Introduction to Research in Education

Research Process

• Research is a process of steps used to collect and analyze information to increase our understanding of a topic or issue and/or to solve a particular problem
• It consists of three general steps: Pose a question, Collect the data to answer the question, and Present the answer to the question

Purpose of Research

• Research adds to our knowledge
• Research improves practice
• Research provides evidence-based information to policymakers

Conducting Research in Education

• Identify research problem
• Review literature
• Specify a purpose of research
• Collecting data
• Analyzing and interpreting data collection
• Report and Evaluation of paper

Detailed Steps of Research Process

• Identifying the problem
• Reviewing literature
• Setting research questions, objectives, and hypothesis
• Choosing the study design
• Deciding sample design
• Collecting data
• Processing and analyzing data
• Writing the report

Types and Structure of Academic Papers

Research Proposal

• A written plan outlining the intent, scope, methodology, and significance of a potential research study
• Typically seeking approval or funding to proceed

Analytical Report Paper

• Examines available data or evidence related to a particular topic
• Breaks it down to interpret and draw conclusions

Empirical Paper

• Reports on research using data collected from experiments or observations
• Presents novel findings

Experimental Paper

• Details the methodology, procedures, and results of controlled tests or experiments
• Interprets the implications of these findings

Case-study Paper

• An in-depth, detailed examination of a specific instance or case
• To understand broader themes or phenomena

Review Paper

• Synthesizes existing research on a particular topic
• Provides an overview, analysis, and evaluation of the current state of knowledge
• Does not present new experimental data

Structure of Non-Empirical Paper

• Introduction
• Literature review
• Main body (key points)
• Discussion/conclusion

Structure of Empirical Paper

• Introduction
• Literature review
• Methodology (data collection and analysis)
• Findings or Results
• Discussion/conclusion

Title and Abstract

• Title: a concise statement that provides a clear indication of the paper's focus or main idea
• Abstract: a succinct summary of the entire paper that gives readers a quick overview of the study's aim and methodology, and key results
• Purpose: provide a reader with a topic and central theme and a brief summary

Introduction

• Introduces the research topic
• States the problem
• Indicates why the topic is significant
• Purpose: provide readers with a context

Literature Review

• Summarizes and evaluates existing studies
• Purpose: inform readers about the current state of research in the topic area, highlighting any gaps

Data Collection and Analysis

• Informs how data is gathered and subsequently analyzed
• Details the methodologies employed, tools or instruments used
• Purpose: allows the reader to evaluate the reliability of the research

Results and Findings

• Presents the outcomes of the research
• In empirical studies, it might include statistical analyses, tables, and charts
• In theoretical and analytical papers, it could be where the main argument or analysis is laid out
• Purpose: presenting research findings without any evaluation

Discussion

• Analyzes and discusses the results in relation to the research question and existing literature
• Purpose: interpret the findings in a broader context and explain their significance

Conclusion

• Summarizes the main points
• Perhaps suggesting future research directions or potential real-world applications
• Purpose: to summarize the main points and provide a final thought