Understanding Educational Research: A Comprehensive Guide

1. An Introduction to the Research Process Dr Vicente Chua Reyes, Jr.

2. Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition By the end of this module, you should be able to: • Define educational research • Identify the importance of educational research • Name problems with research today • Describe the research process • Identify ethical considerations in conducting research • Reflect on the skills you bring to the research process

3. Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition What Is Research? • The researcher asks a question. • The researcher collects data. • The researcher indicates how the data answered the question.

4. Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition A Definition of Research Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information in order to increase our understanding of a topic or issue. What are the factors that determine student achievement?

5. Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Importance of Research • Reason 1: Research adds to our knowledge. • Addresses gaps in knowledge • Expands knowledge • Replicates knowledge • Adds voices of individuals to knowledge • What are the factors that determine student achievement? • Gender, Race, Student Background, Family – Student level factors • Teacher, Classroom, School Budgets, School equipment – School level factors • Is there INTERACTION between Student level and School level factors?

6. Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Importance of Research (cont’d) • Reason 2: Research helps improve practice. • Educators gain new ideas for their job. • Educators gain new insights into approaches. • Educators can connect with other educators. • What are the factors that determine student achievement? • Student level factors – What are the implications to teaching practice? Mother tongue? • School level factors – What are the implications to school practices? Streaming?

7. Importance of Research (cont’d) • Reason 3: Research helps inform policy debates. • Research allows people to weigh different perspectives on issues. • Research enables people to make informed decisions regarding policy. • What are the factors that determine student achievement? • Student level factors – What is the impact of existing policy/ies? School vouchers? • School level factors – What kind of policy interventions are necessary? Government funding Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

8. Problems with Research Today • Contradictory or vague findings • Questionable data • Unclear statements about the intent of the study • Lack of full disclosure of the data collection procedure • Inarticulate rendering of the research problem Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition

9. Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition The Process of Research Identify the Research Problem Review the Literature Report and Evaluate Research Analyze and Interpret Data Specify a Research Purpose Collect Data

10. Specify a problem Justify a problem Suggest a need to study the problem for audiences Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition The Process of Research: Identify the Research Problem

11. Locate resources Books Journals Electronic resources Select resources Determine the relevant resources for the topic Organize the resources by developing a “Literature Map” Summarize the resources in a literature review Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition The Process of Research: Review the Literature

12. Identify the purpose statement The major intent of the study The participants in the study The site of the study Narrow the purpose statement Quantitative: Write research questions and/or hypothesis Qualitative: Identify a central phenomenon and write sub-questions Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition The Process of Research: Specify a Research Purpose • What are the factors that determine student achievement? • Quantitative approach – Mean scores of student achievement (SAT, PSLE); controlling for student and school level factors • Qualitative approach – Nuances in classroom sub-cultures that promote or impede student achievement, for example: “student voice”, “teacher-talk”

13. Determine the data collection method Select the individuals to study Design data collection instruments and outline data collection procedures Obtain permissions Gather data Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition The Research Process: Collect Data

14. Take the data apart to look at individual responses Represent the data in tables, figures, and pictures Explain conclusions from the data that address the research questions Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition The Research Process: Analyze and Interpret Data

15. Report research Determine the audience for the report Structure the report Write the report sensitively and accurately Evaluate research Assess the quality of research using recognized standards in a discipline Standards can come from the academic community, school districts, or federal or state agencies Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition The Research Process: Report and Evaluate Research

16. Respect the rights of the participants Honor the requests and restrictions of the research site Report the research fully and honestly Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Ethical Considerations in Research

17. Curiosity to solve puzzles Long attention span Library and computer resource skills Writing and editing skills Adapted from : John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Skills Needed for Research