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EDFI 6420 Research
Research in Education
31
Other
Graduate
02/23/2013

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Term
Describe the difference between basic and applied research.
Definition
Basic research is driven by a curiousity in a scientific question, the motivation is to expand man's knowledge, not invent something. Basic research lays the foundation for applied research. Applied research is designed to solve practical problems, rather to acquire knowledge for knowledge's sake. Goal of the applied scientist is to improve the human condition.
Term
Describe the characteristics of scientific research. What makes research scientific?
Definition
Research is observable, descriptive, systematic, tied to theory. Poses significant questions that can be investigated empirically. Provides a coherent and explicit chain of reasoning. Can be replicated and generalized across studies. Tied to theory: relate constructs to observations and to each other
Term
Explain empirical evidence, differentiate between empirical evidence and theory
Definition

Source of knowledge acquired by means of observation or experimentation.

Empirical evidence is information that justifies a belief in the truth or falsity of an empirical claim. 

Term
Explain what a research problem is
Definition
An area of interest or concern. Must be in some way observable. Must be basic or applied.
Term
Describe what it is meant by a scientific theory.
Definition
A tested, well-substantiated hypothesis based on knowledge that has been repeatedly confirmed through observation or experiment.
Term
Describe what a construct is.
Definition
An unobservable trait, attribute or characteristic. You must operationalize variables- identify indicators or variables that represent constructs. These variables are tangible, observable manifestations of constructs
Term
Describe the characteristics of a good research question.
Definition
Feasible, clear, significant (worth investigating, strong rationale), ethical
Term
Describe the literature review process.
Definition
The foundation of any study. One of the single best determiners of study quality. Three parts: Searching, Reading, Writing. Brainstorm key words, search, primary & secondary sources, find articles and keywords cited in what you've read and lesser known sources. Writing helps you trim literature and see if there are any holes or gaps: Broaden search if need be
Term
Differentiate between primary and secondary sources
Definition
A primary source is an original document whereas secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. For example, The Diary of Anne Frank is a primary source. A book about Anne Frank within the context of WWII would be a secondary source.
Term
Differentiate between confidentiality and anonimity
Definition

- Maintaining confidentiality of information collected from research participants means that only the investigator(s) or individuals of the research team can identify the responses of individual subjects

either the project does not collect identifying information of individual subjects (e.g., name, address, Email address, etc.), or the project cannot link individual responses with participants’ identities

Term
Be able to recognize the appropriate level of review by HSRB (IRB) for different study designs
Definition

Exempted review: secondary data, surveys, interviews, public observations, educational tests

- In educational settings using normal educational practices

Expedited review: studies involving minimal risk, vulnerable populations, biological samples w/o invasion, recorded data

Full review

All research should be reviewed

Term
Describe the Informed Consent Process
Definition

Participant must be aware of what they will be asked to do in the study, must freely choose to particpate.

Consent must come from guardian for minors and those with diminshed capacity.

Participants are free to withdraw at any time.

Information should be given in a language the participant can understand.

Information should include risks and benefits, should help them decide whether to participate

Term
Belmont Report
Definition

Respect for Persons: requirement to acknowledge autonomy and protect those with diminished autonomy

Beneficence: Do no harm; maximize possible benefits and minimize possible harms; benefits must outweigh risks

Justice: Requires that people be treated fairly; selection of participants as well

Term
Understand the conditions in which using deception in research might be appropriate
Definition

In most instances, researchers do not use deception. 

Deception is never used when there is a reasonable expectation of pain or severe emotional distress

The purpose of deception needs to be made explicit in the IRB application.

If deception is used, a debriefing of the true nature of the study needs to occur as soon as possible

Term
National Research Act
Definition

Research plans must be approved

Do no harm (physically or mentally)

Informed consent

Term
Buckley Amendment (FERPA)
Definition

Confidentiality of data

"Legitimate educational interest"

Term
Vulnerable populations
Definition
Children, those with mental disabilities, and those subject to significant levels of coercion, such as prisioners.
Term

Define and give examples of variables

Differentiate between variables and constants

Definition

A concept that varies in a class of objects. A variable among students might be hair color.

Student = constant, Hair color = variable

Term
Differentiate between categorical and continuous variables
Definition

Categorical variables: differences in quality, not degree (e.g. male/female)

Continuous variables (quantitative): describes differences of degree

Term
Give examples of nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio variables
Definition

Nominal: groups data (gender, place of birth)

Ordinal: ranks data (SES, student rank)

Interval: equal difference between score points (test scores, personality scale)

Ratio: equal differences plus a true zero point (weight, length)

*Treat interval/ratio variables similarly in social sciences research

Term
Differentiate between independent and dependent variables
Definition

Independent variable: variable that affects change; hypothesized causal variable

Dependent variable: variable changed by intervention

Extraneous variables: might influence the dependent variablel; we want to control for extraneous variables

Term
Define a hypothesis and recognize difference between directional and nondirectional hypotheses
Definition

Hypothesis: a proposed explanation for a phenomenon; a prediction of the outcome of the study; based on theory

Directional: an indication of the outcome in a specific direction

Nondirectional: a change will occur but not sure how or which direction, more ambiguous

Term
Describe what a representative sample means
Definition
A subset of a statistical population that accurately reflects the members of the entire population; should be an unbiased indication of what the population is like.
Term
Generalizability
Definition

The extent to which the findings from a sample can be generalized to the entire population; 

The degree to which the findings can be generalized from the study sample to the entire population

Term
Understand and recognize/give examples of different sampling techniques (random & non-random)
Definition

Random: "A simple random sample choses in such a way that every set of n individuals has an equal chance to be the sample actually selected

Non-random: convenience or purposive sample (who is available or volunteers and when the researcher decides who in the population to collect data from)

Term

Define and describe validity as a concept

Explain measurement validity

Definition

The degree to which evidence and theory support the interpretations of test scores entailed by proposed uses of tests

How well does it test what it sets out to test? (accuracy)

Measurement validity: the ways we interpret and use measurements; some interpretations are more or less valid

Term
Explain content, criterion and construct validity and give examples of each
Definition

Content validity: is my assessment focused on the content I wish to measure? Focus, format isses (printing, font, spacing, language, directions)

Criterion validity: can the scores on the assessment predict performance on a task? (predictive evidence) 

Do the scores on the assessment relate to the scores on another well-known assessment? (concurrent evidence)

Construct validity: Is the underlying cognitive skill measured reflected in the measurement scores? Evidence: clear definition of construct (tested empirically) comparison between individuals with high & low levels of construct

Term
Explain and describe reliability as a concept
Definition
The consistency of measurements when a test is repeated on a population of individuals or groups
Term
Explain and describe what is meant by measurement error
Definition
It's always present; efforts should be made to account for and reduce error
Term
Give examples of how to test the reliability of a set of scores
Definition

Test-retest: theoretically useful but not practical

Equivalent forms: two different tape measures (high concurrent validity)

Interrater: two raters using same form/criteria to measure (ACT Writing portion)

Term
Describe what is meant by internal validity
Definition
Concerned with the quality of inferences you can make in your research; the recognition and removal of nuisance variables or unaccounted for errors
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