Research Methods in Education : An Introduction,9780205406098

Research Methods in Education : An Introduction

by ;
Edition: 8th
ISBN13: 9780205406098
ISBN10: 0205406092
Format: Hardcover
Pub. Date: 2009-01-01
Publisher(s): Allyn & Bacon
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Summary

“This is a wonderful text book for an educational research course, and a highly desirable resource to help students or educators gain profound insight about methods, designs, procedures, and writing of educational research.”
Leping Liu, University of Nevada, Reno

“This text is the most "user-friendly" research text that I have found. The progression of ideas is wonderful, building on prior concepts without overwhelming or confusing the reader.”
Roxanne DelaVecchia, Towson University

A classic in its field, Research Methods in Education, Eighth Edition explores quantitative and qualitative research from beginning to end, starting with the formulation of a research question straight through to publication. Retaining the clear, concise writing style and organization that has made this text so popular, Research Methods in Education helps students evaluate research literature as well as master research methodology.

New To This Edition

  • Enhanced experimental validity sections. Provides students with proper criteria for judging the quality of research (Chs. 16 & 17).
  • New! Writing a research proposal. Thoroughly outlines each stage of the process to prepare students in developing their own proposal (Ch. 16).
  • Improved coverage of the process of identifying and writing research questions—the driving force behind the entire research process.
  • Expanded coverage of technology and the use of electronic resources. Offers students an in-depth exploration in research from web referencing to data analysis and much more!
  • Brand new coverage of Mixed Methods and Delphi Studies. Adds a new dimension to the text to keep current with practice.

Research Navigator access is provided with the text and integration is provided through the use of key-term icons and chapter ending activities. This database provides discipline-specific academic resources as well as helpful tips on the writing process, online research, and finding and citing valid sources. See the inside front cover for details!

