Understanding and Interpreting Educational Research

Abstract

Part I: Understanding Research. Thinking Critically about Research. Objectives. Overview. How Important Is Critical Thinking? What Are the Elements to Becoming a Critical Research Consumer? What Are Science and the Scientific Method? What Are the Purposes of Science? What Is a Scientific Theory? What Are the Types of Scientific Logic? In What Ways Do We Gain Information? What Are Constraint Levels in Educational and Psychological Research? What Are the Differences between Basic and Applied Research? What Is Replication Research? Summary. Discussion Questions. Part II: Critical Issues in Research. Fundamental Issues for Interpreting Research. Objectives. What Is Variability? What Is Internal Validity and Its Threats? What Is External Validity and Its Threats? What Are Statistical and Social Validities? Summary. Discussion Questions. Interpretation Exercises. Reliability, Validity, and Interobserver Agreement. Objectives. Overview. What Are Reliability and Validity Issues in Quantitative Research? How Do Researchers Assess the Reliability of Measurement Devices? How Do Researchers Determine the Validity of Measurement Devices? What Are Reliability and Validity Issues in Qualitative Research? What Is Interobserver Agreement? What Are the Methods of Establishing Interobserver Agreement? What Are the Factors That Influence Interobserver Agreement? What Are the Factors to Consider When Assessing Measurement Devices in the Context of a Study? Summary. Discussion Questions. Practice Exercises. Part III: Quantitative Research Methods. Basic Statistical Concepts and Sampling Procedures. Objectives. Overview. What Are the Scales of Measurement? What Is a Univariate Frequency Distribution? How Can We Describe Data Sets? What Role Do Hypotheses Play in Research? What Are Parametric and Nonparametric Tests of Statistical Significance? What Is Statistical Significance? What Are Type I and Type II Errors and Power? What Are the Types of Statistical Significance Testing Methods? What Are the Different Sampling Methods? What Are the Sampling Decisions Researchers Make? What Is Sampling Error? Summary. Discussion Questions. Experimental Designs. Objectives. Overview. What Are True Experimental Designs? What Are the Most Common True Experimental Designs? What Are Factorial Experimental Designs? What Are Quasi-Experimental Designs? What Are the Common Quasi-Experimental Designs? What Are Preexperimental Designs? What Are the Types of Preexperimental Designs? When Should Researchers Use Each Experimental Research Design? Summary. Discussion Questions. Illustrative Article Example. Research Example Questions. Additional Research Examples. Threats to Internal Validity Form. Threats to External Validity Form. Causal-Comparative Research. Objectives. Overview. What Is the Causal-Comparative Research Method? What Should Researchers Consider When Designing a Causal-Comparative Research Study? Can the Causal-Comparative Approach Be Combined with Factorial Designs? When Should Researchers Use the Causal-Comparative Research Design? Summary. Discussion Questions. Illustrative Article Example. Research Example Questions. Additional Research Examples. Threats to Internal Validity Form. Threats to External Validity Form. Correlational Research. Objectives. Overview. What Is the Correlational Research Method? What Are the Issues in Designing a Correlational Study? What Are the Statistical Procedures Used in Correlational Research? When Should Researchers Use the Correlational Research Method? Summary. Discussion Questions. Illustrative Article Example. Research Example Questions. Additional Research Examples. Threats to Internal Validity Form. Threats to External Validity Form. Survey Research Methods. Objectives. Overview. What Are the Purposes of Survey Research? What Are the Different Types of Surveys? What Are the Factors in Choosing a Survey Method? How Is Survey Research Designed? When Should Researchers Use Survey Research? Summary. Discussion Questions. Illustrative Article Example. Research Example Questions. Additional Research Examples. Threats to Survey Validity Form. Part IV: Qualitative Research Methods. Basic Understandings in Qualitative Research. Objectives. Overview. What Are the Characteristics of Qualitative Research? What Are the Differences between Qualitative and Quantitative Research? What Are Qualitative Research Procedures? What Is Understanding in Qualitative Research? What Are the Evaluative Criteria for Judging the Reliability and Validity of Qualitative Research? What Are the Types of Triangulation Methods? How Are Qualitative Data Analyzed? Summary. Discussion Questions. Data Collection and Designs in Qualitative Research. Objectives. Overview. What Are Field-Oriented Studies? What Is Historical Research? What Are Mixed-Methods Studies? When Should Researchers Use Each Qualitative Research Design? Summary. Discussion Questions. Illustrative Article Example. Research Example Questions. Additional Research Examples. Qualitative Research Examination Form. Part V: Single-Case Research Methods. Withdrawal and Associated Designs. Objectives. Overview. What Are Graphing Methods in Withdrawal Designs? What Are Withdrawal and Associated Designs? When Should Researchers Use Each Withdrawal and Associated Design? Summary. Discussion Questions. Illustrative Article Example. Research Example Questions. Additional Research Examples. Threats to Internal Validity Form. Threats to External Validity Form. Multiple-Baseline Designs. Objectives. Overview. What Are Graphing Methods in Multiple-Baseline Designs? What Are Multiple-Baseline Designs? When Should Researchers Use Each Multiple-Baseline Design? Summary. Discussion Questions. Illustrative Article Example. Research Example Questions. Additional Research Examples. Threats to Internal Validity Form. Threats to External Validity Form. Additional Single-Case Designs. Objectives. Overview. What Is a Changing-Criterion Design? What Is a Multitreatment Design? What Is an Alternating Treatments Design? What Are Combination Designs? When Should Researchers Use Each of the Additional Single-Case Designs? Summary. Discussion Questions. Illustrative Article Example. Research Example Questions. Additional Research Examples. Threats to Internal Validity Form. Threats to External Validity Form. Part VI: Evaluation Research. Program Evaluation. Objectives. Overview. What Are the Goals and Objectives of Program Evaluation? What Are the Types of Program Evaluations? How Is a Program Evaluation Conducted? When Should Program Evaluations Be Conducted? Summary. Discussion Questions. Illustrative Article Example. Research Example Questions. Additional Research Examples. Evaluating the Literature. Objectives. Overview. What Are the Purposes of Research Syntheses? What Are Systematic and Unsystematic Research Syntheses? What Are The Considerations For Conducting Research Syntheses? How Do Researchers Plan and Execute Research Syntheses? When Should Researchers Conduct Research Syntheses? Summary. Discussion Questions. Illustrative Article Example. Research Example Questions. Additional Research Examples. Part VII: Action Research. Action Research: Moving from Critical Research Consumer to Researcher. Objectives. Overview. What Is Action Research? What Are the Characteristics of Action Research? How Are Quantitative Methods Used in Action Research? How Are Qualitative Methods Used in Action Research? How Are Single-Case Methods Used in Action Research? How Are Survey, Historical, and Program Evaluation Research Methods Used in Action Research? What Are the Ethical Principles and Codes of Conduct for Research? How Does One Write a Research Article? How Are Articles Submitted for Publication? When Should One Conduct Action Research? Summary. Discussion Questions. Illustrative Article Example. Research Example Questions. Additional Research Examples. Glossary.

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