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Research Methods in Education
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Research Methods in Education

First Edition
October 2011 | 440 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Research Methods in Education introduces research methods as an integrated set of techniques for investigating questions about the educational world. This lively, innovative text helps students connect technique and substance, appreciate the value of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and make ethical research decisions. It weaves actual research "stories" into the presentation of research topics, and it emphasizes validity, authenticity, and practical significance as overarching research goals.

The text is divided into three sections: Foundations of Research (five chapters), Research Design and Data Collection (seven chapters), and Analyzing and Reporting Data (three chapters). This tripartite conceptual framework honors traditional quantitative approaches while reflecting the growing popularity of qualitative studies, mixed method designs, and school-based techniques. This approach provides a comprehensive, conceptually unified, and well-written introduction to the exciting but complex field of educational research.
 
Preface
 
Part I. Foundations of Research
 
1. Science, Schooling, and Educational Research
Learning About the Educational World

 
The Educational Research Approach

 
Educational Research Philosophies

 
Conclusions

 
 
2. The Process and Problems of Educational Research
Educational Research Questions

 
Educational Research Basics

 
The Role of Educational Theory

 
Educational Research Goals

 
Educational Research Proposals, Part I

 
Conclusions

 
 
3. Ethics in Research
Historical Background

 
Ethical Principles

 
Conclusions

 
 
4. Conceptualization and Measurement
Concepts

 
Measurement Operations

 
Levels of Measurement

 
Evaluating Measures

 
Conclusions

 
 
5. Sampling
Sample Planning

 
Sampling Methods

 
Sampling Distributions

 
Conclusions

 
 
Part II. Research Design and Data Collection
 
6. Causation and Research Design
Causal Explanation

 
Criteria for Causal Explanations

 
Types of Research Designs

 
True Experimental Designs

 
Quasi-Experimental Designs

 
Threats to Validity in Experimental Designs

 
Nonexperiments

 
Conclusions

 
 
7. Evaluation Research
What Is Evaluation Research?

 
What Can an Evaluation Study Focus On?

 
How Can the Program Be Described? Creating a Program Logic Model

 
What Are the Alternatives in Evaluation Design?

 
Ethical Issues in Evaluation Research

 
Conclusions

 
 
8. Survey Research
Why Is Survey Research So Popular?

 
Errors in Survey Research

 
Questionnaire Design

 
Writing Questions

 
Survey Design Alternatives

 
Combining Methods

 
Survey Research Design in a Diverse Society

 
Ethical Issues in Survey Research

 
Conclusions

 
 
9. Qualitative Methods: Observing, Participating, Listening
Fundamentals of Qualitative Research

 
Participant Observation

 
Intensive Interviewing

 
Focus Groups

 
Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

 
Ethical Issues in Qualitative Research

 
Conclusions

 
 
10. Single-Subject Design
Foundations of Single-Subject Design

 
Measuring Targets of Intervention

 
Types of Single-Subject Designs

 
Analyzing Single-Subject Designs

 
Ethical Issues in Single-Subject Design

 
Conclusions

 
 
11. Mixing and Comparing Methods and Studies
Mixed Methods

 
Comparing Reserch Designs

 
Performing Meta-Analyses

 
Conclusions

 
 
12. Teacher Research and Action Research
Teacher Research: Three Case Studies

 
Teacher Research: A Self-Planning Outline for Creating Your Own Project

 
Action Research and How It Differs From Teacher Research

 
Validity and Ethical Issues in Teacher Research and Action Research

 
Conclusions

 
 
Part III. Analyzing and Reporting Data
 
13. Quantitative Data Analysis
Why We Need Statistics

 
Preparing Data for Analysis

 
Displaying Univariate Distributions

 
Summarizing Univariate Distributions

 
Relationships (Associations) Among Variables

 
Presenting Data Ethically: How Not to Lie With Statistics

 
Conclusions

 
 
