EDU 702

Research Methodology

Housekeeping

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Sample Originality Report

Introduction

» What is research» Why carry out research» Types and approaches» Terminologies

If we knew what it was we are doing, it would not be called research, would it be?

Albert Einstein

What is research to you?

Is it..about problems?

» Response to a problem?» Solving a problem?

˃ What do you do when solving a problem?+ Understand the problem+ Devise a plan to obtain a solution+ Use the plan+ Evaluate the outcome

Sleep habits and academic achievement

General definition

» Research is the formal systematic application of the scientific and disciplined inquiry approach to the study of problems

General definition

» Research is the formal systematic application of the scientific and disciplined inquiry approach to the study of problems

» What do we mean by scientific?

The scientific method1 2 3 4

Formulate the hypothesis (a tentative proposition about the relation between two or more theoretical constructs)

Test the hypothesis (design a study to establish whether the relationship between the constructs are as predicted)

Collect data Decide to accept or reject hypothesis

A research is..

A diligent search or inquiry - scientific investigation and study to discover facts

All claims open to question Knowledge can be observed and

tested again

The purpose of scientific research

» To Describe - describe the shape, colour, change over time, relation to other constructs and so on..

» To Predict - given what is known the scientist attempts to predict what might happen..

» To Control - by manipulating certain variables the scientist is interested in determining whether it will lead to controlling a particular condition.

» To Explain in the form of a Theory - ultimately the scientist is interested in forming a theory to explain the phenomena being investigated.

So what then isEDUCATIONAL RESEARCH?

An educational research is..

A systematic, and organized effort to investigate and provide trustworthy information about educational problems, issues and topics

HP IN SCHOOL

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Academic dishonesty

Characteristics of research

» Research begins with a question in the mind of the researcher.

» Research demands a clear statement of the problem.» Research requires a plan » Research seeks direction through appropriate

hypotheses or research questions» Research deals with facts and their meaning.

Systematic processes in educational research

1 2 3 4

Identify a problem

Review known information in the problem area – put forward a hypothesis/ formulate research questions

Collect dataAnalyze and interpret data

Report findings – give answers, solve problem based on analysis

Design a study to test hypothesis/ answer the research questions

Why carry out research?

Explore? Describe? Predict? Control? Explain?

Why carry out edu research?

» To provide evidence to help people decide which opinions are correct – or more correct

» To help develop better ways to think about the field of education

Why carry out edu research?

» To investigate problems or questions concerned with improvement of education (Sowell, 2001)˃ contribute to the advances of knowledge and theory˃ provide insights into societal concerns˃ solve a particular problem within a particular setting

Educational research continuum

» Basic˃ contribute to the advances of knowledge and theory

» Applied˃ provide insights into societal concerns˃ solve a particular problem within a particular setting

» Evaluation˃ Decision making

Compare

»Basic˃ Apply to many people and

situations˃ Relate to general theory˃ Results may not have

immediate or clear implications for practice

»Applied˃ Apply to specific group of

people and situations˃ Not necessarily related to

broader field of knowledge˃ Results have immediate and

clear implications for practice

Educational Research

Purposeful SystematicEthical ValidReliable

outcomes

Validity and Reliability

» Validity˃ Outcomes are accurate?˃ Data collection provide

accurate data?˃ Analysis suitable for answering

the research questions?

»Reliability˃ Outcomes are trustworthy?˃ Can depend on the outcomes?˃ Can replicate data?

