Leadership Performance Assessment EDL586 Research: Research: The act of ‘coming to know’ The Two Goals of Researchers: The Two Goals of Researchers: 1. Intelligent ‘Consumption’ 2. Intelligent ‘Production’ in an Information Driven World Information Driven World

Eight Types of Research Descriptive Descriptive Case Study Case Study Historical Historical Correlational Correlational Developmental Developmental Ex-Post Facto Ex-Post Facto True-Experimental True-Experimental Quasi-Experimental Quasi-Experimental

Descriptive Describing the characteristic traits of a Describing the characteristic traits of a particular sample, or population How Many? How Much? How Many? How Much? The Cost of something The Cost of something How do my parents feel about the after school Intervention program offered at my school? How do my parents feel about the after school Intervention program offered at my school?

Case Study Looks in depth at a particular population Looks in depth at a particular population Clinical Research: typically case study Clinical Research: typically case study What happens to the GPA of abused children when they attend school? What happens to the GPA of abused children when they attend school? Used for strategic planning in organizations, programs, etc. Used for strategic planning in organizations, programs, etc. Weakness: is specific – difficult to generalize to larger populations Weakness: is specific – difficult to generalize to larger populations

Historical Uses ‘Historiography’ as methodology Uses ‘Historiography’ as methodology How does a past event affect the present? How does a past event affect the present? Utilizes in-depth search of literature in primary and secondary sources Utilizes in-depth search of literature in primary and secondary sources Time-Consuming Time-Consuming Examines People and Places Examines People and Places

Correlational Examines the relationship between two variables. Examines the relationship between two variables. What happens to test scores when class size goes up? What happens to test scores when class size goes up? When I work out more does my weight go up or down? When I work out more does my weight go up or down?

Developmental How something changes over time How something changes over time Children and Growth Children and Growth Cost per student over time Cost per student over time Infrastructure of an organization Infrastructure of an organization

Ex-Post Facto “after the fact” “after the fact” (causal-comparative) (causal-comparative) Examines something after it has already happened. The differences between two or more groups after they’re already that way. Examines something after it has already happened. The differences between two or more groups after they’re already that way. ‘Test scores and socio-economics’ (NCLB) ‘Test scores and socio-economics’ (NCLB)

True-Experimental The ‘King’ of research – strongest The ‘King’ of research – strongest Three fundamental conditions: Three fundamental conditions: 1. Treatment – Spelling Practice 2. Randomization – Participants have an equal chance to be selected. equal chance to be selected. 3. Control Group – comparing treatment group with non-treatment group. group with non-treatment group.

Quasi-Experimental Uses pre-post test with no control group Uses pre-post test with no control group Physical Fitness Testing Physical Fitness Testing Sit-ups in Sept., Nov., Jan., and March Sit-ups in Sept., Nov., Jan., and March Sept: Pre-Test Nov & Jan: Benchmarks March: Post-Test

Action Research Basic Steps: Basic Steps: 1. Identify a real concern 2. Break down into related questions 3. Make a list of information to gather in order to answer the questions 4. Read about how others have investigated the same concerns

continued… 5. Make a plan for: a. gathering information b. how you will analyze the findings 6. Chart a time frame for completion 7. Share findings with others; get feedback 8. Use findings to improve instruction

An Old Social Science Debate Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research QuantitativeQualitative Numerical DataNarrative Data Controlled ScienceObservation Knowledge is concreteKnowledge is interpreted within a social context

Action Research: Examples 1. Ways to increase parental involvement in homework for 4 th grade ESL/ELL students. 2. The influence of personality traits on athletic motivation for high school students. 3. The benefits of journals in 9 th grade Basic English classes.

A Good Research Question Identify Topic or issue Identify Topic or issue Place in a specific context, grade level, activity, program, etc. Place in a specific context, grade level, activity, program, etc. Who’s In? Who’s Out? (students, teachers, parents, community, etc.) Who’s In? Who’s Out? (students, teachers, parents, community, etc.) Assess: Am I seeking a real ‘need to know’ or do we already have this information? Assess: Am I seeking a real ‘need to know’ or do we already have this information?

“What kinds of …” Questions Benefits Benefits Problems Problems Differences Differences Variations Variations Awareness Awareness Supports Supports Strategies Strategies Strengths Strengths Growth Growth

The Significance of Educational Research Body of knowledge expanding rapidly Body of knowledge expanding rapidly Scholars focusing on physical, mental, and emotional fields Scholars focusing on physical, mental, and emotional fields Whole person is studied in relation to learning Whole person is studied in relation to learning Research in Education: theoretical and practical. Has increased in quality, range, and depth. Research in Education: theoretical and practical. Has increased in quality, range, and depth.

Your Research Project Will add to the body of knowledge in the field of Education. Will add to the body of knowledge in the field of Education. Will provide conceptual and methodological approaches for dealing with problems in Education. Will provide conceptual and methodological approaches for dealing with problems in Education. Will identify important attitudes, beliefs, and intentions in the field of Education. Will identify important attitudes, beliefs, and intentions in the field of Education. May serve as a publication or professional presentation in the field. May serve as a publication or professional presentation in the field.