Research Methods in Education

by Joseph Check

• ISBN13: 9781412940092
• ISBN10: 1412940095
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-10-27
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc

Summary

Research Methods in Education is an innovative new text for teaching introductory research methods that addresses emerging instructional needs. It weaves actual research '¬Sstories'¬ into the presentation of research topics, and it emphasizes validity, authenticity, and practical significance as overarching research goals. This tripartite conceptual framework honors traditional quantitative approaches while reflecting the growing popularity of qualitative studies, mixed method designs, and school-based techniques. The text is divided into three sections: Foundations of Research (5 chapters), Research Design and Data Collection (7 chapters), and Analyzing and Reporting Data (3 chapters). Together they provide a comprehensive, conceptually unified, and well-written introduction to the exciting but complex field of educational research. Features and Benefits 1. Each chapter begins with a research question that is addressed throughout the chapter to maintain students interest as the chapter develops 2. Examples of published research studies related to the opening question are then used as examples throughout the chapter. 3. Chapters conclude with a section on ethical considerations for the topics covered in that chapter. 4. Abundant end-of-chapter questions and exercises in 4 sets: Discussion Questions, Practice Exercises, Web Exercises, and Developing a Research Proposal 5. Strong ancillary support for instructors and students with testbank and PowerPoint slides, SAGE journal articles, self-quizzes, interactive exercises, and more.

Table of Contents

Preface

Foundations of Research

Science, Schooling, and Educational Research

Learning About the Educational World

The Educational Research Approach

Educational Research Philosophies

Conclusions

The Process and Problems of Educational Research

Educational Research Questions

Educational Research Basics

The Role of Educational Theory

Educational Research Goals

Educational Research Proposals, Part I

Conclusions

Ethics in Research

Historical Background

Ethical Principles

Conclusions

Conceptualization and Measurement

Concepts

Measurement Operations

Levels of Measurement

Evaluating Measures

Conclusions

Sampling

Sample Planning

Sampling Methods

Sampling Distributions

Conclusions

Research Design and Data Collection

Causation and Research Design

Causal Explanation

Criteria for Causal Explanations

Types of Research Designs

True Experimental Designs

Quasi-Experimental Designs

Threats to Validity in Experimental Designs

Nonexperiments

Conclusions

Evaluation Research

What Is Evaluation Research?

What Can an Evaluation Study Focus On?

How Can the Program Be Described? Creating a Program Logic Model

What Are the Alternatives in Evaluation Design?

Ethical Issues in Evaluation Research

Conclusions

Survey Research

Why Is Survey Research So Popular?

Errors in Survey Research

Questionnaire Design

Writing Questions

Survey Design Alternatives

Combining Methods

Survey Research Design in a Diverse Society

Ethical Issues in Survey Research

Conclusions

Qualitative Methods: Observing, Participating, Listening

Fundamentals of Qualitative Research

Participant Observation

Intensive Interviewing

Focus Groups

Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research

Conclusions

Single-Subject Design

Foundations of Single-Subject Design

Measuring Targets of Intervention

Types of Single-Subject Designs

Analyzing Single-Subject Designs

Ethical Issues in Single-Subject Design

Conclusions

Mixing and Comparing Methods and Studies

Mixed Methods

Comparing Reserch Designs

Performing Meta-Analyses

Conclusions

Teacher Research and Action Research

Teacher Research: Three Case Studies

Teacher Research: a Self-Planning Outline for Creating Your Own Project

Action Research and How It Differs From Teacher Research

Validity and Ethical Issues in Teacher Research and Action Research

Conclusions

Analyzing and Reporting Data

Quantitative Data Analysis

Why We Need Statistics

Preparing Data for Analysis

Displaying Univariate Distributions

Summarizing Univariate Distributions

Relationships (Associations) Among Variables

Presenting Data Ethically: How Not to Lie With Statistics

Conclusions

Qualitative Data Analysis

Features of Qualitative Data Analysis

Techniques of Qualitative Data Analysis

Alternatives in Qualitative Data Analysis

Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis

Ethics in Qualitative Data Analysis

Conclusions

Proposing and Reporting Research

Educational Research Proposals, Part II

Reporting Research

Ethics, Politics, and Research Reports

Conclusions

Questions to Ask About a Research Article

How to Read a Research Article

Finding Information, by Elizabeth Schneider and Russell K. Schutt

Table of Random Numbers

Glossary

References

Author Index

Subject Index

About the Authors

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