MITE/MILM 6025 Methods of Research and Inquiry

Introduction to Researchby Dr. Daniel Churchill

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About The Facilitator

Dr. Daniel Churchill Faculty of EducationThe University of Hong Kong

Email: dchurch@hku.hk

Phone: 2859.1141

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About MITE6025

There will be 8 sessions MITE6025 blog http://mite6025.wpmu.cite.hku.hk/ The purpose of this course is to introduce to methods of

research and contribute to you preparation for MITE/MILM Dissertation/Project

Guidelines to DissertationModule Outline

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About the Sessions

Lessons Group Activities Critical Readings Assignment

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Assessment

Group work Individual Assignment: Write a Research Plan

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Content Overview

What is Research? Educational Research Research Classification: Basic and Applied Research Approaches to Educational Research: Qualitative vs.

Quantitative Research Descriptive Research, Correlational Research, Causal-

comparative Research, Experimental Research Historical Research and Naturalistic Inquiry Task 1

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What is Research?

Research is the systematic and objective approach to scholarly inquiry: Directed toward the solution of a problem and

advancement of human knowledge though the development of theories

Utilizes carefully designed procedures that apply rigorous analysis

Builds on expertise: Knows what is already known about the problem How others have investigated it

Remains objective and logical by applying every possible test to validate the procedures employed, the data collected, and the conclusions reached

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Educational Research

Educational Research explains, predicts and/or control educational phenomenon

Educational research is conducted in the following way:

Define -- a significant problem, hypothesis or question

Plan -- review literature to establish background to the study, identify methodology, plan procedure

Execute research procedures -- collect data e.g., interviews, surveys, questionnaires, observations

Analyze data -- qualitatively, quantitatively or a mixed way

Draw conclusions and recommendations

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Research Classification

Basic or Fundamental Research -- develops theories

Applied Research -- application of theory to the solution of a problem and improvement in practice: Evaluation Research -- systematic process of

gathering data to make a decision Research and Development -- develops

effective products for use in education Action Research -- improvement in practice

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Examples of Applied Research

Evaluation Research: Should Alfred Lim be placed in a program for

students with specific learning ability? Research and Development:

Develop a set of learning objects to facilitate students understanding of motion and forces

Action Research: What can be done to prevent students’

misconceptions in the topic of “Moon Phases” in sciences class?

Activity -- Let’s think of some possible questions

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Approaches to Educational Research

Quantitative approach -- involves collection of numerical data and statistical analysis (deductive analysis) Descriptive research Correlational research Causal-comparative research – cause relationship Experimental research – setting condition and apply

to real case and do the comparison. Qualitative approach -- involves collection of narrative

data (interview transcript, field notes) in search for understanding (inductive analysis) Historical Research – past records to do the

evaluation. Naturalistic Inquiry

Ethnographic Research – like school culture. Case Studies – e.g. school, class (study class independently)

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Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research

Qualitative Quantitative

Develops hypotheses – generate new theory

Tests hypotheses

Does not seek to control the contexts

Seeks to control the context

Researcher interacts with the participants – e.g. email.

Researcher does not interact with participants

Involves a smaller sample Involves large number of subjects/participants for results to be statistically significant

Assumes individuality Assumes that contexts are stable, uniform and controllable

Interpretation of data Data analyses relies on statistical procedures

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Descriptive Research

Descriptive research involves collecting numerical data to test hypotheses or answer questions regarding the subjects of the study

The data are collected through a questionnaire, an interview, or an observation

A researcher reports the numerical results for one or more variables on the subjects of the study.

Some examples: How do primary school teachers spend their time on

computer? How do parents feel about increased computer use in the

school?

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Correlational Research

Correlational research attempts to determine whether and to what extent, a relationship exists between two or more numerical variables

This relationship can be used to predict the value of one variable for a subject if you know the other variable

Correlation implies prediction but not causation A researcher uses the correlation coefficient to report the

research Some examples:

The relationship between intelligence and computer use. The use of an aptitude test to predict computer use in a

science class.

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Causal-comparative Research

Attempts to establish cause-effect relationships among the variables of the study, that is, that values of an independent variable have a significant effect on a dependent variable

In causal-comparative research the independent variable is not under the experimenters control but has to take values of an independent variable as they come

Some examples: The effect of computer use on information literacy at the end

of the first grade. The effect of gender on science achievement through use of

technology.

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Experimental Research

Similar to causal-comparative research but the independent variable is under control of a researcher

Some examples: The comparative effectiveness of computer-based

tutorials versus learner-centered e-learning activities on thinking skill

The effect of positive reinforcement on attitude toward ICT

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Historical Research

Historical research is involved with the study of past events.

Collection and objective evaluation of data related to past events in order to test hypotheses that may help to explain present events and anticipate future events

Some examples: Factors leading to the development of computer

literacy Effects of decisions of the ICT Integration in

Schools Initiative of EMB on Hong Kong Education

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Naturalistic Inquiry

Naturalistic inquiry includes ethnographic research and case studies to study of current events

It involves the collection of extensive narrative data on many variables over an extended period of time in a naturalistic setting.

Some examples: A case study of parental involvement at an ESF

school – find a real case to study. A multi-case study of students who excel despite

computer illiteracy – find few of students with good grade but not good for computer literacy.

A teacher as designer of on-line learning

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For Information

Some additional research approaches are: Meta-research -- synthesizes previous

research (usually in quantitative way) Design Experiment -- new approach to

research that emerged in education technology community

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Overview of Approaches to ER

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Let’s See What we Understand

Work in pairs. Go through list of M Sc/B Ed research abstracts at http://www.cite.hku.hk/alumni/dissertation/

Classify come of the topics from these abstracts into the six research approaches. Identify at least one topic for an approach

Present the outcome to the class supporting your classification

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Group Task

Setup your groups blog You can setup a blog for free at:

http:// wpmu.cite.hku.hk http://www.blogger.com Or other blog of your choice

In the first post the team should introduce each member (preferably provide photos)

First task: Discuss in your group and identify one research topic

which you think it would be good idea to explore. Develop research question and classify it in one of

the research types Present the outcome in your blog.

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Reading for next week

Read this article in preparation for next week. Try to integrate elements of this article into your group activity. Lim, C.P. , & Hung, D. (2003). An activity

theory approach to research of ICT integration in Singapore schools. Computers & Education, 41(2003), 49-63.

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References

Ravid, R. (2000). Practical statistics for educators. (2nd ed). New York, NY.: University Press of America, Inc.