Table of Contents

Preface xv
Acknowledgments xviii
Using Research Navigator xix
CHAPTER ONE Educational Research: Its Nature and Characteristics 1(27)
THE NATURE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
2(8)
The Systematic Process of Research
3(2)
The Validity of Educational Research
5(4)
The Reliability of Educational Research
9(1)
Research Has a Variety of Forms
10(1)
CLASSIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
10(8)
Basic and Applied Research
10(3)
Qualitative and Quantitative Research
13(2)
General Methods of Research
15(3)
THE ROLE OF THEORY
18(3)
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS
21(3)
Identification of the Research Problem
22(1)
Data Collection
22(1)
Analysis
23(1)
Summarizing Results and Drawing Conclusions
23(1)
SUMMARY
24(1)
KEY CONCEPTS
25(1)
EXERCISES
25(1)
NOTES
26(1)
REFERENCES
26(2)
CHAPTER TWO Identification of a Research Problem 28(24)
SELECTION OF A RESEARCH PROBLEM
28(2)
STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
30(18)
Constants, Variables, and Operational Definition
33(6)
Hypotheses and the Statement of the Problem
39(1)
Types and Forms of Hypotheses
40(8)
SUMMARY
48(2)
KEY CONCEPTS
50(1)
EXERCISES
50(1)
NOTES
51(1)
REFERENCE
51(1)
CHAPTER THREE The Review of the Literature 52(31)
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
53(2)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
55(11)
The Library
55(1)
Periodical Literature
55(1)
Education Index
56(1)
Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)
56(2)
An Example Using CIJE and RIE
58(4)
Other Indexes and Abstracts
62(1)
Review of Educational Research (RER)
62(1)
Reports of Meta-Analysis
63(1)
Abstracts and Reports in Periodicals
64(1)
Theses and Dissertations
64(1)
Books
65(1)
COMPUTER SEARCHES OF DATABASES
66(6)
Conducting a Search
67(1)
Searching a Database for a Specific Research Problem: One Descriptor
68(2)
Searching a Database for a Specific Research Problem: More than One Descriptor
70(1)
Other Sources Available through the Computer
71(1)
SELECTING STUDIES FOR THE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
72(1)
ASSEMBLING AND SUMMARIZING INFORMATION
73(3)
Abstract or Summary
74(1)
Organizing Information
75(1)
INTERPRETING AND USING INFORMATION
76(4)
Critical Review
76(1)
Writing the Review
77(1)
Referencing
78(1)
Preparing the Bibliography
79(1)
SUMMARY
80(1)
KEY CONCEPTS
80(1)
EXERCISES
81(1)
NOTES
82(1)
REFERENCES
82(1)
CHAPTER FOUR Research Design in Quantitative Research 83(16)
THE PURPOSES OF RESEARCH DESIGN
83(1)
THE CONCEPT OF CONTROLLING VARIANCE
84(9)
Procedures for Controlling Variance
85(8)
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD RESEARCH DESIGN
93(2)
Freedom from Bias
93(1)
Freedom from Confounding
94(1)
Control of Extraneous Variables
94(1)
Statistical Precision for Testing Hypotheses
94(1)
SUMMARY
95(1)
KEY CONCEPTS
95(1)
EXERCISES
96(1)
NOTES
97(1)
REFERENCES
98(1)
CHAPTER FIVE Experimental Research 99(31)
THE MEANING OF EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
99(3)
Experimental Variables
101(1)
Use of the Term Subject
102(1)
CRITERIA FOR A WELL-DESIGNED EXPERIMENT
102(7)
Experimental Validity
103(2)
Threats to Experimental Validity
105(4)
POSTTEST-ONLY CONTROL GROUP DESIGN
109(2)
PRETEST-POSTTEST CONTROL GROUP DESIGN
111(2)
SOLOMON FOUR-GROUP DESIGN
113(2)
FACTORIAL DESIGNS
115(3)
REPEATED MEASURES DESIGNS
118(3)
Time Series Designs
120(1)
INTERPRETING RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS
121(3)
RANDOMNESS AND REPRESENTATIVENESS
124(1)
SUMMARY
125(1)
KEY CONCEPTS
126(1)
EXERCISES
126(3)
NOTES
129(1)
REFERENCES
129(1)
CHAPTER SIX Quasi-Experimental Research 130(25)
THE PROBLEMS OF VALIDITY
130(1)
POSTTEST-ONLY, NONEQUIVALENT CONTROL GROUP DESIGN
131(3)
PRETEST-POSTTEST, NONEQUIVALENT CONTROL GROUP DESIGN
134(2)
TIME SERIES DESIGNS
136(6)
Single-Group Time Series Design
137(3)
Multiple-Group Time Series Design
140(2)
Variations in Time Series Designs
142(1)
SINGLE-SUBJECT DESIGNS
142(6)
A-B Design
143(3)
A-B-A Design
146(2)
ACTION RESEARCH AND QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
148(2)
SUMMARY
150(1)
KEY CONCEPTS
151(1)
EXERCISES
151(3)
NOTES
154(1)
REFERENCES
154(1)
CHAPTER SEVEN Nonexperimental Quantitative Research 155(46)
NONEXPERIMENTAL QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH: ITS SCOPE AND DESCRIPTION
155(4)
Ex post facto Research
156(3)
Survey Research
159(1)
SURVEY DESIGNS
159(4)
Longitudinal Designs
160(2)
Cross-Sectional Designs
162(1)
