Science Inquiry and Educational Research

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal of scientific inquiry?

To justify pre-existing beliefs and opinions.

To document personal experiences and feelings.

To explain natural phenomena, understand relationships, predict, and influence behavior. (correct)

To explore subjective interpretations of events.

What does the principle of 'posing significant questions that can be investigated empirically' emphasize?

The use of any method in studying educational issues.

The need to focus on research questions that have practical benefits and use objective evidence. (correct)

The reliance on theoretical frameworks without data.

The importance of exploring personal opinions and feelings.

What is meant by an 'empirical' approach in scientific inquiry?

An approach based on indirect sources rather than firsthand experience.

An approach that gathers objective evidence through observation, measurement, or experience that can be replicated. (correct)

An approach that collects subjective data rather than objective data.

An approach based on personal opinions and beliefs.

Why is theory important in scientific research?

To establish a body of knowledge that can generalize widely and advance understanding. (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what does sound scientific inquiry require when investigation a topic or question?

That the method used matches the specific research question. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does scientific inquiry utilize compared to personal experience?

Objective evidence and testable methods. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of empirical data in a scientific educational study?

It offers an objective, measurable perspective (B) Signup and view all the answers

How would the principles of scientific inquiry apply to consumers of educational research?

They help evaluate research quality. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of measure focuses on affective traits such as personality and values?

Non-cognitive measures (B) Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates a norm-referenced test from other types of tests?

It interprets individual scores relative to a norming group. (A) Signup and view all the answers

A researcher develops a questionnaire for a specific study. What type of measure is this considered to be?

A locally prepared measure (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a self-report measure?

Standardized aptitude tests (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of commercially prepared educational measures?

To be widely used, with an emphasis on strong technical qualities (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of basic research?

It aims to expand knowledge without immediate practical use. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Where is applied research most likely to occur?

In real-world settings such as schools and hospitals (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an observation by others?

A researcher recording the number of times a student raises their hand (D) Signup and view all the answers

In educational measurement, what does 'cognitive' primarily refer to?

Mental processes and knowledge (D) Signup and view all the answers

In survey research, how are qualitative methods most commonly used?

To provide context to the quantitative data. (B) Signup and view all the answers

If a test is said to be criterion-referenced, what does this mean?

Scores indicate an individual's achievement on specific learning objectives (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of action research?

To improve practices within a specific institution. (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, why should research methods be carefully selected?

To match the research purpose and question being asked. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of traditional research according to the content?

It aims to generalize findings to larger populations. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the author caution against in the research process?

Engaging with a research topic superficially. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does the content describe the relative emphasis given to different research methods in a study?

The emphasis can vary widely depending on the study. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'response set' in the context of questionnaires?

A tendency to respond the same way to all items on a questionnaire (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a recommended strategy for controlling problems associated with measuring non-cognitive traits in questionnaires?

Providing complete transparency about the goals of the survey (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is 'social desirability' in the context of survey responses?

The tendency to respond to items in a way that is socially approved or accepted (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to have a symmetric set of response alternatives in a survey?

To ensure a clear attitude continuum from one side to the other (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'faking' refer to in the context of questionnaires?

A participant intentionally giving dishonest answers (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using surveys in social research?

They allow for the collection of data from a large number of people in a short amount of time. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What should be the primary focus when constructing survey items for a research project?

Ensuring proper sampling and the development of high-quality items (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if a researcher states that 'a survey is only as good as the items of which it is made'?

That the quality of the questions on the survey directly impacts the validity of the research (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of reflexivity in hermeneutic research?

To promote awareness of the researcher's influence and biases on the interpretation. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key challenge that researchers might face when conducting hermeneutic research?

Managing the subjective nature of interpretation and potential biases. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is the hermeneutic approach considered valuable in fields like sociology and anthropology?

It allows for an in-depth understanding of social phenomena, beliefs and cultural narratives. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the dialogical process emphasize in hermeneutic research?

The importance of the researcher's interaction with the data, shaping interpretation. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In hermeneutic research, how can ethical considerations be maintained?

By respecting participant's dignity, transparent representation of perspectives, and maintaining transparency of interpretations. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of the word 'pedagogy'?

It is based on the Greek terms 'paidos' (child) and 'agein' (to guide, lead). (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary focus of pedagogy?

The application of methods and actions to address issues in teaching and learning. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'agein' mean regarding pedagogy's etymology?

To guide or to lead (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary goals of social pedagogues, according to the text?

To become aware of and eliminate biases that may affect their objectivity. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the phenomenological approach prioritize in research?

The researcher's freedom of thought by disregarding existing theories. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the initial step in a phenomenological analysis, as described in the text?

Identifying and acknowledging personal biases that may interfere. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the researcher in reflecting on their own attitudes and beliefs?

To ensure they don't bias the interpretation of lived experiences. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of anecdotes in the HP method?

To reveal hidden meanings and to explore the connection between living an experience and thinking about that experience. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested about the method to explore a phenomenon, before asking others about it?

To personally experience and describe it first, in order to have a clearer perception of what is being sought. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between 'living and thinking' in phenomenological research?

Living refers to the experience, while thinking is a reflection of it. These are strongly linked. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a source of data in the descriptive phase of the HP method?

