S

Research Questions

Consider…

Being able to EVALUATE research is the first step in becoming a researcher. This said…read, read, read…every study that you read enables you to become a better researcher.

As you read, be sure that you clearly understand:

The question or purpose of the study

The subject or participants

Treatment, criteria or conditions. For a quantitative (statistical) study, the researcher

should describe the independent variable. For a qualitative (descriptive) study, the researcher

should describe the general setting, the environment, or condition in which the data were collected.

Measures or instruments

Results

Conclusions or Findings

Think in terms of…

Specific

Focused

Narrow

Action Oriented

Here are just a few examples to get you thinking…

The Effect of Guided Oral Reading Groups on Students’ Reading Fluency and

Comprehension

Hypothesis/Research Question:

How does the implementation of guided oral reading groups effect reading fluency and comprehension?

The Impact of Additional Consistent Phonics Instruction on Oral Reading Fluency in Third

Grade

Hypothesis/Research Question:

How will additional, consistent phonics instruction effect oral reading fluency?

The Impact of Readers’ Theater on Reading Fluency and Student Attitude Toward

Reading

Hypothesis/Research Question:

What effects does Readers’ Theater have on the oral reading fluency scores of first graders?

How do different aspects of oral reading fluency (rate, expression and volume, phrasing, smoothness, and pace) change for students as they participate in Readers’ Theater?

Most of this information is from your book, “A Short Guide to Action Research.”

Pay careful attention to Chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12 – these will keep you on track!