RESEARCH QUESTION

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RESEARCH QUESTION

• EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

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Role of the Research Question

• Attempts to focus on a stated goal
• Gives direction to research process
• Suggests the hypothesis(es)

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RESEARCH QUESTION

• Must be CLEARLY stated!!!!
• Must be SIGNIFICANT!!!!
• Must be ETHICAL!!!!
• Must be FEASIBLE!!!!
• Must indicate RELATIONSHIP!!!!

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RESEARCH QUESTION

• The educational significance of your study must
  be one/more of following
• advance knowledge in the field
• improve instructional practices
• help individual (person-school-agency)

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Ethical Conduct

• Ethics ALWAYS relevant
• Physical/psychological risk/harm
• Vulnerable persons
• Anonymity
• Confidentiality
• Informed consent

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RESEARCH QUESTION CLARITY

• Operational definition
• very specific meaning
• ascribes meaning to concepts and constructs
• specifies operations to measure - manipulate
  concept

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More on Operational Definitions

• written in complete, grammatically correct
  sentences

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RESEARCH QUESTION CLARITY

• Two types of operational definitions
• MEASURED--measure a concept IQ
• EXPERIMENTAL--steps to produce a certain
  condition frustration/anxiety
• Another way to define terms
• CONSTITUTIVELY--dictionary defn.

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What are Researchable Questions?

• Data can provide answers
• NO value judgments

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Sample Researchable Questions

• Is there a significant difference between
  client-centered therapy and behavior modification
  in client satisfaction among middle-aged adults?
• What is the effect of Ritalin on success rate in
  math of elementary school children?

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What are NonResearchable Questions?

• Data CANNOT be collected to answer question

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Sample NonResearchable Questions

• Are children who attend Sunday School more likely
  to go to Heaven than children who do not?
• Is behavioral family therapy the BEST method for
  counselors to use with alienated youth?

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Which are which?

• Does high school achievement influence the
  academic achievement of university students?
• RESEARCHABLE
• What is the LEAST effective way to teach grammar?
• NONRESEARCHABLE

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Which are which?

• Should elementary school teachers use the inquiry
  method to teach math concepts?
• VALUE JUDGMENT
• What is the effect of kindergarten on success in
  first grade?
• RESEARCHABLE

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Writing Your Own Question

• Be within your area of Expertise and interest
• Be able to collect data
• Be feasible
• time location
• resources money

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How to Phrase Question

• What is the effect of independent variable on
  dependent variable among population?
• EXAMPLE
• What is the effect of study skills on reading
  achievement among sixth grade students?

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Another Example

• What is the effect of a mainstreaming workshop on
  teachers attitudes toward mainstreaming among
  secondary teachers?

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Another Example

• What is the effect of computer-based instruction
  versus traditional instruction on math
  achievement among elementary school children?

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How to Phrase Question?

• Is there a significant difference between
  independent variable and/versus independent
  variable on dependent variable among
  population?
• Is there a significant difference between boys
  and girls on math achievement among at-risk
  students?

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Another Example

• Is there a significant difference between
  elementary and secondary teachers attitudes on
  the purposes of school among Southern teachers?

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Another Example

• Is there a significant difference between boys
  and girls on computer usage among middle school
  students?

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INTRODUCTION TO PROPOSAL

• The second paragraph of the introduction SHOULD
  read as follows

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• The purpose of this proposal is to state
  research question in form of a sentence. 1 or 2
  filler sentences elaborating upon the purpose.
  Therefore, the educational significance of this
  study will be to choose 1 of the following or in
  combination---advance the existing body of
  knowledge in field of... improve instructional
  practices of subject and/or help an
  individual/school...