ASSALAAM ALAYKUM

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ASSALAAM ALAYKUM

• WELCOME ALL TO THIS COURSE

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ED 213PRINCIPLES OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

• SAID K JUMA

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LECTURE 01

• MEANING, CHARACTERISTICS , OBJECTIVES AND
  IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH

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What is research ???
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Meaning of research

• RE prefix again SEARCH find out find out
  again
• The word research derives from the French
  recherche, from rechercher, to search closely
  where "chercher" means "to search" seek its
  literal meaning is 'to investigate thoroughly'

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DEFINITIONS

• Research is the systematic process of collecting
  and analyzing information (data) in order to
  increase our understanding of the phenomenon
  about which we are concerned or interested

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Definition of research

• Research is a systematic and refined technique of
  thinking, employing specialized tools,
  instruments and procedures in order to obtain a
  more adequate solution of a problem than would be
  possible under ordinary means. (Crawford, CC
  cited in Sidhu, (1984)

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Definition of research

• Research is a systematic, critical and
  self-critical inquiry which aims to contribute to
  the advancement of knowledge ( Bassey,1990, cited
  in Wellington 2000)
• Research is the orderly investigation of a
  subject matter for the purpose of adding to
  knowledge. UNESCO, (2005)

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Definition of research

• Research is an endeavour to discover, develop,
  and verify knowledge. Rummel , J.F cited in
  Sidhu, (1984)

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Definition of research

• the systematic method consisting of enunciating
  the problem , formulating a hypothesis,
  collecting the facts or data, analyzing the facts
  and reaching certain conclusions either in the
  form of solution (s) towards the concerned
  problem or in certain generalizations for some
  theoretical formulation. Kothari, C (2004)

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Recap

• Thus in defining research the following key words
  are important
• SYTEMATIC, PROCESS , DATA ANALYSIS,
  INTERPRETATION
• NOT merely
• information gathering
• rearranging of facts
• copying the work of others (plagiarism )
• Summarizing what others have written

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CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH

• expert, systematic and accurate
• investigation.
• expertise in undertaking a research
• careful planning of the procedures
• standardized and valid data gathering tools
• recording and analysis of data is accurate
• the steps/ procedures of doing research arranged
  in a particular order

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research process

• IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM
• MAKING CLEAR STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
• STATING HYPOTHESES / RESEARCH QUESTIONS
• DESIGNING THE RESEARCH
• REVIEWING RELATED LITERATURE
• COLLECTING DATA
• ORGANISING AND ANALYSIS OF THE DATA
• MAKING INTERPRETATIONS AND DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
• GIVING RECOMMENDATIONS

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maintains rigorous standards

• reliable and universal
• the findings should come from reliable methods
  accepted by researchers. Data should not be
  invented / cooked.
• the methods applied should be accepted by the
  researchers belonging to that particular field
  throughout the world.

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Logical and objective

• should avoid personal values / prejudices
• ( bias )
• the accuracy of the measurements and methods for
  data collection.
• Requires courage
• It requires dedication
• Time consuming

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Cyclical / Spiral / helical

• -ongoing and generates new questions
• continual and expanding
• as one problem question is answered, many more
  are generated.
• Researchers depend upon pervious work to expand
  the knowledge base on any research frontier
• Questions spurring research leading to
  conclusions which in turn lead to new questions
  or modifications of the original questions.
• These in turn lead to new conclusions and so on.

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Replicable

• establishes repeatability of research findings
  and produces the same results
• Replication is a sign of credible science.
• It guides future research
• It is free from fraudulent or fake findings.

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based on empirical evidence

• Experience and observation
• research findings are to be verified by the
  interplay of five human senses.
• It has a goal
• requires clear articulation of a goal

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scientific method

• A shared philosophical approach to understanding
  the world
• A standard sequence of steps in formulating and
  answering questions
• the scientific method incorporates observations
  and data which are systematically collected and
  analyzed in order to obtain understanding of
  phenomena based on controlled observation and
  analysis.

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Scientific Methods

• There are many scientific methods. The two major
  methods are the inductive method and the
  deductive method.
• The deductive method involves the following
  three steps
• 1. State the hypothesis (based on theory
  or research literature).
• 2. Collect data to test the hypothesis.
• 3. Make decision to accept or reject the
• hypothesis.

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The inductive method

• This approach also involves three steps
• 1. Observe the world.
• 2. Search for a pattern in what is observed.
• 3. Make a generalization about what is occurring

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a good Research Requires

• The scope and limitations of the work to be
  clearly defined.
• The process to be clearly explained so that it
  can be reproduced and verified by other
  researchers.
• A thoroughly planned design that is as objective
  as possible.
• Highly ethical standards are applied.

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good research

• All limitations are documented.
• Data be adequately analyzed and explained.
• All findings are presented unambiguously and all
  conclusions be justified by sufficient evidence.

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OBJECTIVES OF DOING RESEARCH

• The purpose of research is to discover answers to
  questions through the application of scientific
  procedures
• To test a hypothesis of causal relationship
  between variables.
• To understand, appreciate or solve problems.

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Objectives of doing research

• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to
  achieve new insights into it (studies with this
  objective are known as explorative or formulative
  studies)
• To portray accurately the characteristics of a
  particular individual, situation or a group
  (studies with this object in view are known as
  descriptive studies)

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Objectives of doing research

• To determine the frequency with which something
  occurs or with which it is associated with
  something else (known as diagnostic studies)
• To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship
  between variables (known as hypothesis testing)

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SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH

• promotes the development of logical habits of
  thinking and organization.
• provides the basis for nearly all government
  policies.
• helps in solving various problems in the
  society. (esp ACTION RESEARCH)
• provides intellectual satisfaction of knowing
  for the sake of knowing.
• helps in improving ones critical thinking skills

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RESEARCH PARADIGMS

• There are currently three major research
  paradigms in education (and in the social and
  behavioral sciences). They are quantitative
  research, qualitative research, and mixed
  research.

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Scientific/Positivistic Paradigm

• The scientific/positivistic paradigm considers
  reality as an object to be studied outside of
  the self.
• The researcher is separated from that being
  studied the researcher remains distant.
  Creswell (1994) writes, " Thus in surveys and
  experiments, researchers attempt to control for
  bias, select a systematic sample, and be
  'objective' in assessing a situation."
• tends to use quantitative methods.
• studies the world "out there."
• attempts to describe, explain and predict
  phenomena in the "real world" through objective
  observation

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The Humanistic/Interpretivist Paradigm

• The humanistic paradigm relies on human
  interpretations of reality as the basis of
  understanding the world.
• Rather than focusing on the objective reality
  "out there", humanistic scholars are more
  interested in how people interpret that reality
  "in here" (in their conscious minds) and how they
  act based on those interpretations. Regarding
  this paradigm, Creswell (1994) maintains that,
  "Researchers interact with those they study,
  whether this interaction assumes the form of
  living with or observing informants over a
  prolonged period of time, or actual collaboration
  
• tends to use qualitative methods,

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Mixed research paradigm

• Mixed research involves the mixing of positivist
  and interpretive methods or paradigm
  characteristics
• The methodology of the positivist paradigm is
  often described as quantitative while the
• methodology of the interpretive paradigm is
  called qualitative