METHODS OF METHODS OF RESEARCHRESEARCH

EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

1.1. Theory drivenTheory driven 2.2. Discovery of Discovery of

knowledgeknowledge

BASIC RESEARCHBASIC RESEARCH

APPLIED RESEARCHAPPLIED RESEARCH

1. IMMEDIATE practical problem 2. ACTUAL problems in field 3. LIMITED GENERALIZABILITY

Which is which?Which is which?

Comparison of the attitudes of different student ethnic groups toward General Education requirements at VSU to determine why more African-Americans than Caucasians are dropping out of college before taking courses in their majors.

APPLIED

Which is which?Which is which?

Persons are interested in whether counselors who are “recovering alcoholics” are more effective than counselors who are not “recovering alcoholics.”

BASIC

Which is which?Which is which?

What is the relationship between self-esteem and body size?

BASIC Are differences present between

boys and girls in their psychological perspectives of self?

BASIC

Which is which?Which is which?

What is the effectiveness of using manipulatives in instructional practices?

BASIC What is the effect of student-teacher

progression on students’ achievement at Lowndes County High School?

APPLIED

EXPERIMENTALEXPERIMENTAL

Independent Variable (IV) manipulated by researcher

Dependent Variable (DV) measured CONTROLled setting Simple and powerful Cause and effect relationships

CAUSAL-COMPARATIVECAUSAL-COMPARATIVE

Ex Post Facto research IV cannot be manipulated ethically Changes in IV have already occurred Groups may be different before IV Produces cause-effect relationship

DESCRIPTIVEDESCRIPTIVE

Tells what is; describes present state of affairs

NO manipulation of variables Subcategories– surveys– developmental studies– follow-up studies– trend studies

CASE STUDYCASE STUDY

Detailed study of person/group Person or group -- atypical Entire range behaviors--relationships

to person’s history and environment Reactions-naturally occurring events

CONTENT ANALYSISCONTENT ANALYSIS

Analysis of documents– textbooks newspapers– journals speeches

Unobtrusive, easy to replicate Search for themes Widely used

Which are which?Which are which?

Effect of divorce on student achievement

CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE Comparison of 5 school districts

regarding their discipline policies

CONTENT ANALYSIS

Which are which?Which are which?

What is the effect of cooperative learning on student achievement in 7th grade science?

EXPERIMENTAL Investigation of computer versus

traditional instruction when students can be assigned randomly to classes.

EXPERIMENTAL

Which are which?Which are which?

Evaluation of Ted Bundy.

CASE STUDY A survey of graduate students’

attitudes toward the increase in tuition.

DESCRIPTIVE

Yes,Yes,We are

Done!!