Introduction to Educational Research 6 th ed Craig

Introduction to Educational Research (6 th ed. ) Craig A. Mertler & C. M. Charles Chapter 1 Educational Research: Its Nature and Rules of Operation This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: • Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; • Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; • Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Seeking Answers to Questions • Familiar sources of information: » Tradition—relying on past behaviors » Authority—seek out opinions of experts » Common sense—logical human reasoning • Familiar sources often prove to be unsuccessful…why? • Less familiar sources of information: » Science—study and theoretical explanation » Scientific method—systematic discovery of facts and relationships » Research—systematic investigation Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008 2

The Scientific Method • Definition—strategy used to determine facts and relationships; then used to answer questions and resolve problems » Facts—agreements made by people knowledgeable in the field » Relationships—cause-and-effect associations among facts » Common sense—logical human reasoning • Scientific method is a procedure for thinking and making decisions objectively Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 3 2008

The Scientific Method (cont’d. ) • Steps involved in the process: (1) Identify a problem (2) State the main question inherent in the problem (3) State a hypothesis (4) Collect information related to the question (5) Analyze and interpret information (6) Form conclusions derived from analysis/interpretation (7) Use conclusions to verify/reject hypothesis • Steps may not be followed in precise order; dependent on specific type of research being used 4 Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

Educational Research • The application of the scientific method to educational phenomenon • Steps involved in the process: (1) Identify a problem (2) State the main question inherent in the problem (3) State a hypothesis (4) Review pertinent and related literature (5) Collect information related to the question (6) Analyze and interpret information (7) Form conclusions derived from analysis/interpretation (8) Use conclusions to verify/reject hypothesis 5 Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

Rules of Operation • Necessary to credibly obtain reliable/valid information from which to draw conclusions • Legal Principles (for the use of human subjects): » National Research Act of 1974 » Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (1974) » College/school district institutional review boards 6 Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

Rules of Operation (cont’d. ) • Ethical Principles (moral aspects of research): » Principle of beneficence » Principle of honesty » Principle of accurate disclosure • Philosophical Principles (anticipated value of investigation): » Principle of importance » Principle of generalizability » Principle of replicability » Principle of probability 7 Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

Rules of Operation (cont’d. ) • Procedural Principles: » Principle of researchability » Principle of parsimony » Principle of credibility » Principle of rival explanations • A few words about the benefits of practically-oriented research…EDUCATORS AS RESEARCHERS 8 Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

Applying Technology… Web sites addressing ethical research practices • Bowling Green State University, Office of Research Compliance (www. bgsu. edu/offices/orc/hsrb) • University of Maine, Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (www. orsp. umesp. maine. edu/Human. Subjects. htm) • University of Minnesota, Office of the Institutional Review Board (www. research. umn. edu/irb) • University of Washington, Human Subjects Division Institutional Review Board (www. washington. edu/research/hsd/irb. php) 9 Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008