INTRODUCTION EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

WHY RESEARCH? World of the PAST World of the PRESENT World of the Future

RESEARCH Prime Goal of DISCOVERY Definition: way in which we proceed to solve problems

RESEARCH PROCEDURE Begins with identified problem Ends with conclusion Based on observable facts Logical Orderly

RESEARCH PROCEDURE Guided by reasonable guesses or hypotheses Confirms/rejects guesses - hypotheses on basis of facts Conclusion resolves problem Research is circular

WHAT RESEARCH IS NOT “years of research have been spent on this product”. looking up something in the library writing a paper with a reference list---not a term paper

WHAT RESEARCH IS NOT no discovery, no data interpretation, no awareness of meaning of facts no research

EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH Definition: –the formal, systematic application of the scientific method to the study of educational problems (Gay, 1996)

Two Key Points to Remember: l Researcher must remain Neutral and Objective l Research should NOT be conducted in Isolation from other research, but should build or extend known

RESEARCH CHARACTERISTICS l Begins with researcher’s question l Ask WHY? or WHAT’S THE CAUSE? l State problem clearly - unambiguous l Reqiures a plan l Not aimless by looking something up

RESEARCH CHARACTERISTICS l Problem into appropriate subproblems l Seeks direction through appropriate hypothesis (reasonable guess) l Deals with facts and their meanings

RESEARCH CHARACTERISTICS l Significance/importance of data depends on way facts regarded l Research is circular l Problem’s solution begets another problem l Acceptance/rejection of hypothesis

THEORETICAL VS APPLIED l Theoretical (or Basic) l looks at underlying relationships without regard to practical applications l Example: biochemistry of brain l Applied l examines practices for application purposes l Example: dropouts, drug prevention

TOOLS OF RESEARCH l Library l Know your way around l ERIC l SSCI

TOOLS OF RESEARCH l Computer Skills l Word processing l Statistical skills l WWW--Internet

Tools of Research l Statistics l #s and facts--translates l nature of data determines types of statistics used

Tools of Research l Statistics l Assist in four ways: l 1. Central tendencies l 2. Variability l 3. Relationships l 4. Ways to test data

Attitudes of Scientists l DOUBTING THOMASES; skeptical attitude toward data of science l OBJECTIVE and IMPARTIAL l FACTS, not values l NOT satisfied with isolated facts; INTERGRATE & SYSTEMATIZE

Characteristics of Scientific Inquiry l OBJECTIVITY l CONTROL OF BIAS l WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE BELIEFS l VERIFICATION

Characteristics of Scientific Inquiry l INDUCTION l PRECISION l TRUTH

Yes, We are done!