Statistical analysis of collected data. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Research

Research is a systematic process for gathering, interpreting, and reporting information. It differs from informal knowledge gathering in its structured and objective approach.
Key sources of knowledge include personal experience, tradition, expert authority, and logic. Each has limitations. Personal experience can be biased and inaccurate, tradition may resist change, and expert authority isn't always correct. Logic can be flawed.
Research is a vital tool for understanding educational practices and improving teaching and leadership.
The purpose of scientific inquiry is to explain natural phenomena, understand relationships, and predict and influence behavior. This is demonstrated through the use of various principles.
Principles of scientific inquiry guide research by outlining norms for quality, including posing significant questions, linking research to a theory, using appropriate methods, developing a coherent chain of reasoning, replicating and generalizing, and encouraging peer review, criticism, and dissemination.

Sources of Knowledge

Personal Experience: Direct observation is a significant source of knowledge, but human error and bias can influence judgments and observations.
Tradition: Culturally accepted knowledge, but traditional practices may not always be optimal or fair. There may be a resistance to new interpretations.
Experts' Authority: Relying on insights from experts, but knowledge is still subjective. Experts can have contradictory information..
Logic
Research: A systematic approach to knowledge acquisition.

Research

Research is more than just a formal report, it's also about investigation of individuals, groups, documents and other materials to acquire reliable and valid knowledge.
Educational research applies systematic inquiry to educational problems and questions.

Purpose of Scientific Inquiry

To explain natural phenomena
To understand the underlying relationships
To predict and influence behavior

Applying Systematic Inquiry to Education

The core of research is to obtain credible answers to questions through design, conduction and reporting of reasonable data.
Steps to conducting a study: Question, Method, Results and Conclusions.

Types of Educational Research

Different designs and categories exist such as:
- Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Method
- Basic research, applied research, evaluation, and action research;
- Historical, legal, and conceptual analyses.

Research Ethics

Researchers have a responsibility to conduct studies ethically, safeguarding participants from potential harm.
Informed consent, subject-protection standards, confidentiality, and the investigator's responsibility to uphold ethical standards when dealing with human subjects are crucial in educational research.

Data Collection Techniques

Four common techniques include: Tests, Questionnaires, Observations, and Interviews.
Each technique has its own unique characteristics that influence how data are collected.

Discussion Topics (Data Collection)

Methods of classifying educational measures
Types of educational measures, including tests, questionnaires, observations, and interviews.
Criteria for evaluating instruments

Quantitative and Qualitative Research

Quantitative: typically involves numerical data and the search for relationships
Qualitative: typically involves text, the discovery of understanding a situation or issue, and usually a small number of subjects
Mixed Methods: A combination of qualitative and quantitative

Types of Research Designs

A schema with branches of quantitative, qualitative and analytical designs including subdivisions, for example Experimental, Case study, Phenomenological, Ethnographic, Grounded Theory, Critical Study, and Mixed Methodology.

Types of Research

Basic: seeks to expand knowledge.
Applied: seeks to use existing knowledge.
Evaluate: assesses the effects of programs.
Action: is employed by educational practitioners for the purpose of improving the environment in which they work.

Analysis

The analysis of research, both quantitative and qualitative, should be conducted logically.
A clear and logical, evidence-based chain of reasoning is essential to provide a solid, credible, and persuasive basis for research findings.
To have a strong and reasonable chain, every step in research should be well structured and accounted for.

Study Questions

Questions regarding different types of research and how they differ in their approach are addressed.
Importance of determining what type of study is appropriate, and how research is conducted will provide a better understanding of the nature and content of the study.
Study questions to further investigate the methodology.

Hermeneutic Research

Explores meanings embedded in texts, social actions, and cultural artifacts.
A dynamic, cyclical process (hermeneutic circle).
Focuses on understanding the context, biases, and interpretations of the participants.

Hermeneutic Phenomenology

Combines phenomenology's focus on lived experience with hermeneutics' interpretive approach.
The analysis prioritizes the meaning-making process and subjects' interpretations within the context.

Methodology - Evaluation

Evaluates various aspects of the research process to determine credibility.
Includes evaluation of research methods/designs and ethical considerations, such as participants' rights, data privacy, etc..

Reviewing Literature

Describes how to review the available literature to give context to the research problem.
Provides steps for collecting, analyzing, summarizing, and organizing the content into a relevant review of the literature.
Qualitative and Quantitative Reviews are presented and evaluated.

Research Problems, Variables, Questions, and Hypotheses

Presents the different types of Research Problems that are available
Includes details on how these problems, along with variables, questions, and hypotheses, are important in conducting research.
Provides example research problems as well as examples of how those problems may be translated to hypotheses.
Presents reasons for using hypotheses.
Explains two main types of hypotheses (directional and non-directional)
Presents statistical hypotheses and their construction, as well as the null hypothesis.

Participants and Sampling

Describes the process and importance of selecting samples.
Categorizes different types of sampling (probability and nonprobability).

Evaluation of Research

Criteria are included for evaluating the quality, accuracy, and validity of the entire research process.
This includes how one evaluates, what one is looking for, and what one should consider in making the best decision on the quality and worth of the research.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores the fundamental principles of scientific inquiry and its application to educational research. It covers topics such as empirical approaches, the significance of theory, and measurement types in research. Challenge your understanding of how these concepts relate to consumers of educational studies.