Research Designs

By: Fatma and Wenshan

Outline

Introduction Short Break Research on instructional strategies Activity Trends and Development

Introduction: A Quick Review on Research Methods

Get A Research Method Quantitative Research

› Is the collection and analysis of numerical data to describe, explain, predict, or control phenomena of interest.

Qualitative Research is the collection, analysis, and interpretation of

comprehensive narrative and visual (i.e., non-numerical) data to gain insights into a particular phenomena of interest.

Mixed-methods research› Studies that combine qualitative and quantitative data

collection methods.

Overview of qualitative an quantitative research characteristics

Quantitative Research

Qualitative Research

Type of Data collected Numerical data Nonnumerical data

Research Problem Hypothesis and research procedures stated before beginning the study

Research problems and methods evolve as understanding of topic deeper

Manipulation of context Yes No

Sample size Large Smaller

Research Procedures Relies on statistical procedures

Relies on categorizing organizing data into patterns to produce a descriptive synthesis.

Participant interaction Little interaction Extensive interaction

Underlying belief We live in a stable and predictable world that we can measure, understand, and generalize about.

Meaning is situated in a particular perspective or context that is different for people and groups, therefore, the world has many meanings.

An example› What are the most significant differences

in the ways Grade 3 students at K.G school interact with inert media such as books, and with active media such as computer software for learning Mandarin vocabulary?

Break…

Research on Instructional Strategies

The rise, fall, and likely resurgence

Types of Experimental Design

Factors impacting the rigorous experiments on instructional strategies

Are media instructional strategies?

The Rise, Fall, and Likely Resurgence of Experimentation on Instructional Strategies

The Rise: during the first half of the 20th century

› “Although the full gamut of research methodologies, ranging from formative evaluation and design-based research to qualitative and case studies to true(randomized) experiments, has been used to investigate strategy effects, the predominant approach in the research literature has been experimental designs to increase objectivity and rigor. ”

Richey, Klein, & Wang, (2005)

What gave experimental designs initial impetus for researching instructional strategies?

› The influence of the field’s behavioral roots

› Experimentation has been traditionally viewed as the definition of acceptable research in the field

› Promotion and tenure criteria at colleges and universities have been strongly biased toward experimental studies

› The research journals have published proportionately more experimental studies than alternative types

Hannafin (1986)

The fall: 1983-2004

Hsieh et al. (2005)

1983

•47%

1995

•34%

2004

•26%

Percentage of randomized intervention studies published:

Factors attributed to the fall

› Resources and time

› Increase interest in and acceptance of qualitative studies over the years

The likely resurgence

Rigorous Studies

Randomized Experiments

Rigorous Regression Discontinuity Designs

Rigorous quasi-experiments

Ross and Morrison

Types of experimental designs

› Randomized experiment

› Rigorous quasi-experiment

Key Words (1)

› Internal validity

› External validity

Internal validity› The purpose of an experiment is to determine the

degree to which outcomes of the study are caused by the treatment (intervention), but not by extraneous factors. This degree to which one can draw valid conclusions about the causal effects of one variable on another is called internal validity.

“The most powerful design for maximizing internal validity is the true experiment . (Slavin, 2002)

Key words (2)

› Experiment A design that involves the comparison of one treatment to another,

using two or more different groups.

› Randomized Experiment A design that involves the comparison of one treatment to another,

using two or more different groups. In randomized experiment design, participants are randomly

assigned to treatment

› Quasi – experiment A design that involves the comparison of one treatment to another,

using two or more different groups. In Quasi-experimental design, participants are not randomly assigned

to treatment.

Research Methods

Quantitative Approach

Descriptive Study

Experimental Study

Randomized Experimental Design

Quasi-Experimental Design

Qualitative Approach

“The most powerful design for maximizing internal validity is the true experiment (Slavin, 2002).

An example of randomized experiment

› Does the “Bio-Sym”, a software package that allows simulated experiments , improve the grade 11 students’ learning in Biology 20?

(adopted from Using Experimental Methods in Higher Education Research Ross and Marrison, 2005)

An example of quasi-experiment

› Does “Bio-Sym”, a software package that allows simulated experiments , improve Grade 11 students’ learning in Biology 20?

(adopted from Using Experimental Methods in Higher Education Research Ross and Marrison, 2005)

Randomized experimental ? Quasi-experimental?

› Rummel et al. (2003) compared usage of a visual mnemonic to free study of a list of theorists’ names and accomplishments. Participants were randomly assigned to either a visual mnemonic or a free study treatment. The visual mnemonic showed an image of one or more individuals with objects to provide the mnemonic device and delayed post-test and a measure of attitude toward the effectiveness of the method. Result showed that participants in the mnemonic group remembered more of the targeted information than the free study group. For designers, this suggests that visual mnemonics are beneficial in helping learners recall important information.

Randomized experiment? Quasi-experiment?

› The study by Cavalier et. Al. (1995) of cooperative learning in a technical training course was conducted. Intact groups were assigned to either a cooperative learning treatment or control (conventional instruction) treatment, both of which were taught by the same instructor. Assessments included a post-test, attitude survey, and group interaction behaviors. Findings showed that practice in a cooperative group environment produced superior achievement as well higher levels of social and cognitive interactions.

Activity

In a small group, › Pick a study topic.

› Discuss whether you would choose true experimental design or quasi-experimental design to your study, and Why?

› Briefly identify what your research process would be.

Factors Impacting the rigor of Experiments on Instructional Strategies

› Types of validity threats› Balancing Internal and External Validity› Basic-applied design replications

Type of validity threats› Group› Time› Teacher› Historical events› And…

“Quasi-experimental designs have the advantage of convenience and practicality due to the random assignment of intact classes rather than individual students to treatments. A disadvantage is reduced internal validity due to the possibility of certain treatment groups, by chance, having more capable students or more favourable learning conditions.” (Ross & Morrison 205)

Other possible validity threats

› Does “Bio-Sym”, a software package that allows simulated experiments , improve Grade 11 students’ learning in Biology 20?

Balancing internal and external validity

Basic-applied design replications

Are media instructional strategies?

Trends and Future of Research

Trends in Design & development Research .

Trends in Product & Tool Research.Trends in Model Research.

The Future of Design & Development Research.

Instructional Technologies:A Brief History

Instructional Technology: Looking Backward, Thinking Forward

A Summary of Reading

Research on Instructional Strategies Research on Educational Technologies

› Does it work? Educational Technology: What Works

Research on instructional design models

Research on instructional design and development

Research Designs

Research on Instructional Strategies

Strategies

Research on Educational Technologies

Technologies

Research on Models for

Instructional Design

Models

Research on Design and

Development

Design and Development

Thank You !

References:› Van

Richey, R. C., Klein, J. D., and Nelson, W. A. (2004). Developmental research: studies of instructional design and development. In Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology, 2nd ed., edited by D. H. Jonassen, pp. 1099–1130. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Ross, S. M., Morrison, G. R., and Lowther, D. (2005). Using experimental methods in higher education Research. J. Comput. Higher Educ., 16(2), 39–64.*

The Rise of Behaviorism--The Psychology of Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner By Kendra Van Wagner, About.com

Hsieh, P., Acee, T., Chung, W., Hsieh, Y., Kim, H., Thomas, G., Levin, J. R., and Robinson, D. H. (2005). Is educational intervention research on the decline? J. Educ. Psychol., 97(4), 523–529.

Levin, J. R. (2004). Random thoughts on the (in)credibility of educational–psychological intervention research. Educ. Psychol., 39(3), 173–184.* http://bobhall.tamu.edu/epsy602/Topics/Articles/Levin.pdf