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Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Applications, Global Edition

Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Applications, Global Edition

Geoffrey E. Mills | Lorraine R. Gay

(2015)

Additional Information

Book Details

Abstract

For courses in Introduction to Research Methods (Educational Research)

 

Comprehensive yet accessible

The updated Eleventh Edition of Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Applications introduces research mainly at a how-to skill and application level. A total instructional system, the book includes stated learning outcomes, instruction, and procedures for evaluating each outcome. It supports readers as they develop expertise in research, learning key concepts and skills and becoming involved in the research process itself. The authors take a down-to-earth approach that helps the reader become both an educational researcher and a competent consumer of educational research.

 

From reviews of the book:

Entire text is very accessible through both language and visual aids; easy to understand examples for nearly every situation described in the text; beginning researchers will appreciate the attentiveness to context, while more experienced students will find a comprehensive text that expertly connects the many intertwining elements of the research process.

Lauren Saenz, Boston College

 

[T]he numerous summary tables organize and consolidate the material in one convenient place . end-of-chapter summaries are especially well done presented in a topical format [and help] students to review the material end-of-chapter tasks [are] especially helpful to students who dont quite know how to get started on the task.

Dwight R. Gard, Texas Tech University

 

[T]he authors writing style is instructive, engaging and at a level that is appropriate for any graduate student seeking a general understanding of research methods. The objectives and summary tables at the beginning of the chapter focus the students attention on the important ideas numbered steps and examples provide clarification, especially where procedures are involved. The tasks and examples presented at the end of the chapter add relevancy to the chapter topics.

