Conducting Educational Research

"Guide to Completing a Thesis, Dissertation, or Action Research Project"
Second Edition
Daniel Joseph Boudah
Conducting Educational Research
August 2019 | 304 pages | Sage US
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Description

Designed to be used during the research process, Conducting Educational Research: Guide to Completing a Thesis, Dissertation, or Action Research Project, Second Edition 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. Each chapter includes activities and exercises to ensure the researcher is asking the right questions and producing a quality project.



Contents

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

  • Chapter 1 • 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
  • Selected Organizations That Support Research in Education
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Activity
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Activity Answers
  • Chapter 2 • Identifying a Research Problem and 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 Reading
  • References
  • Chapter 3 • 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
  • Check Sheet for Understanding Relevant Literature
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 4 • Issues in Validity and Reliability
  • What Are Validity, Trustworthiness, and Reliability?
  • 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
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 5 • Designing and Conducting Experimental Research
  • Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research
  • Questions Point to Designs
  • Group Designs
  • Single-Subject Designs
  • Measurement of Dependent Variables
  • Types of Data
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 6 • 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 Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 7 • Designing and Conducting Descriptive Research
  • Types of Quantitative Descriptive Research
  • Survey Methods
  • Conducting Descriptive Research
  • Accessing Extant Databases
  • Mixed Methods Research
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 8 • 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
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 9 • Analyzing and Interpreting Experimental Research
  • Experimental Data
  • Selecting a Statistic Consistent With Your Design and Appropriate to Your Data
  • Interpreting the Results of Analyses
  • Discussing Experimental Results
  • Statistical Conclusion Validity
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 10 • Analyzing and Interpreting Qualitative Data
  • Data Management
  • Data Analysis
  • Trustworthiness
  • Documenting and Reporting Results
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 11 • Analyzing and Interpreting Descriptive Research
  • Descriptive Data Analysis and Interpretation
  • Correlational Research
  • Causal Comparative Research
  • Mixed Methods Research
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 12 • Writing Research Reports
  • Writing for Publication
  • Getting Your Writing Published
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • References
  • Literature Examples

Appendix A: Organizations That Support Educational Research

Appendix A: Organizations That Support Educational Research

Appendix B: Using Microsoft® Excel to Analyze Data

Appendix B: Using Microsoft® Excel to Analyze Data

Glossary

Glossary

Index

Index

About the Author

About the Author

Description

Designed to be used during the research process, Conducting Educational Research: Guide to Completing a Thesis, Dissertation, or Action Research Project, Second Edition 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. Each chapter includes activities and exercises to ensure the researcher is asking the right questions and producing a quality project.



Contents

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

  • Chapter 1 • 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
  • Selected Organizations That Support Research in Education
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Activity
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Activity Answers
  • Chapter 2 • Identifying a Research Problem and 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 Reading
  • References
  • Chapter 3 • 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
  • Check Sheet for Understanding Relevant Literature
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 4 • Issues in Validity and Reliability
  • What Are Validity, Trustworthiness, and Reliability?
  • 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
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 5 • Designing and Conducting Experimental Research
  • Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research
  • Questions Point to Designs
  • Group Designs
  • Single-Subject Designs
  • Measurement of Dependent Variables
  • Types of Data
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 6 • 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 Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 7 • Designing and Conducting Descriptive Research
  • Types of Quantitative Descriptive Research
  • Survey Methods
  • Conducting Descriptive Research
  • Accessing Extant Databases
  • Mixed Methods Research
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 8 • 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
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 9 • Analyzing and Interpreting Experimental Research
  • Experimental Data
  • Selecting a Statistic Consistent With Your Design and Appropriate to Your Data
  • Interpreting the Results of Analyses
  • Discussing Experimental Results
  • Statistical Conclusion Validity
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 10 • Analyzing and Interpreting Qualitative Data
  • Data Management
  • Data Analysis
  • Trustworthiness
  • Documenting and Reporting Results
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 11 • Analyzing and Interpreting Descriptive Research
  • Descriptive Data Analysis and Interpretation
  • Correlational Research
  • Causal Comparative Research
  • Mixed Methods Research
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 12 • Writing Research Reports
  • Writing for Publication
  • Getting Your Writing Published
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • References
  • Literature Examples

Appendix A: Organizations That Support Educational Research

Appendix A: Organizations That Support Educational Research

Appendix B: Using Microsoft® Excel to Analyze Data

Appendix B: Using Microsoft® Excel to Analyze Data

Glossary

Glossary

Index

Index

About the Author

About the Author

SAGE Publishing Logo

Conducting Educational Research

"Guide to Completing a Thesis, Dissertation, or Action Research Project"

Daniel Joseph Boudah
Cancel Print

August 2019 | 304 pages | Sage US

Format Published Date ISBN Price

Designed to be used during the research process, Conducting Educational Research: Guide to Completing a Thesis, Dissertation, or Action Research Project, Second Edition 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. Each chapter includes activities and exercises to ensure the researcher is asking the right questions and producing a quality project.




Table Of Contents:

  • Preface
  • Acknowledgments
  • Chapter 1 • 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
  • Selected Organizations That Support Research in Education
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Activity
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Activity Answers
  • Chapter 2 • Identifying a Research Problem and 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 Reading
  • References
  • Chapter 3 • 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
  • Check Sheet for Understanding Relevant Literature
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 4 • Issues in Validity and Reliability
  • What Are Validity, Trustworthiness, and Reliability?
  • 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
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 5 • Designing and Conducting Experimental Research
  • Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research
  • Questions Point to Designs
  • Group Designs
  • Single-Subject Designs
  • Measurement of Dependent Variables
  • Types of Data
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 6 • 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 Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 7 • Designing and Conducting Descriptive Research
  • Types of Quantitative Descriptive Research
  • Survey Methods
  • Conducting Descriptive Research
  • Accessing Extant Databases
  • Mixed Methods Research
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 8 • 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
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 9 • Analyzing and Interpreting Experimental Research
  • Experimental Data
  • Selecting a Statistic Consistent With Your Design and Appropriate to Your Data
  • Interpreting the Results of Analyses
  • Discussing Experimental Results
  • Statistical Conclusion Validity
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 10 • Analyzing and Interpreting Qualitative Data
  • Data Management
  • Data Analysis
  • Trustworthiness
  • Documenting and Reporting Results
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 11 • Analyzing and Interpreting Descriptive Research
  • Descriptive Data Analysis and Interpretation
  • Correlational Research
  • Causal Comparative Research
  • Mixed Methods Research
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Your Research Project in Action
  • Further Reading
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Chapter 12 • Writing Research Reports
  • Writing for Publication
  • Getting Your Writing Published
  • Putting It All Together
  • Summary
  • References
  • Literature Examples
  • Appendix A: Organizations That Support Educational Research
  • Appendix B: Using Microsoft® Excel to Analyze Data
  • Glossary
  • Index
  • About the Author

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