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1 © 2012 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Nature of Research Chapter 1
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The Nature of Research
Chapter 1
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The Nature of Research
Chapter 1
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What is Educational Research?
The ability to answer a question or concern facing many of us in the area of Education.
Teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, and students continually need to seek information in order to perform their jobs.
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How Does One Obtain Information?
People do the following to obtain information:
Consult experts
Review books and articles
Question/observe colleagues
Rely on past experience
Use intuition
Using scientific research provides another way to obtain information
Information is reliable and accurate
Allows an understanding of why research is valuable
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Ways of Knowing That Things Exist
Sensory Experience
Agreement/Sharing with Others
Expert Opinion
Logical Reasoning
The Scientific Method
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Ways of Knowing
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The Scientific Method
Testing ideas in the public arena by formulating a hypothesis (a tentative, testable assertion about certain behaviors, phenomena, or events) within a rigorous format.
Must be reproducible and described in sufficient detail through 5 distinct steps: State the problem
Define the purpose of the study
Gather the information
Organize and analyze the information obtained
Interpret the information
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The Chaos Theory
A major principle from the 1970s that emphasizes the rarity of general laws, and states that if the data base is large enough, repeated patterns can be discovered and used, even when the conditions are “chaotic”.
Even with highly complex data, predictability exists if patterns can be found across time.
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Types of Research
Research is the formal, systematic application of scholarship, disciplined inquiry, and most often the Scientific Method to the study of problems.
Research methodologies include:
Experimental research Ethnographic research
Correlational research Historical research
Causal-comparative research Action research
Survey research Case study research
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Basic and Applied Research
Basic research attempts to clarify underlying processes, usually expressed as a theory.
Applied research examines the effectiveness of particularly education practices.
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Experimental Research
Most conclusive of all scientific methods.
The researcher establishes treatments and studies the effects, which can lead to clear interpretations.
The independent variable: What is being tested
The dependent variable: What is the outcome (i.e., score)
Single Subject Research is another form of Experimental Research.
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Example of Experimental Research Results
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Correlational Research
Examines a relationship between or among two or more variables; looks for a cause and effect.
Can help make more intelligent predictions.
This approach requires no manipulation or intervention, except to administer the instrument.
Used when you want to look for and describe relationships that may exist naturally.
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Is this Assumption Correct?
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Causal-Comparative Research
Determines the cause(s) for, or consequence(s) of, differences between groups of people.
Interpretations are limited because the investigator can not say conclusively whether a particular factor is a cause or a result of a behavior.
Differences may occur but the investigator will not be able to say for sure what caused the difference.
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Survey Research
Obtains data to determine specific characteristics of a group.
Variety of survey techniques exist, such as: Descriptive: asks same set of questions (i.e., interview)
Open-ended questions
There are 3 difficulties involved with survey research:
Ensuring that questions are clear and not misleading
Getting participants to answer questions honestly
Getting enough questionnaires back so valid interpretations can be made
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Ethnographic Research
A form of Qualitative Research
Emphasizes documenting or portraying the everyday experiences of individuals by observing and interviewing them in a naturalistic setting.
Data can include descriptions, audiotapes, video footage, flowcharts showing relationships, etc.
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Historical Research
Another form of Qualitative Research.
Some aspect of the past is studied.
Data are collected and evaluated objectively in order to establish whether causes, effects, or trends of a past event may explain present or future events or occurrences.
The major problem with this research is the question of using an event or time sequence as a true outcome.
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Action Research
Differs from previously discussed methods in two ways:
1) Generalizations to other persons, settings, or situations is of minimal importance
researchers focus on getting information that will enable them to change conditions in a particular situation (i.e., identifying methods to improve special ed services at a school)
2) Subjects become active members of the research process by collecting data, etc.
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Case Study Research
A form of qualitative or mixed methods research
In-depth study of a single case (unit of analysis can be one person, a classroom, a school, an institution, etc.)
Dual case and multiple case study designs
Example of multi-perspectival research
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General Research Types
Descriptive studies
Associational research
Intervention studies
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Quantitative and Qualitative Research
Quantitative research Deals primarily with numbers
Assumes facts and feelings can be separated
Detached observer
Aimed at the general
Qualitative research Data involve words
Assume that world is made up of multiple realities
Immersed researcher
Aimed at the particular
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Critical Analysis of Research
Critics raise philosophical, linguistic, ethical, and political concerns such as:
Question of Reality
Question of Communication
Question of Values
Question of Unstated Assumptions Anything taken for granted before being tested
Question of Societal Consequences
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The Research Process
The schematic components of research are as follows: Statement of the problem: description of the
background and rationale for performing the study
Hypothesis: prediction of what is expected to occur, or relationship expected between the variables (factors being considered)
Definitions: key terms in the problem statement
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The Research Process (cont.)
Review of Literature: past or current studies that
are relevant to the study
Sample: subjects of the study
Instrumentation: what will be used to measure or collect data
Procedures: step-by-step directions, outlining what will occur from beginning to end
Data Analysis: Interpreting and explaining findings from the data
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The Research Process
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The Nature of Research
Chapter 1