THE METHODOLOGY OF SURVEY RESEARCH
163(2)
QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEYS
165(17)
Item Construction
165(4)
Item Format
169(3)
The Cover Letter
172(2)
Questionnaire Format
174(1)
Procedures for Increasing Response Rate
175(3)
Identifying Sources of Nonresponse
178(2)
Incomplete and Possibly Dishonest Responses
180(2)
Examples
182(1)
WEB-BASED SURVEYS
182(4)
Factors to Consider when Conducting Web-Based Surveys
186(1)
INTERVIEW SURVEYS
186(6)
Interview Items
187(1)
Conducting the Interview
188(2)
Potential Sources of Error
190(1)
Telephone Interviews
191(1)
A Comment about Branching Items
192(1)
OTHER SURVEYS
192(1)
ANALYZING AND REPORTING SURVEY RESULTS
193(1)
Hypothetical Example
194(1)
SUMMARY
194(2)
KEY CONCEPTS
196(1)
EXERCISES
196(2)
NOTES
198(1)
REFERENCES
199(2)
CHAPTER EIGHT Research Design in Qualitative Research 201(22)
THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
201(2)
COMPONENTS OF RESEARCH DESIGN
203(7)
Working Design
203(1)
Working Hypotheses
204(1)
Data Collection
204(1)
Data Analysis and Interpretation
205(5)
TYPES OF DESIGNS IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
210(1)
PERSPECTIVES FOR QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
211(4)
Example: Funnel Approach
213(1)
Example: Modified Analytic Induction Approach
214(1)
RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
215(1)
USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
216(3)
Capabilities of Computer Software in Qualitative Research
217(2)
SUMMARY
219(1)
KEY CONCEPTS
220(1)
EXERCISES
220(1)
NOTES
221(1)
REFERENCES
221(2)
CHAPTER NINE Historical Research 223(19)
THE VALUE OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH
224(2)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION IN HISTORICAL RESEARCH
226(1)
THE METHODOLOGY OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH
226(9)
Identification of the Research Problem
227(3)
Collection and Evaluation of Source Materials
230(2)
Synthesis of Information
232(1)
Analysis, Interpretation, and Formulating Conclusions
233(2)
QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN HISTORICAL RESEARCH
235(1)
COMMENTS ON THE REPORTING OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH
235(3)
Reports in Professional Journals
236(2)
SUMMARY
238(1)
KEY CONCEPTS
239(1)
EXERCISES
239(1)
REFERENCES
240(2)
CHAPTER TEN Ethnographic Research 242(32)
THE NATURE OF ETHNOGRAPHY IN EDUCATION
242(3)
The Phenomenological Nature
243(1)
The Naturalistic Nature
244(1)
The Holistic and General Perspective
245(1)
A CONCEPTUAL SCHEMA FOR ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
245(3)
THE PROCESS OF ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
248(14)
Identification of the Phenomenon to Be Studied
249(2)
Identification of Subjects
251(1)
Hypothesis Generation
252(1)
Data Collection
252(6)
Analysis
258(3)
Drawing Conclusions
261(1)
EXAMPLE OF ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH IN EDUCATION
262(2)
THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
264(4)
Reliability
264(1)
Validity
265(3)
THE ROLE OF ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
268(1)
SUMMARY
269(1)
KEY CONCEPTS
270(1)
EXERCISES
271(1)
NOTES
272(1)
REFERENCES
272(2)
CHAPTER ELEVEN Mixed, Modeling, and Delphi Methods 274(21)
MIXED METHODS
274(3)
Summary
277(1)
MODELING METHODS
277(4)
Application of Modeling Methods
278(2)
Summary
280(1)
DELPHI METHOD
281(10)
The Delphi Process
282(4)
Variations of the Delphi
286(1)
Examples of the Delphi
287(3)
Considerations When Conducting a Delphi
290(1)
SUMMARY
291(1)
KEY CONCEPTS
291(1)
EXERCISES
291(2)
NOTES
293(1)
REFERENCES
293(2)
CHAPTER TWELVE Sampling Designs 295(27)
THE CONCEPT OF A RANDOM SAMPLE
295(6)
Random Selection and Random Assignment
296(1)
Use of a Random Number Table
297(2)
Use of the Computer in Sample Selection
299(1)
Sampling Error and Sampling Bias
300(1)
CRITERIA FOR A SAMPLING DESIGN
301(1)
STRATIFIED RANDOM SAMPLING
302(3)
Allocation of Sample Size among Strata
303(2)
CLUSTER SAMPLING
305(1)
SYSTEMATIC SAMPLING
306(2)
Possible Problem of Periodicity
307(1)
CONSIDERATIONS IN DETERMINING SAMPLE SIZE-RANDOM SAMPLING
308(3)
PURPOSEFUL SAMPLING
311(6)
Comprehensive Sampling
312(1)
Maximum Variation Sampling
312(1)
Extreme Case Sampling
313(1)
Typical Case Sampling
313(1)
Homogeneous Sampling
314(1)
Other Variations of Purposeful Sampling
314(1)
Sample Size of Purposeful Samples
315(2)
SUMMARY
317(2)
KEY CONCEPTS
319(1)
EXERCISES
319(2)
NOTES
321(1)
REFERENCES
