Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 4: Preparing and Evaluating a Research Plan Objectives Define and discuss the purpose of a research plan. Briefly describe each component of a quantitative research plan. Briefly describe each component of a qualitative research plan. Briefly describe ways in which a research plan can be evaluated.

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 2 Definition & Purpose of a Research Plan A research plan is a detailed description of a proposed research study. After you have completed a review of the literature and formulated a hypothesis you are ready to develop the rest of the research plan.

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 3 Definition & Purpose of a Research Plan A research plan requires that you think through every aspect of your study. A research plan facilitates evaluation of the research. A research plan provides detailed procedures that will guide the study. A research plan saves time and provides structure.

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 Considerations in a Research Plan Although ethics and human relations are not specific to the research plan, it is important to keep both in the front of your mind as you work through your research plan.

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 5 Components of a Quantitative Plan Introduction Statement of the topic State early, description of topic background and rationale Review of related literature Provides overview, leads to the hypothesis, concludes with brief summary of the literature and implications Statement of the hypothesis Each hypothesis, as well as a clear expectation and the underlying explanation for each prediction, is stated.

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 6 Components of a Quantitative Plan Method Section Research participants Number, source, and characteristics Instruments Psychometric properties, justification, processes for administration Materials/Apparatus Any special equipment should be specified. Design & Procedure Identify or describe the design. State all the steps of the study.

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 7 Components of a Quantitative Plan Data Analysis Description of planned analytical and statistical techniques Time schedule Realistic time schedule, plan for more time than you expect Budget Especially important if seeking funding from internal or external sources

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 8 Components of a Qualitative Plan Qualitative plans tend to be less structured. However plans are still important for various constituents (e.g.,IRB, committees, funding agents). Prior fieldwork Some, but not all, qualitative researchers suggest prior fieldwork is necessary to develop an effective plan.

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 9 Components of a Qualitative Plan Title Provides frame of reference and source for reflection, conveys key concepts Introduction Purpose of the research Statement that sets stage for study Framing the study Demonstrates relevance and relation to existing literature

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 10 Components of a Qualitative Plan Initial research questions May or may not state research questions, may provide guiding statements Review of related literature May not be complete at the outset of the study

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 11 Components of a Qualitative Plan Research Procedures Section Overall approach and rationale for the study Identification and rationale for research classification (e.g., ethnography) Site and sample selection Explain why a site and or sample was chosen The researcher’s role Explain negotiations for entry, ethical dilemmas, agreements

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 12 Components of a Qualitative Plan Research Procedures Section Data collection methods Fieldwork techniques or tools that will be used Data management strategies When data will be collected and how it will be stored Data analysis strategies Describe procedures for collating and how they will be categorized Trustworthiness features Address validity and reliability issues

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 13 Components of a Qualitative Plan Research Procedures Section Ethical considerations Discussion of informed consent, plan for ethical issues that may arise Potential contributions of the research Why the study is important, Answer “So what?” Limitations of the study Perceived limitations that you may not be able to control, generally brief in a plan Appendices Timeline, table of contents, consent forms

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 14 Revising and Improving the Plan Plans evolve Have others review your plan and give you feedback Field test and conduct a pilot study

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 15 Comparing Research Proposals Quantitative Topic stated at the beginning to guide process Review conducted early in the study Hypotheses related to review of literature and specific Participants chosen from population, sample may be large Data from tests, questionnaires, may be little direct contact with researcher Qualitative Statement may be preceded by fieldwork, may be very broad Review of literature may guide hypotheses Formal hypotheses rarely stated Small number of participants purposively sampled Data from observations, interviews, artifacts

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 16 Comparing Research Proposals Quantitative Formal series of steps used to conduct the research study, designs specified May be mixed methods May have similar general procedures across types May be relatively short time, data may be quickly analyzed Budget will vary Qualitative Research formats are flexible and may change during the study May be mixed methods May have similar general procedures across types Often lengthy data collection time in field Budget will vary

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Application, 9 th edition. Gay, Mills, & Airasian © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. 17 Comparing Research Proposals Quantitative Budget will vary Generally statistics used to analyze data Report rests on analyses of the data Qualitative Budget will vary Generally descriptive narrative and visual analyses used Report rests on narrative