Qualitative Research:

Is multi-method in focus, involving an interpretive, naturalistic approach to its subject matter. That is qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting make sense of, or interpret, phenomena in terms of the meanings of people bring to them. Qualitative research is an attempt to 'get a better fix on the subject matter at had' (Denzin and Lincoln, 1998). It usually starts off with how or what so it is the initial foray into the topic and is trying to describe what is going on. The questions are trying to elicit greater understandings of perceptions, attitudes, and processes. Example-I want to understand how teachers interpret a reform model.

Quantitative Research:

The collection of numerical data in order to describe, explain, predict and/or control phenomena of interest.

Quasi-experimental research:

Similar to experimental design, however the researcher cannot control one of the following (the three elements of a research design)-environment, treatment, assignment to experimental and control groups.

Related research:

Not considered scientifically based research, but can be used to provide the following background information:

• Knowledge about the intervention (program or practice).

• Knowledge about the application/implementation of the intervention (program or practice)

Theory:

A set of propositions that are interrelated in an ordered fashion such that some may be deductible from others, thus permitting an explanation to be developed for the phenomenon under consideration. In other words, theory provides the organization of a research project-it determines the use of methods and the interpretation of results.

Validity:

The degree to which a test measures what it is intended to measure. The test is valid for a particular purpose or group. It doesn't directly refer to the strength of the conclusions.

Case study:

An in depth study of individual unit - individual, group, institution, organization, or program. The case may be a individual, a city, an event, a system, or any other possible object for analysis. The advantage of the case study method is that it allows more intensive analyses of specific empirical details. However, it is difficult to use the results to generalize to other cases.

Control Group:

The group in an experiment design that receives no treatment or a different treatment from the experimental group. The control group is needed to see if treatment is more effective that current approach and has to be matched with experimental groups in terms of age, abilities, race, etc.

Conclusion:

The conclusion responds to the original research question and hypothesis to answer the question. What did the study show? It should bring coherence to the study.

Descriptive Research:

A descriptive study reports the way things are. It is also used to summarize, organize and simplify data. Typical questions asked in descriptive studies are:

• How do kids score on reading achievement tests across race/ethnicity and gender?

• How safe do students feel in school?

Discussion:

The discussion connects the various aspects of the data analysis-shows the commonalities across groups, uniqueness, inconsistencies, etc., and identifies the limits to the study resulting from the design and data analysis.

Educational Research:

The formal, systematic application of the scientific method to the study of educational problems.

Empirical methods:

Research methods and data gathering techniques supported by measurable evidence, not opinion or speculation.

Ethnographic research:

The collection of extensive narrative data on many variables over an extended period of time in a naturalistic setting in order to gain insights not possible using other types of research. For ethnographic research, observations are done at particular points of time. Data would include observations, recording and interpreting what is seen.

Experimental design:

A study in which there is random assignment of subjects to different groups so that there are no major differences between the control and comparison groups. An experimental study controls all the conditions:

 

1. •
2. The environment

    

 

3. •
4. Sample assignment (random assignment in two groups)

    

 

5. •
6. Treatment/Intervention (Practice/Program)

    

Experimental group:

The group in an experimental design that receives the treatment. The experimental group is needed to receive the treatment under investigation and has to be matched with control group in terms of age, abilities, race, etc.

Historical research:

The systematic collection and evaluation of data related to past occurrences in order to describe causes, effects, trends of those events which may help to explain present events and anticipate future events. Data is often archival-including newspaper clippings, photographs, etc.-and may include interviews.

Hypothesis:

A tentative explanation for certain behaviors, events or phenomena that have occurred or will occur, or a prediction about the outcome of an experiment. In experimental research the prediction would be about how the treatment/program will affect the outcomes.

Independent Variable:

An independent variable is a variable that precedes, influences or predicts the dependent variable.

Peer Review:

Population:

The population of a study refers to the group of people represented in a study. For example, if a researcher took a nationally representative sample of 1,500 fourth grade students, the sample is the 1,500 fourth grade students, but the population of the study would be fourth graders, in general.