Chapter 6 Designing a Research Project Introduction to Educational Research (6th ed.) Craig A. Mertler & C.M. Charles Chapter 6 Designing a Research Project 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.

How Planning for Research Should Be Done Attention should be given to: Introduction Method Data analysis Time schedule Budget (Gay & Airasian, 2000) Planning according to whether research is qualitative or quantitative (Wiersma, 2000) Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

Tasks To Be Accomplished When Planning Research TASK #1: State the topic, problem, and questions/hypotheses Include importance of the study, limitations, delimitations, assumptions TASK #2: Outline the library search for related information Include both primary and secondary sources Develop literature review from: general specific earlier more recent Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

Tasks To Be Accomplished When Planning Research (cont’d.) TASK #3: Identify needed data and their sources TASK #4: List the steps needed to complete the study Include sampling procedures (if necessary), descriptions of what will be expected of participants, and methods of ensuring quality of data TASK #5: Specify the procedures and tools to be used in data collection Include description of data collection instruments Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

Tasks To Be Accomplished When Planning Research (cont’d.) TASK #6: Foresee how data can best be analyzed and interpreted Differentiate between qualitative and quantitative data Anticipate possible findings and conclusions TASK #7: Anticipate the appropriate report format, based on a generic format: 1. Specification of the problem 2. Review of related literature 3. Procedures and data collection 4. Data analysis 5. Findings 6. Conclusions Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

Applying Technology… Web sites to assist in writing reports Dr. Trochim’s "Key Elements" of research reports (socialresearchmethods.net/kb/guideelements.htm) Dr. Trochim’s guide to "Formatting" research reports (socialresearchmethods.net/kb/formatting.htm) The complete text of a sample research paper (socialresearchmethods.net/kb/sampaper.htm) Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008