Educational Research: Intro and Types

Introduction to Educational Research

• This module introduces learners to basic procedures in educational research and statistics.
• It provides basic information for learners to conduct projects
• It covers procedures and concepts in managing test results and evaluations.
• The module adopts a pragmatic approach to educational research and statistics.

Types and Meanings of Educational Research

• Research is finding or searching for a solution to a problem and denotes many activities
• Research investigates carefully and systematically to discover new information.
• The goal of research is to find dependable solutions through data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Research aims for systematic and objective recording to develop generalizations and theories.
• Research systematically investigates propositions about relations among natural phenomena.
• Research involves a systematic search for new knowledge to solve novel problems.
• Educational Research involves acquiring basic knowledge.
• Educational research actively produces new ideas and applies the scientific method.
• Educationists should transmit societal knowledge to the youth, selecting appropriate content and methods
• Modern knowledge relies on modern methods, with new knowledge driven by the scientific method.
• Basic research explains phenomena to predict future occurrences.
• Adopting the scientific method is beneficial for solving educational problems.
• Research seeks solutions to problems through planned and systematic methods.
• Research is a systematic activity based on scientific procedures to make decisions
• Educational research addresses problems and seeks solutions.

Qualities of Good Research

• Research must be objective, original, and address at least one problem.
• Research should be systematic, following an acceptable pattern.
• Research should lead to generalization and be based on theories and principles.
• Research should help predict behavior in studied variables or characteristics.
• Research should rely on observable experience and appropriate tools.

Types of Research

• Research is classified into two main types: descriptive and experimental.

Descriptive Research

• Data are analyzable and generalizable if sample sizes are large.
• These studies generalize documents and events as they naturally occur
• Descriptive studies seek information in its existing form.
• Survey studies, case studies, correlation studies, longitudinal studies, market research, development studies, historical studies, evaluation, cross-sectional studies and horizontal studies, are all examples of descriptive research.
• Descriptive studies can be less rigorous, completing, and demanding.
• The extent to which they can be generated is limited.
• They often lack research conditions and manipulation of variables.
• Parametric analysis of data obtained is restricted.

Experimental Research

• It explores cause-and-effect relationships between variables.
• It uses control and experimental groups to measure the effect of treatment.
• Experimental and control groups are identical except for the treatment variable.
• Experimental research focuses on one-variable relationships and involves manipulation.
• Cause-experimental research and true experimental research method are types of experimental research.

Educational Research Methodologies

• Methods of conducting research on data collection fall into four categories: historical, descriptive, experimental, and predictive

Historical Research Method

• Historical research studies documents from the past.
• The researcher cannot alter the nature of these documents.
• It applies the scientific method to analyze historical events.
• It aims to understand past events to explain present and predict future situations.
• Studying the development of Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) in Nigeria is an example.
• Historical research uses existing information and does not manipulate variables like experiments.
• Steps include:
  • Identifying the Problem
  • Formulating a Hypothesis
  • Seeking Empirical Data
  • Drawing Conclusions
  • Replication, if possible

Descriptive Research Method

• Also known as non-experimental research and describes subjects as they are.
• Descriptive research is interested in describing variables in relation to a population.
• Descriptive research includes survey research, correctional study, case study, causal comparative study, and development study.

Predictive Research Method

• Described as futurology
• It uses group processes and reflective thinking to make judgements about the future with supposedly minimum error.
• It uses prediction techniques to make judgments about the future.
• Admitting students into higher education based on exam scores is a prediction of success.
• Student performance can be predicted clinically or statistically.
• Clinical predictions are when psychologists study habits to predict behavior.
• Statistical prediction uses tests to collect data for predictions.

Experimental Research Method

• It establishes cause-and-effect relationships between variables
• The cause is the independent variable, and the effect is the dependent variable.
• The manipulation of the independent variable is a key feature.
• Common characteristics of experimental design include:
  • Randomization in subject selection
  • Control group without experimental manipulations
• Changes in the dependent variable are concrete
• Changes are attributable to the manipulation of the treatment group.
• Expressed as Y = F (X), with Y as the dependent variable and X as the independent variable.