321(1)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Measurement and Data Collection 322(29)
CONCEPTS OF MEASUREMENT
322(8)
Types of Measurement Scales
323(1)
Reliability of Measurement
324(1)
Empirical Procedures for Estimating Reliability
325(1)
Expected Reliability Coefficients for Various Types of Tests
326(1)
Validity of Measurement
326(4)
THE VARIABLES MEASURED IN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
330(1)
TESTS AND INVENTORIES USED FOR MEASUREMENT
330(10)
Achievement Tests in Academic and Skills Areas
331(1)
Attitude Inventories
332(5)
Aptitude Tests
337(1)
Rating Scales
338(1)
Observation Systems
339(1)
WHERE TO FIND TEST INFORMATION
340(4)
SCORING AND DATA PREPARATION
344(2)
Coding Data
344(1)
An Example of a Data File
345(1)
SUMMARY
346(2)
KEY CONCEPTS
348(1)
EXERCISES
348(1)
NOTES
349(1)
REFERENCES
349(2)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN Data Analysis: Descriptive Statistics 351(21)
THE MULTIPLE MEANINGS OF STATISTICS
351(1)
DISTRIBUTIONS
352(7)
Describing a Distribution of Scores
353(3)
Standard Scores
356(3)
CORRELATION: A MEASURE OF RELATIONSHIP
359(6)
Uses of Correlation
361(1)
Different Correlation Coefficients
362(3)
DATA ANALYSIS BY COMPUTER
365(3)
SUMMARY
368(1)
KEY CONCEPTS
369(1)
EXERCISES
369(2)
NOTE
371(1)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN Data Analysis: Inferential Statistics 372(36)
CONTEXT FOR USING INFERENTIAL STATISTICS
372(1)
TESTING HYPOTHESES AND ESTIMATING PARAMETERS
373(7)
Concept of a Sampling Distribution
374(4)
Building a Confidence Interval: The Example Continued
378(1)
Possible Errors in Hypothesis Testing
379(1)
INFERENCES FROM STATISTICS TO PARAMETERS: A REVIEW
380(2)
PARAMETRIC ANALYSES
382(9)
The t-Distribution: Another Sampling Distribution
382(3)
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
385(6)
NONPARAMETRIC ANALYSES
391(3)
The Chi-Square (x²) Test and Distribution
391(3)
CORRELATIONAL ANALYSES
394(3)
Analysis of Covariance
395(2)
SELECTING AN APPROPRIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
397(3)
COMMENTS ABOUT STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
400(1)
META-ANALYSIS
401(2)
SUMMARY
403(1)
KEY CONCEPTS
404(1)
EXERCISES
404(3)
NOTES
407(1)
REFERENCES
407(1)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN Communicating about Research 408(29)
MAJOR SECTIONS OF THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL
408(10)
Identification of the Problem
409(2)
Review of the Literature
411(3)
Methods or Procedures
414(2)
Significance of the Proposed Research
416(1)
Other Sections of the Research Proposal
417(1)
MAJOR SECTIONS OF THE RESEARCH REPORT
418(7)
Introduction, including the Statement of the Problem
419(1)
Review of the Literature
420(1)
Methods or Procedures
421(1)
Results
422(1)
Conclusions, Recommendations, and Implications
423(2)
OTHER SECTIONS OF THE RESEARCH REPORT
425(3)
Abstract
425(1)
Bibliography and Reference List
426(2)
Appendix
428(1)
PUTTING A REPORT TOGETHER
428(2)
Software for Word Processing
430(1)
GUIDELINES FOR PRESENTING PAPERS AT MEETINGS
430(2)
PRESENTATIONS TO DISSERTATION AND THESIS COMMITTEES
432(2)
SUMMARY
434(1)
KEY CONCEPTS
434(1)
EXERCISES
435(1)
NOTES
436(1)
REFERENCES
436(1)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Evaluating Research Reports 437(13)
TYPES OF ERRORS AND SHORTCOMINGS IN REPORTS
437(1)
CRITIQUING MAJOR SECTIONS OF A RESEARCH REPORT
438(5)
Introduction
439(1)
Review of the Literature
439(1)
Methods or Procedures
440(1)
Results
441(1)
Conclusions, Recommendations, and Implications
442(1)
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS WHEN EVALUATING A REPORT
443(1)
THE REVIEW PROCESS FOR JOURNALS
443(2)
Suggested Disposition
444(1)
THE EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS
445(1)
Significance of the Proposed Research
445(1)
Quality of the Proposed Research
446(1)
SUMMARY
446(2)
KEY CONCEPTS
448(1)
EXERCISES
448(1)
REFERENCES
448(2)
Appendix 1 Ethical and Legal Considerations in Conducting Research 450(4)
Appendix 2 Solutions to Exercises 454(21)
Appendix 3 Tables 475(12)
TABLE A. ORDINATES AND AREAS OF THE NORMAL CURVE
476(2)
TABLE B. CRITICAL VALUES OF T
478(1)
TABLE C. UPPER PERCENTAGE POINTS OF THE X² DISTRIBUTION
479(1)
TABLE D. UPPER PERCENTAGE POINTS OF THE F-DISTRIBUTION
480(6)
TABLE E. CRITICAL VALUES OF THE CORRELATION COEFFICIENT
486(1)
Glossary of Research Methods Terms 487(6)
Name Index 493(2)
Subject Index 495(8)
Disk Instructions 503

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