Research DesignsResearch Designs

Types of Research Types of Research

Quantitative - Quantitative - Uses dataUses data

numbers– statisticsnumbers– statistics Can be descriptiveCan be descriptive Can be experimental/correlational Can be experimental/correlational

Qualitative –Qualitative – Uses data Uses data

narrative narrative descriptive descriptive ethnographicethnographic

DESCRIPTIVE DESCRIPTIVE

Quantitative - survey studiesQuantitative - survey studies Qualitative - observational research Qualitative - observational research You observe and record what is there You observe and record what is there

don’t change anything. don’t change anything.

CASE STUDYCASE STUDY

Looking at one (student, class, Looking at one (student, class, school, state)school, state)

Usually descriptiveUsually descriptive Sometimes program evaluationSometimes program evaluation

Jamie Bird Jamie Bird

Voluntary Educational Technology Voluntary Educational Technology Integration: the Implementation of Integration: the Implementation of Interactive Whiteboards in an Interactive Whiteboards in an Elementary School. Elementary School.

Jamie Bird - QuestionsJamie Bird - Questions

1.1. What were the intentions for bringing What were the intentions for bringing SMART Boards to Stone Ridge Elementary SMART Boards to Stone Ridge Elementary classrooms and to what extent were these classrooms and to what extent were these intentions achieved during the 2008-2009 intentions achieved during the 2008-2009 school year?school year?

2.2. What factors influenced teachers’ What factors influenced teachers’ decisions regarding whether or not to decisions regarding whether or not to request a SMART Board for their classroom?request a SMART Board for their classroom?

3.3. How did teachers use the classroom How did teachers use the classroom SMART Boards?SMART Boards?

Jamie BirdJamie Bird

Integration of technology into an Integration of technology into an elementary schoolelementary school Observed classesObserved classes Interviewed teachersInterviewed teachers Interviewed principalInterviewed principal Conducted focus groupsConducted focus groups

Aimee AtkinsonAimee Atkinson

The Importance of Multicultural The Importance of Multicultural Children’s Literature: Student Children’s Literature: Student Preference of Literature among Preference of Literature among Public School ResourcesPublic School Resources

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

What is the availability of multicultural What is the availability of multicultural literature to students in the school setting?literature to students in the school setting?

What influence does multicultural literature What influence does multicultural literature have on the cultural appreciation and have on the cultural appreciation and understanding among elementary students? understanding among elementary students?

Are students more likely to read books with Are students more likely to read books with a main character that depicts their own race a main character that depicts their own race or a race that is different from their own?or a race that is different from their own?

Stephanie BurkeStephanie Burke

Looked at Middleton Heights’ single Looked at Middleton Heights’ single gender classrooms and their impact gender classrooms and their impact on self efficacy of males and on self efficacy of males and females. females.

Stephanie -QuestionsStephanie -Questions

1.1. What is the overall impact on What is the overall impact on self-efficacy in single-sex classrooms self-efficacy in single-sex classrooms compared to traditional coeducational compared to traditional coeducational classrooms in a rural elementary classrooms in a rural elementary school in fifth grade?school in fifth grade? A. What is the impact on girls’ self-A. What is the impact on girls’ self-

efficacy in single-sex classrooms efficacy in single-sex classrooms compared to traditional coeducational compared to traditional coeducational classrooms in a rural elementary school classrooms in a rural elementary school in fifth grade?in fifth grade?

Questions continuedQuestions continued

11 B. What is the impact of single-sex classrooms B. What is the impact of single-sex classrooms

on the self-efficacy of boys compared to on the self-efficacy of boys compared to traditional coeducational classrooms in a rural traditional coeducational classrooms in a rural elementary school in fifth grade?elementary school in fifth grade?

2.2. Does the amount of time spent within Does the amount of time spent within single-sex classrooms attribute to an single-sex classrooms attribute to an individuals self-efficacy?individuals self-efficacy?

3.3. How do teachers and parents view How do teachers and parents view single-sex classrooms and their impact on single-sex classrooms and their impact on self-efficacy?self-efficacy?

Data CollectionData Collection

Established instrument locatedEstablished instrument located PilotedPiloted

Pre-test Post TestPre-test Post Test Interviewed Focus GroupsInterviewed Focus Groups Interviewed TeachersInterviewed Teachers Interviewed ParentsInterviewed Parents

EXPERIMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL AND QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL

RESEARCH - RESEARCH -

Experimental/quasi-experimentalExperimental/quasi-experimental Random sampling vs. non-random Random sampling vs. non-random

samplingsampling Federal Definition (Scientifically-based)Federal Definition (Scientifically-based)

You change something to see if it You change something to see if it makes a difference.makes a difference. Independent variable (manipulated)Independent variable (manipulated) Dependent variable (measure)Dependent variable (measure)

Richard ZuercherRichard Zuercher

High School Debate Education and High School Debate Education and Critical Thinking: A Study using the Critical Thinking: A Study using the Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Test.Test.

Richard Zuercher - QuestionsRichard Zuercher - Questions

Did debate education significantly improve critical thinking ability.

Were there significant differences in initial critical thinking ability between a group of students who take debate and a group of students who do not?

Did students who do not want to take debate but take the class nevertheless significantly gain critical thinking ability?