Jann W. MacInnes, University of Florida

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Cover Cover
Title Page 3
Copyright Page 4
Preface 5
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 8
Contents 11
PART I: FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES 20
CHAPTER 1 EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH: METHOD, PURPOSE, AND ETHICS 20
Tasks 1A, 1B 21
Task 1C 21
Welcome! 21
The Scientific Method 22
Different Approaches to Educational Research 24
Classification of Research by Design 28
Classification of Research by Purpose 34
The Ethics of Educational Research 36
Summary 47
Performance Criteria Task 1 51
CHAPTER 2 IDENTIFYING AND STATING A RESEARCH PROBLEM 88
The Research problem 89
Identifying a Research problem 89
Formulating and Stating a Hypothesis 97
Summary 103
CHAPTER 3 LITERATURE REVIEW 106
Task 2A 107
Task 2B 107
Review of Related Literature: Purpose and Scope 107
Qualitative Research and the Review of Related Literature 108
Identifying Keywords and Subject Terms, and Identifying, Evaluating, and Annotating Sources 109
Analyzing, Organizing, and Reporting the Literature 123
Meta-Analysis 127
Summary 129
Performance Criteria Task 2A and 2B 132
CHAPTER 4 PREPARING AND REFINING A RESEARCH PLAN 136
Task 3A 137
Task 3B 137
Definition and Purpose of a Research Plan 137
Components of the Quantitative Research Plan 138
Components of the Qualitative Research Plan 142
Revising and Improving the Research Plan 147
Summary 148
Performance Criteria Task 3 151
CHAPTER 5 SAMPLING 154
Task 4A 155
Task 4B 155
Sampling in Quantitative Research 155
Sampling in Qualitative Research 167
Summary 170
Performance Criteria Task 4 172
CHAPTER 6 CONSTRUCTS, VARIABLES, AND TESTS 174
Task 5 175
Constructs 175
Variables 176
Characteristics of Measuring Instruments 179
Types of Measuring Instruments 181
Criteria for Good Measuring Instruments 186
Test Selection, Construction, and Administration 195
Summary 201
Performance Criteria Task 5 205
PART II: RESEARCH DESIGNS 208
CHAPTER 7 SURVEY RESEARCH 208
Task 6A 209
Survey Research: Definition and Purpose 210
Survey Research Designs 210
Conducting Survey Research 211
Summary 222
CHAPTER 8 CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH 232
Task 6B 233
Correlational Research: Definition and Purpose 234
The Correlational Research Process 235
Relationship Studies 239
Prediction Studies 242
Other Correlation-Based Analyses 244
Problems to Consider in Interpreting Correlation Coefficients 245
Summary 246
CHAPTER 9 CAUSAL–COMPARATIVE RESEARCH 258
Task 6C 259
Causal–Comparative Research: Definition and Purpose 260
The Causal–Comparative Research Process 263
Summary 267
CHAPTER 10 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 284
Task 6D 285
Experimental Research: Definition and Purpose 286
Threats to Experimental Validity 289
Group Experimental Designs 300
Summary 312
CHAPTER 11 SINGLE-SUBJECT EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 334
Task 6E 335
Single-Subject Experimental Designs 336
Data Analysis and Interpretation 342
Threats to Validity 342
Replication 344
Summary 345
Performance Criteria Task 6 348
CHAPTER 12 NARRATIVE RESEARCH 364
Task 7A 365
Narrative Research: Definition and Purpose 366
The Narrative Research Process 368
Key Characteristics of Narrative Research 369
Narrative Research Techniques 370
Writing the Narrative 373
Summary 374
CHAPTER 13 ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH 390
Task 7B 391
Ethnographic Research: Definition and Purpose 392
The Ethnographic Research Process 393
Key Characteristics of Ethnographic Research 395
Types of Ethnographic Research 395
Ethnographic Research Techniques 396
Summary 404
CHAPTER 14 CASE STUDY RESEARCH 416
Task 7C 417
Case Study Research: Definition and Purpose 418
Case Study Research Design 420
Sample Selection in Case Study Research 421
Conducting and Analyzing Multiple Case Studies 422
Summary 426
CHAPTER 15 MIXED METHODS RESEARCH: INTEGRATING QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGNS 442
Task 7D 443
Mixed Methods Research: Definition and Purpose 444
Types of Mixed Methods Research Designs 445
Conducting Mixed Methods Research 449
Identifying Studies Using Mixed Method Designs 451
Evaluating a Mixed Methods Study 451
Summary 453
CHAPTER 16 ACTION RESEARCH 474
Task 8 475
Action Research: Definition and Purpose 476
Key Characteristics of Action Research 476
Types of Action Research 477
Levels of Action Research 479
The Action Research Process 480
Summary 483
Performance Criteria and Examples Task 8 485
PART III: DATA IN RESEARCH 500
CHAPTER 17 ORGANIZING AND GRAPHING DATA 500
The Language of Statistics 501
Preparing Data for Analysis 502
Types of Descriptive Statistics 503
Graphing Data 517
Summary 519
CHAPTER 18 INFERENTIAL STATISTICS 522
Task 9 523
Concepts Underlying Inferential Statistics 523
Selecting Among Tests of Significance 532
Summary 552
CHAPTER 19 FIELDWORK 562
Data Collection Sources and Techniques 563
Validity and Reliability in Qualitative Research 572
Getting Started 577
Summary 578
CHAPTER 20 ANALYZING AND INTERPRETING DATA 580
Data Analysis and Interpretation: Definition and Purpose 581
Steps in Analyzing Qualitative Research Data 582
Data Analysis Strategies 584
Data Interpretation Strategies 592
Ensuring Credibility in Your Study 593
Summary 594
PART IV: WRITING AND EVALUATING RESEARCH REPORTS 596
CHAPTER 21 PREPARING AND PUBLISHING A RESEARCH REPORT 596
Task 10 597
Guidelines for Writing a Research Report 597
Format and Style 599
Formatting Theses and Dissertations 600
Writing for Journal Publication 604
Summary 606
Performance Criteria Task 10 608
CHAPTER 22 ANALYZING AND CRITIQUING RESEARCH 620
Task 11 621
General Evaluation Criteria 621
Design-Specific Evaluation Criteria 623
Summary 627
Appendix A: Statistical References 645
Appendix B: Suggested Responses 667
Glossary 673
A 673
B 674
C 674
D 675
E 675
F 676
G 676
H 676
I 676
J 677
K 677
L 677
M 677
N 678
O 678
P 679
Q 679
R 680
S 680
T 682
U 683
V 683
Z 683
Name Index 685
A 685
B 685
C 685
D 685
E 685
F 685
G 685
H 685
J 685
K 685
L 685
M 685
N 686
O 686
P 686
R 686
S 686
T 686
V 686
W 686
Y 686
Subject Index 687
A 687
B 687
C 688
D 689
E 689
F 690
G 690
H 690
I 691
J 691
K 691
L 691
M 692
N 692
O 693
P 693
Q 693
R 694
S 695
T 697
U 697
V 697
W 697
Z 697