Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology (eBook)

Preface
Companion Website
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Research and Ethical Practice
Why Bother?
What is Research?
Research Terminology
Approach Taken in This Book
Major Paradigms in Research: A Brief History of Research
Postpositivism
Constructivist Paradigm
Transformative Paradigm
Pragmatic Paradigm
Politics, Legislation, and the Paradigms
Contested Territory: Quality, Causality, and Objectivity
Merging Paradigms—Across Differences
Chapter 2: Evaluation
Defining Evaluation
Distinguishing Research and Evaluation
History and Models of Evaluation
Resources and Processes for Conducting Evaluations
Steps in Planning an Evaluation
Standards for Critically Evaluating Evaluations
Ethics and Evaluation: The Guiding Principles
Questions for Critically Analyzing Evaluation
Evaluation Resources for Program and Policy Evaluations
Chapter 3: Literature Review and Focusing the Research
Reasons for Doing Literature Reviews
The Search Process
Critical Analysis of Literature Reviews
Questions for Critically Analyzing Literature Reviews
Chapter 4: Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research
Importance of Experimental Design
Research Designs and Threats to Validity
Experimental, Quasi-Experimental, and Single-Group Designs
Other Design Issues
Challenges to Using Experimental Designs in Educational and Psychological Research
Transformative Perspectives Regarding Experimental Research
Postpositivist Rejoinder
Final Thoughts
Questions for Critically Analyzing Experimental, Quasi-Experimental, and Single Group Designs
Where to From Here?
Chapter 5: Causal Comparative and Correlational Approaches
Inherent Characteristics: Challenging Issues
Causal Comparative Research
Correlational Research
Questions for Critically Analyzing Causal Comparative and Correlational Research
Chapter 6: Survey Methods
Design Phase
Sampling Plan
Designing the Survey Instrument
Pilot Testing the Questionnaire
Language Differences between the Researcher and the Respondent
Special Types of Questions
Letter of Transmittal
Conducting the Survey
Data Analysis and Troubleshooting Your Survey Instrument
Questions for Critically Analyzing Survey Research
Chapter 7: Single-Case Research
Quality Issues in Single-Case Research
Design Options
Data Analysis In Single-Case Research
Questions for Critically Analyzing Single-Case Research
Chapter 8: Qualitative Research and Action Research
Basis for Selection of Qualitative Methods
Types of Qualitative Research
Data Collection
General Methodological Guidelines
Translation Issues in Multilingual Contexts
Qualitative Data Collection Methods
Critically Analyzing Qualitative Research
Questions for Critically Analyzing Qualitative Research
Chapter 9: History, Narrative Study of Lives, and Autoethnography
Why Study History?
Importance of Historical, Narrative, and Autoethnographic Research
Types of Historical, Narrative, and Autoethnographic Research
Steps in Conducting Historical-Narrative Research
Notes on Biographical Research
Notes on Autoethnographic, Autobiographical/Self-Study Research
Questions for Critically Analyzing Historical-Narrative Research
Chapter 10: Mixed Methods Research
Definition and Characteristics
Importance in Educational and Psychological Research
Philosophical Assumptions and Mixed Methods Research
Mixed Methods Design Options
Questions for Critically Analyzing Mixed Methods Research
Chapter 11: Sampling
Definition, Selection, and Ethics
External Validity (Generalizability) or Transferability
Defining the Population and Sample
Identification of Sample Members
Sampling Strategies
Sampling Bias
Access Issues
Sample Size
Ethics and Protection of Study Participants
Questions for Critically Analyzing Sampling Strategies
Chapter 12: Data Collection
Operationalizing Concepts
Quantitative Measurement Topics
Selection and Development of Quantitative Instruments
Developing a Data Collection Instrument
Qualitative Data Collection Methods
Mixed Methods and Data Collection
Standards for Judging Quality of Data Collection
Questions for Critically Analyzing Data Collection
Chapter 13: Data Analysis, Interpretation, and Use
Quantitative Analysis Strategies
Qualitative Analytic Strategies
Analytic and Interpretive Issues in Mixed Methods
A Research Plan: The Management Plan and Budget
Writing Research Reports
Utilization of the Research Results
Questions for Critically Analyzing Data Analysis and Interpretation