14. Qualitative Data Analysis
Features of Qualitative Data Analysis

 
Techniques of Qualitative Data Analysis

 
Alternatives in Qualitative Data Analysis

 
Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis

 
Ethics in Qualitative Data Analysis

 
Conclusions

 
 
15. Proposing and Reporting Research
Educational Research Proposals, Part II

 
Reporting Research

 
Ethics, Politics, and Research Reports

 
Conclusions

 
 
Appendix A: Questions to Ask About a Research Article
 
Appendix B: How to Read a Research Article
 
Appendix C: Finding Information, by Elizabeth Schneider and Russell K. Schutt
 
Appendix D: Table of Random Numbers
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Author Index
 
Subject Index
 
About the Authors

A good supplimentary textbook

Mrs Annabel Yale
Social and Psychological Science, Edge Hill University
February 3, 2020
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Brilliant well-written book. Easy to read students enjoyed this book and supported their learning.

Miss Natasha Hassan
Dept of Education, Bolton University
January 14, 2018
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Loved the examples and the additional resources.

Dr Meca Williams-Johnson
Curric Foundations Read Dept, Georgia Southern University
January 14, 2016
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This book provides a comprehensive guide for students undertaking reseach within education with text and structure that is both easy to follow and understand
I would definitely recommend this text to students undertaking reseach.

Mrs Jacqui Creed
Dept of Allied Health (Peterborough), Anglia Ruskin University
June 2, 2014
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A good resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Dr Spyros Themelis
Sch of Education & Lifelong Learning, University of East Anglia
February 5, 2014
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More for an undergrad audience not post grad, But very good to refresh existing knowledge and keeping up to date

Dr Linda Barlow-Meade
Faculty of Health, Social Work & Educ, Northumbria University
August 15, 2013
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It seemed straightforward and was priced well for students

Dr Kathy Hayes
Applied Adv Stds Education Div, California State University - Los Angeles
May 30, 2013
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A very well written book that should be of interest to learners. I have highly recommended it to students but given the current economic climate, cannot insist on an essential status

Dr Gordon Ade-ojo
Lifelong learning teacher education, Greenwich University
February 13, 2013
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This book is very comprehensive. All chapters are enough detailed for students. Especially, the appendicies are very usefull for teachers and students.
For example, App. A (Questions to ask about reseacrh article) and App. B (How to read a research article) have critical importance for all researchers, master and doctoral students.
And also, In my opinion, Using the web site of the book (Instructor Teaching Site) can support students' effective learning, increase the course quality and make to easy the course management.
I will recommend Research Method in Education as supplemental book in my course at this term

Mr Murat BAGLIBEL
Educational Admin , Gaziantep University
January 22, 2013
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A good book for those in the early stages of research methods for education. Clearly written with simplicity in mind which takes you nicely through the different stages of research.

Mrs Anita McGowan
Humanities , Croydon College
December 18, 2012
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Key features

Key Features

  • Case-Study Approach: Each chapter introduces a substantive research question and then shows how the particular research methods presented in that chapter have been used to develop answers to that question—connecting the practical issues of educational research to the methods used to develop substantive knowledge.
  • Research Questions: Emphasis on research questions throughout the text helps students to understand what they are, why they are important, and how they work.
  • Themes: Each chapter has an interesting, overarching thematic issue or topic- illustrated by real data- that teaches students the concepts and methods in an applied fashion.
  • Readability: The language used is straightforward and accessible, with many illustrations and examples in every chapter.
  • Ethics: A full chapter on ethics (Chapter 3) is included and complemented in the chapters that follow by end-of-chapter exercises applying ethics to the topic at hand.
  • Ancillaries: The book is supported by a student study site featuring journal articles, web quizzes, video clips, and grade-level specific interactive exercises using real research examples. Also available is a password-protected instructor resources site featuring test banks, PowerPoint slides, lecture outlines, and more.

Sage College Publishing

You can purchase this book and request an instructor sample on our US College site:

Go To College Site

SAGE Research Methods Promotion

This title is also available on SAGE Research Methods, the ultimate digital methods library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.

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