Topic 3:Educational Research

Procedure

Planning

• Step 1: Identify problem• Step 2: Review prior research• Step 3: Determine budget *• Step 4: Determine the purpose, research questions, or hypotheses• Step 5: Consider research implications• Step 6: Construct a research proposal

Gathering Data

• Step 7: Gather data

Reporting Resul

ts

• Step 8: Analyze data• Step 9: Determine findings• Step 10: Report conclusions, implications, and limitations

Planning

Step 1. Identify the problem or topic

Perform literature review:• To gain understanding of the current state

of knowledge pertaining to your research idea.–New topic? Explored topic? (why)–Design your study (how)–Data collection method (what)

Step 2. Review prior research

• To provide foundational knowledge about the problem area. (rough idea)

- Common sources: books, review articles, websites• Educates the researcher about what studies have

been conducted in the past.• Helps understand the magnitude of the problem.

Step 3. Determine the budget* (extra step)

• Budgets–Materials support & equipments– Finance

Step 4. Determine the purposes, research questions,

or hypotheses

• Identify clear purposes• 4 general purposes:–explore–describe–predict–explain

• Narrow the scope of the study

Step 5. Consider research implications

• Underlying goals• Rationales of the study research• Importance of the study implications

These implications are linked to the research problem, research purpose, research

questions or hypothesis.

Step 6. Construct a research proposal

(Research methodology)

• Research proposal is a detailed description of how the study will be conducted.

What is included in a research proposal?

– Title– Researchers of the study– Statement of the research problem and purpose– Review of relevant literature– Research questions and hypotheses– Informations to be gathered– Participants of the study– Potential benefits & risks– Designs and procedure for gathering data– Data collection method– Data analysis method

Gathering Data

Step 7. Gathering data

• Information acquisition• Considerations made on:

i. What variables to investigateii. Units of analysis @ participants of the studyiii. Human subject protectionsiv. Procedures used for selecting participants.v. Methods & procedures used for data collectionsvi. Reliability & validity of collection methods

Reporting Results

Step 8. Analyze data

Qualitative:– Involves • Identifying patterns• Identifying categories• Identifying theme

Quantitative (using statistical analysis tools)– Identify statistical relationship between variables.

QualitativeQuantitativeBoth qualitative & quantitative

Data Analysis Method

Step 9. Determine findings

• Determine findings from data analysis.- Qualitative data: detailed and specific findings- Quantitative data: statistical information and general findings- Mixed approach: describe how the findings supplement each other and help explain a more complete picture

Step 10. Report conclusions, implications and limitations

• Conclusions are statements that interpret and evaluate the results found from the study.

• Factors to consider when reporting conclusions/ disseminations:1) Tailoring report content for the audience2) Explaining the purpose of the study3) Integrating findings with the result from prior

research4) Relating findings to your research questions and

hypotheses.

# Discuss also about:1) practical @theoretical implications drawn from the study.

2) shortcomings @ limitations of the research3) directions @ suggestion for future research.

References:

• https://www.utexas.edu/academic/ctl/assessment/iar/research/plan/process.php

• http://lrc.coastalbend.edu/content.php?pid=145270&sid=1235201

• http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/steps-of-the-research-process