Terminologies

research methodology The study of research methods A singular that does not admit of a plural

research technique A specific means, approach or tool-and-its-use,

whereby data is gathered and analysed, and inferences are drawn

research method The manner in which a particular project is

undertaken

Terminologies

variable any characteristic that is not always the same characteristics that vary

relationship A statement about variables

hypothesis Statement that can be tested

theory An explanation of how and why things happen Tested

Terminologies

Research instrument Anything used to collect information

Questionnaire Researcher as the instrument

Deduction Starts with a theory, apply to data Tested

Induction Data leads to theory

Consider

»Research 1˃ Investigates how fluid cools off

»Research 2˃ Investigates how the

motivation of TESL students change with the utilization of different technology in class

Research 1

» Variables˃ Dependent -Temperature of fluid˃ Independent – Time˃ Others – type of fluid, room temperature

» Hypothesis˃ Temperature decreases with time

» Theory˃ Newton’s law of cooling

» Instrument˃ Thermometer

» Analysis˃ Tabulate, graph

Research 2

» Variables˃ Dependent –Motivation˃ Independent – ?˃ Others – level of difficulty, personal problems etc

» Hypothesis˃ The more recent the technology, the higher the level of motivation

» Theory˃ “No specific law” – but have been researched

» Instrument˃ Questionnaire

» Analysis˃ Compute correlation coefficient

How do we define motivation ‘operationally’?

» Specify actions or operations to measure motivation˃ States that he/she likes research class˃ Display interests – pays attention˃ Observed to ask questions about subject˃ Turns in all homework/assignments on time

Are younger students more anxious in math courses compared to older students?

What are the variables?Is there a relationship to be tested?

How to operationalise “anxiety”?

Identify research area

» Your personal interest» Accessibility» Socially relevant / useful» Reiterate the significance of your would-be

research

English language research

» University of Edinburgh http://www.lel.ed.ac.uk/research/

» Syntax & Semantics Research- research in both of these core areas of linguistic theory, and in the interfaces between them and other areas, such as pragmatics.

» The Phonetics & Phonology - researchers treating a very broad range of topics - "from speech synthesis to OT" - as part of a unified field of activity; hardly anyone in the group can readily be pigeonholed as a "phonologist" or a "phonetician".

» The Centre for Speech Technology Research (CSTR) - concerned with research in all areas of speech technology including speech recognition, speech synthesis, speech signal processing, information access, multimodal interfaces and dialogue systems.

» The Language in Context Research - investigates how the social, interpersonal and discursive context of language shapes its forms and uses.

» The Developmental Linguistics Research - undertakes theoretical and experimental research on language acquisition, language attrition, and language change. The fundamental research aim is to investigate the nature of the constraints on how linguistic knowledge can vary over time, both within and between individuals.

Educational Management

» Analysis of political, economic, social, legal and cultural environment in which educational organisations work

» Autonomy, professionalism and decision policies » Change management and education quality » Classroom management » Computers in educational administration » Differing cultural perceptions of management in education » Distance education and multimedia environments » Education economics » Educational leadership » Educational systems planning/strategic planning » Equity and education

Educational Management

» Globalisation and education » Information systems for education and training support » Leadership in education » Lifelong learning and development of competences » Management in higher education / Management of e-education » Managing the curriculum » Marketing in education » Organisations as learning communities » Policy analysis and evaluation of institutions and study programmes » Professional development of teaching staff » Public policies management » School and school system improvement » Transactional education, student and teaching mobility

Art Education

Art Education

» The Nineteenth-Century Artist-Teacher: A Case Study of George Wallis and the Creation of a New Identity

» Dyslexia and the Studio: Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice

» Facilitating meta learning in Art and Design Education» Making Creative Spaces: The Art and Design Classroom

as a Site of Performativity» Ecological mural as community reconnection

Do background reading

» Systematic» Start with newspaper, magazines, tv news» Read textbook» Read reports» Read journals

Big picture

Problems

Topic

Variables

Concept

Theory

Methods

Issues

Concerns

Most important

» You have research questions and you answer them by providing data collected through valid and reliable processes.

TASK

» Explore the contents in the i-Learn portal» Think of an area you want to research» Set up your portfolio

˃ Start posting your reflection/thoughts/ideas

» Register as National Academies Press user at http://www.nap.edu/ and ˃ read “ Scientific Research in education (2002)” chapter 5

» Better still read the whole book :-D