Richard Zuercher Richard Zuercher

Experimental/Quasi-Experimental ?Experimental/Quasi-Experimental ? Debate – dependent/independent ?Debate – dependent/independent ? Test – dependent/independent ?Test – dependent/independent ?

Pre test – Post test gain scores Pre test – Post test gain scores NN Motivation to take debate – Motivation to take debate –

dependent/independent? dependent/independent? Critique internal/external validityCritique internal/external validity

Sara KunzSara Kunz

Gender Differences in Performance Gender Differences in Performance on Mental Rotation Tasks: Can on Mental Rotation Tasks: Can Instruction in Transformations Close Instruction in Transformations Close the Gender Gap? the Gender Gap?

Sara Kunz - QuestionsSara Kunz - Questions

1.1. Is there a significant (p < 0.05) difference Is there a significant (p < 0.05) difference in the mental rotation skills of males and in the mental rotation skills of males and females enrolled in high school geometry?females enrolled in high school geometry?

2.2. Did NCTM’s lessons on rotation and Did NCTM’s lessons on rotation and reflection significantly (p < 0.05) improve mental reflection significantly (p < 0.05) improve mental rotation skills for high school geometry students?rotation skills for high school geometry students?

3.3. Was there a significant (p < 0.05) Was there a significant (p < 0.05) difference between males and females in the difference between males and females in the amount of improvement in mental rotation skills amount of improvement in mental rotation skills after instruction using the rotation and reflection after instruction using the rotation and reflection lessons?lessons?

Sara Kunz Sara Kunz

Experimental/Quasi-Experimental ?Experimental/Quasi-Experimental ?Geometric Orientation Test – Geometric Orientation Test – dependent/independent?dependent/independent?Series of Lesson – dependent/independent? Series of Lesson – dependent/independent? Gender – dependent/independent? (type?)Gender – dependent/independent? (type?)NNPre Test-Post testPre Test-Post testCritique – internal external validityCritique – internal external validity

InteractionInteraction

One independent variable is One independent variable is impacted (interacts) with another impacted (interacts) with another independent variable as measured independent variable as measured by the dependent variable. by the dependent variable.

Factorial designs Factorial designs Aptitude Treatment Interactions (ATI)Aptitude Treatment Interactions (ATI)

CORRELATIONAL CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH RESEARCH

You look for the strength of the You look for the strength of the relationship between two variablesrelationship between two variables r valuer value

CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE RESEARCH RESEARCH

Comparing a two treatments or Comparing a two treatments or conditions but you use pre-existing conditions but you use pre-existing conditions.conditions.

Like experimental but you don’t Like experimental but you don’t apply a treatment. apply a treatment.

reading quiz reading quiz “A” for Quantitative “B” for Qualitative“A” for Quantitative “B” for Qualitative

Which design would generally be used to support Which design would generally be used to support a cause and effect relationship?a cause and effect relationship?

Which of the following would normally be used to Which of the following would normally be used to explain phenomena?explain phenomena?

Which would be concerned with understanding Which would be concerned with understanding the etic and emic perspective.the etic and emic perspective.

In which design would the researcher be the In which design would the researcher be the primary instrument for gathering data? primary instrument for gathering data?

For which would we be interested in attempting For which would we be interested in attempting to eliminate bias or researcher perspective from to eliminate bias or researcher perspective from data?data?

For which would be most interested having a solid For which would be most interested having a solid theory base for the research.?theory base for the research.?

Program Evaluation Program Evaluation

Use research methods to determine Use research methods to determine if a program is effective.if a program is effective.

Answer the question – Answer the question – Is program “A” effective?Is program “A” effective? Does program meet it’s Does program meet it’s

objectives/goals?objectives/goals? May use a combination of May use a combination of

approachesapproaches

CFES StudyCFES Study

Matched Pair StudyMatched Pair Study CFES Mentoring – CFES Mentoring – ISAT –ISAT –MathMath

ReadingReading Language ArtsLanguage Arts AttendanceAttendance BehaviorBehavior

Matched by gender, grade level, first language, Matched by gender, grade level, first language, previous ISAT scoresprevious ISAT scores

Critique – internal/external validity Critique – internal/external validity

CFES/CAP StudyCFES/CAP Study

Research Questions Research Questions Will there be a difference in school related Will there be a difference in school related

performance for students who participate in performance for students who participate in the aspirations project and student the aspirations project and student representing a populations with similar representing a populations with similar demographics who are not part of the program.demographics who are not part of the program.

Will there be a difference… in the percentage Will there be a difference… in the percentage of students who complete high schoolof students who complete high school

Will there be a difference… in the percentage Will there be a difference… in the percentage of students who enroll in and complete post of students who enroll in and complete post secondary education secondary education

Primary Source AnalysisPrimary Source Analysis

Reanalyzing the data others have Reanalyzing the data others have collectedcollected Vote CountingVote Counting Meta-analysisMeta-analysis

More sophisticatedMore sophisticated Effect size (average standard deviation of Effect size (average standard deviation of

two groups)two groups) .33 standard deviation – practical significance.33 standard deviation – practical significance

Will Will

Review of LiteratureReview of Literature

Primary Sources Person who conducted the research

is reporting findings. Secondary Sources

Author reports on research conducted by someone else.

Preliminary Sources indexes - may have annotations