MTE 3113 ACTION RESEARCH 1

(PRIMARY MATHEMATICS) METHODOLOGY

TOPIC 1INTRODUCTION TO

EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH(2 hours)

What is research? Aims Characteristics Approaches Ethics

What is Research?

What is Research?Research is systematic inquiry-disciplined inquiry that is intended to (1)extend knowledge, or (2)solve a problem.

What is Educational Research?

Research is systematic inquiry-disciplined inquiry that is intended to (1) extend knowledge with regard to

some aspect of education , or (2) solve an educational problem.

4 Types of Research Knowledge

(Purposes) Description Prediction Improvement Explanation

Borg and Gall (1989). Educational research: An Introduction (pp 5-11).New York. Longman

1. Description

The description of natural or man made phenomena – their form, structure, activity, change over time, relation to other phenomena and so on. These lead to scientific discoveries.

Example – astronomers use telescope to describe the universe

2. Prediction

The ability to predict a phenomenon that will occur a time Y from information available at earlier time X.

Example- A student’s achivement in school can be predicted fairly accurately by an aptitude test administered a year or two earlier.

3. Improvement

It concerns interventions –programs, curriculum materials and teaching methods – that improve students learning or some other valued outcomes

4. Explanation

The most important of all three. If the researchers are able to explain a

set of phenomena, it means that they can describe, predict, and control the phenomena with a high level of certainty and accuracy.

The Aims of Educational Research

Educational research is research conducted to investigate behavioral patterns in pupils, students, teachers and other participants in schools and other educational institutions. Such research is often conducted by examining work products such as documents and standardized test results. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_research)

The Characteristics of Educational Research

(1) The purposes of research are to solve the problems, investigate knowledge, and establish the principles in educational phenomena.

The Characteristics of Educational Research

(2) Procedure is an important characteristic of educational research, which involves colleting data with accurate observation, objective interpretation, and verification .

The Characteristics of Educational Research

(3) Role. Researchers need to be experts and familiar with their field of study, using the data to develop solutions and increase knowledge. The researchers also need to be patient and careful to use every step of research’s procedures to achieve the purpose of research .

The Characteristics of Educational Research

Educational research…1. is empirical2. takes a variety of forms3. should be valid4. should be reliable5. should be systematic

Approaches in educational research

The Positivist approach The Interpretive approach

The Positivist approach(Quantitative)

Reality is objectively given Reality can be described by measurable

properties – independent of the observer and his instruments

Theory testing Variables: emphasis on quantitative data Statistical tools and packages are an essential

element

The Interpretive approach The aim is to understand

phenomena through the meanings people assign to them

Not predefine dependent and independent variables, but focuses on the full complexity of human sense making as the situation emerges

Ethics of educational research (Ethical Concerns)

The relationship between society and science

Professional issues Treatment of Research

Participants

Ethics of educational research (Ethical codes)

Informed Consent Informed Consent with Minors as

Research Participants Treatment of Research

Participants Passive versus Active Consent Deception (dishonesty)

Ethics of educational research (Ethical codes.. contd)

Freedom to Withdraw Protection from Mental and

Physical Harm Confidentiality and Anonymity

Tutorial(1 Hour)

Constrast qualitative approach with quantitative approach.

For each approach, give 2 examples of topics which can be researched on using each approach.

Quantitative vs Qualitative5 areas of assumption

The nature of reality Relationship of researcher to research

subjects The possibility of generalization The possibility of causal linkage The roles of values in inquiry

Borg and Gall (1989). Educational research: An Introduction (pp 483-485).New York. Longman

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