Research Ed Talk - 2014 - Laura McInerney - 5 Big Mistakes When Writing & Talking About Research

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research

Laura Mack-in-er-nee

Deputy Editor of Academies Week & Guardian Columnist


Mistake #1 – Failing to include ACTUAL research


In the early 2000s, four US researchers worked with 15 schools in one US city. All schools had ‘challenging’ intakes, including high numbers of EAL students.

They asked all teachers to meet for 2-4 hours per month, and:- set goals for themselves, with indicators- describe progress & helped needed at each meeting- see academic achievement as solely THEIR responsibility

Results: After five years, effect size of 0.8 in intervention groups (>0.4)

Solution #1 – Include ACTUAL research!


Mistake #1 – Failing to include ACTUAL research

Solution #1 – Include ACTUAL research!(When, Who, How, Outcome)


Mistake #2 – Using research as a hammer to bash people into submission


"Meta-analyses of meditation and mindfulness research presents the intervention as a panacea for physical and psychological problems. (Murphy & Taylor, 1997). Evidence shows that meditation helps cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, panic disorder, substance abuse, dermatological disorders and reduces depressive symptoms. It also improves self-actualisation, empathy, sense of coherence and increases autonomy, moral maturity and spirituality. Finally, it can heighten perception, improve reaction times and increase feelings of independence, concentration and attention (Shapiro, Schwart, & Santerre, 2005).”


"Meta-analyses of meditation and mindfulness research presents the intervention as a panacea for physical and psychological problems. (Murphy & Taylor, 1997). Evidence shows that meditation helps cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, panic disorder, substance abuse, dermatological disorders and reduces depressive symptoms. It also improves self-actualisation, empathy, sense of coherence and increases autonomy, moral maturity and spirituality. Finally, it can heighten perception, improve reaction times and increase feelings of independence, concentration and attention (Shapiro, Schwart, & Santerre, 2005).”Shapiro notes the limitations of these conclusions as many papers fail to provide randomised control group and small sample sizes. Shapiro also criticises the imprecise measurement of ‘mindful’ constructs. Recent studies, however, using the ‘Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory’ demonstrate and were validated in several studies meeting required conditions. (Brown, Ryan, & Creswell, 2007; Walach, Bucheld, Buttenmuller, Kleinknecth, & Schmidt, 2006).


Mistake #2 – Using research as a hammer to bash people into submissionSolution #2 – Select a few pieces of evidence & admit weaknesses


Mistake #3 – Lack of STORY

Solution #3 – Tell a STORY


Mistake #4 – Mixing up ‘significance’ with ‘importance’


Significance =The likelihood that a result or relationship is caused by something other than mere random chance.

Important =The finding matters because they have a specific consequence

Solution #4 – Use the correct word!


Mistake #5 – Going on too long


Mistake #5 – Going on too long

Solution #5 – Don’t.

Any questions?

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Research Ed Talk - 2014 - Laura McInerney - 5 Big Mistakes When Writing & Talking About Research

Education

Transcript of Research Ed Talk - 2014 - Laura McInerney - 5 Big Mistakes When Writing & Talking About Research