Research Methods in Education

First Edition
Joseph W. Check
Russell K. Schutt - University of Massachusetts Boston, USA
Research Methods in Education
October 2011 | 440 pages | Sage US
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Description

CourseSmart

Research Methods in Education introduces research methods as an integrated set of techniques for investigating questions about the educational world. This lively, innovative text helps students connect technique and substance, appreciate the value of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and make ethical research decisions. It weaves actual research "stories" into the presentation of research topics, and it emphasizes validity, authenticity, and practical significance as overarching research goals.

The text is divided into three sections: Foundations of Research (five chapters), Research Design and Data Collection (seven chapters), and Analyzing and Reporting Data (three chapters). This tripartite conceptual framework honors traditional quantitative approaches while reflecting the growing popularity of qualitative studies, mixed method designs, and school-based techniques. This approach provides a comprehensive, conceptually unified, and well-written introduction to the exciting but complex field of educational research.

Contents

Preface

Preface

Part I. Foundations of Research

  • 1. Science, Schooling, and Educational Research
  • Learning About the Educational World
  • The Educational Research Approach
  • Educational Research Philosophies
  • Conclusions
  • 2. 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
  • 3. Ethics in Research
  • Historical Background
  • Ethical Principles
  • Conclusions
  • 4. Conceptualization and Measurement
  • Concepts
  • Measurement Operations
  • Levels of Measurement
  • Evaluating Measures
  • Conclusions
  • 5. Sampling
  • Sample Planning
  • Sampling Methods
  • Sampling Distributions
  • Conclusions

Part II. Research Design and Data Collection

  • 6. 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
  • 7. 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
  • 8. 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
  • 9. 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
  • 10. 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
  • 11. Mixing and Comparing Methods and Studies
  • Mixed Methods
  • Comparing Reserch Designs
  • Performing Meta-Analyses
  • Conclusions
  • 12. 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

Part III. Analyzing and Reporting Data

  • 13. 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
  • 14. 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
  • 15. Proposing and Reporting Research
  • Educational Research Proposals, Part II
  • Reporting Research
  • Ethics, Politics, and Research Reports
  • Conclusions
  • Appendix A: Questions to Ask About a Research Article
  • Appendix B: How to Read a Research Article
  • Appendix C: Finding Information, by Elizabeth Schneider and Russell K. Schutt
  • Appendix D: Table of Random Numbers
  • Glossary
  • References
  • Author Index
  • Subject Index
  • About the Authors

Description

CourseSmart

Research Methods in Education introduces research methods as an integrated set of techniques for investigating questions about the educational world. This lively, innovative text helps students connect technique and substance, appreciate the value of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and make ethical research decisions. It weaves actual research "stories" into the presentation of research topics, and it emphasizes validity, authenticity, and practical significance as overarching research goals.

The text is divided into three sections: Foundations of Research (five chapters), Research Design and Data Collection (seven chapters), and Analyzing and Reporting Data (three chapters). This tripartite conceptual framework honors traditional quantitative approaches while reflecting the growing popularity of qualitative studies, mixed method designs, and school-based techniques. This approach provides a comprehensive, conceptually unified, and well-written introduction to the exciting but complex field of educational research.

Contents

Preface

Preface

Part I. Foundations of Research

  • 1. Science, Schooling, and Educational Research
  • Learning About the Educational World
  • The Educational Research Approach
  • Educational Research Philosophies
  • Conclusions
  • 2. 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
  • 3. Ethics in Research
  • Historical Background
  • Ethical Principles
  • Conclusions
  • 4. Conceptualization and Measurement
  • Concepts
  • Measurement Operations
  • Levels of Measurement
  • Evaluating Measures
  • Conclusions
  • 5. Sampling
  • Sample Planning
  • Sampling Methods
  • Sampling Distributions
  • Conclusions

Part II. Research Design and Data Collection

  • 6. 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
  • 7. 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
  • 8. 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
  • 9. 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
  • 10. 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
  • 11. Mixing and Comparing Methods and Studies
  • Mixed Methods
  • Comparing Reserch Designs
  • Performing Meta-Analyses
  • Conclusions
  • 12. 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

Part III. Analyzing and Reporting Data

  • 13. 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
  • 14. 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
  • 15. Proposing and Reporting Research
  • Educational Research Proposals, Part II
  • Reporting Research
  • Ethics, Politics, and Research Reports
  • Conclusions
  • Appendix A: Questions to Ask About a Research Article
  • Appendix B: How to Read a Research Article
  • Appendix C: Finding Information, by Elizabeth Schneider and Russell K. Schutt
  • Appendix D: Table of Random Numbers
  • Glossary
  • References
  • Author Index
  • Subject Index
  • About the Authors
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Research Methods in Education

Joseph W. Check , Russell K. Schutt
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October 2011 | 440 pages | Sage US

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CourseSmart

Research Methods in Education introduces research methods as an integrated set of techniques for investigating questions about the educational world. This lively, innovative text helps students connect technique and substance, appreciate the value of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and make ethical research decisions. It weaves actual research "stories" into the presentation of research topics, and it emphasizes validity, authenticity, and practical significance as overarching research goals.

The text is divided into three sections: Foundations of Research (five chapters), Research Design and Data Collection (seven chapters), and Analyzing and Reporting Data (three chapters). This tripartite conceptual framework honors traditional quantitative approaches while reflecting the growing popularity of qualitative studies, mixed method designs, and school-based techniques. This approach provides a comprehensive, conceptually unified, and well-written introduction to the exciting but complex field of educational research.


Table Of Contents:

  • Preface
  • Part I. Foundations of Research
  • 1. Science, Schooling, and Educational Research
  • Learning About the Educational World
  • The Educational Research Approach
  • Educational Research Philosophies
  • Conclusions
  • 2. 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
  • 3. Ethics in Research
  • Historical Background
  • Ethical Principles
  • Conclusions
  • 4. Conceptualization and Measurement
  • Concepts
  • Measurement Operations
  • Levels of Measurement
  • Evaluating Measures
  • Conclusions
  • 5. Sampling
  • Sample Planning
  • Sampling Methods
  • Sampling Distributions
  • Conclusions
  • Part II. Research Design and Data Collection
  • 6. 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
  • 7. 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
  • 8. 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
  • 9. 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
  • 10. 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
  • 11. Mixing and Comparing Methods and Studies
  • Mixed Methods
  • Comparing Reserch Designs
  • Performing Meta-Analyses
  • Conclusions
  • 12. 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
  • Part III. Analyzing and Reporting Data
  • 13. 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
  • 14. 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
  • 15. Proposing and Reporting Research
  • Educational Research Proposals, Part II
  • Reporting Research
  • Ethics, Politics, and Research Reports
  • Conclusions
  • Appendix A: Questions to Ask About a Research Article
  • Appendix B: How to Read a Research Article
  • Appendix C: Finding Information, by Elizabeth Schneider and Russell K. Schutt
  • Appendix D: Table of Random Numbers
  • Glossary
  • References
  • Author Index
  • Subject Index
  • About the Authors

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