Approaches to Educational and Social Research

1. Approaches to Educational and Social Research

2. These take a wide variety of forms and serve many purposes. Research is carried out to gain a better understanding of the world around us. • Scientific research is used to determine issues in education, social care and health. • It is linked to practice and often is policy orientated. • It is extensive and diverse. • Much research is government funded to gather information and reflect social trends.

6. Research • A systematic investigation so planned and conducted as to be complete and orderly. • Should be free from prejudice and result in some conclusions which are in harmony with the scope of stated objectives. It aims to bring about changes in the community.

7. It involves: • PLANNING • INVESTIGATION • ACHIEVEMENT OF AIMS • ANALYSIS OR INTERPRETATION OF FACTS • CLEAR STYLE OF PRESENTATION

8. Research collection methods are diverse. • Qualitative. • Quantitative. • The data relied upon is usually either VERBAL or NUMERICAL.

9. Opinions Facts Beliefs Values Statistics Personal Experiences Table Quantitative or Qualitative…..you decide

10. Different types of sources • PRIMARY sources involve the personal involvement of the researcher. • SECONDARY data uses existing information collected by predecessors. • It should always be commented on and should be used to add something extra to your research.

11. Surveys • Questionnaires • Interviews • Observations • Case Studies These are all examples of PRIMARY RESOURCES

12. How could you start a piece of research? • Use textbooks • Work of other academics • Newspapers, Journals, TV, Video evidence • Databases (Official statistics/Policies) These are all called SECONDARY RESOURCES

13. ETHICS – Q&A • What are research ethics? • What does ‘prioritising the rights of the participants’ mean? • How would you make sure that the results of your research can be published? • What is meant by ‘anonymity’? • What does confidentiality refer to? • What does Data Protection cover? • Why is consent important? • What are the advantages of ethics in research? • Identify the dilemmas for gaining access to research settings.

14. Observations Fieldwork

15. Social Survey Research • This involves collecting data from a large enough sample that is representative. • Typically this gathers information using standard questions to a large number of the population. • This can be collected on a great number of people in a relatively short period of time.

16. Sampling • Sampling is the key to most successful survey research. • Population: Identified group to be studied. People, schools, colleges, teenagers etc. • Sample: A particular group based upon an identified variable. E.g. single parents, females, students aged 17-20 etc.

17. Representation • Each member of a population has the opportunity to be included. • A study should be representative of the population and should have the same characteristics as the population as a whole.

18. Generalisations • These apply to the population as a whole and are generally found to be true.