Action

Further Readings

References

Creating a Research Proposal

The Purpose of a Research Proposal

Identifying a Problem

Investigating and Identifying Relevant Literature

Identifying a Research Question

Identifying a Research Design and Method

Identifying Research Procedures and Plans

Identifying Potential Analyses

Protection of Human Participants

Pilot Testing

Summary

Discussion Questions

Your Research Project in Action

Further Readings

References

Analyzing and Interpreting Experimental Research

From Designing and Conducting, to Analyzing and Interpreting Experimental Research

Experimental Data

Selecting a Statistic Consistent with Your Design and Appropriate to Your Data

Interpreting Results of Analyses

Discussing Experimental Results

Statistical Conclusion Validity

Putting it All Together

Summary

Discussion Questions

Your Research Project in Action

References

Analyzing and Interpreting Qualitative Research

Data Management

Data Analysis of Words

Putting It All Together

Summary

Discussion Questions

Your Research Project in Action

Further Readings

References

Analyzing and Interpreting Descriptive Research

From Designing and Conducting, to Analyzing and Interpreting Descriptive Research

Descriptive Data Analysis and Interpretation

Causal Comparative Research

Correlational Research

Putting it All Together

Summary

Discussion Questions

Your Research Project in Action

Further Readings

References

Writing Research Reports

Writing for Publication

Getting Your Writing Published

Putting It All Together

Summary

References

Check Sheet for Understanding Relevant Literature

Organizations that Support Educational Research

Glossary

Index

Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.