How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education

Jack R. Fraenkel was Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education and Director of the Research and Development Center in the College of Education at San Francisco State University. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford University and taught courses in research methodology and statistics for more than 30 years. In 1997, he received the James A. Michener Prize in Writing for his writings about social studies and sciences. His recent work centered around advising and assisting faculty and students in generating and developing research endeavors. Jack passed away in 2014. Norman E. Wallen is Professor Emeritus of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education at San Francisco State University, where he taught from 1966 to 1992. An experienced researcher, he received his Ph.D from Syracuse University and taught courses in research design and statistics to master's and doctoral students for many years. He is a former member of the City Council of Flagstaff, Arizona and the Executive Committee of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club. Helen H. Hyun is currently Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education at San Francisco State University. She received her EdD from Harvard University and has taught courses in research design and methodology to masters and doctoral students at both San Francisco State and the University of Californiaat Berkeley. Her teaching and research interests include higher education policy, mixed methods research, and equity issues in education.

PART 1: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH Chapter1: The Nature of Research PART 2: THE BASICS OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH Chapter 2: The Research Problem Chapter 3: Locating and Reviewing Literature Chapter 4: Ethics and Research Chapter 5: Variables and Hypotheses Chapter 6: Sampling Chapter 7: Instrumentation Chapter 8: Validity and Reliability Chapter 9: Internal Validity PART 3: DATA ANALYSIS Chapter 10: Descriptive Statistics Chapter 11: Inferential Statistics Chapter 12: Statistics in Perspective PART 4: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES Chapter 13: Experimental Research Chapter 14: Single-Subject Research Chapter 15: Correlational Research Chapter 16: Causal-Comparative Research Chapter 17: Survey Research PART 5: INTRODUCTION TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCH Chapter 18: The Nature of Qualitative Research Chapter 19: Observation and Interviewing Chapter 20: Content Analysis PART 6: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES Chapter 21: Ethnographic Research Chapter 22: Historical Research PART 7: MIXED-METHODS STUDIES Chapter 23: Mixed-Methods Research PART 8: RESEARCH BY PRACTITIONERS Chapter 24: Action Research PART 9: WRITING RESEARCH PROPOSALS AND REPORTS Chapter 25: Preparing Research Proposals and Reports Appendix A: Portion of a Table of Random Numbers Appendix B: Selected Values from a Normal Curve Table Appendix C: Chi-Square Distribution Appendix D: Using Excel