This guide offers a comprehensive handbook to scientific research methodology and experimental design, specifically for novice MA and PhD researchers in Education and Language Learning (TESOL/TEFL). It establishes scientific research as a systematic, objective inquiry focused on identifying cause-and-effect relationships through empirical data.…

90-Day Cycles are a disciplined and structured form of inquiry designed to produce and test knowledge syntheses, prototyped processes, or products in support of improvement work. With any type of activity, organizations inevitably encounter roadblocks to improving performance and outcomes. These barriers might include intractable problems at…

This book provides a uniquely accessible introduction to multilevel modeling, a powerful tool for analyzing relationships between an individual level dependent variable, such as student reading achievement, and individual-level and contextual explanatory factors, such as gender and neighborhood quality. Helping readers build on the statistical…

This report focuses upon Task Analysis as research. It is based upon the fact that the Task Analysis program conducted by the Office of Manpower Utilization (OMU) involves purposive, systematic investigations and analyses in order to prepare reports of findings that will be useful and influential in Marine Corps planning, policy determination, and…

Provides guidelines for conducting representative case research (i.e., research that examines response of specific individuals to events, situations, circumstances, or conditions important in human life). Describes phases of investigation. Concludes representative case research offers a way of knowing persons holistically through application of…

The author attempts to synthesize some issues concerning adult education research. Topics include (1) the purpose of research, (2) epistemological assumptions being made by the researcher, (3) the politics and ethics of the research, (4) research design issues, and (5) consistency with the researcher's philosophy of adult education. (CH)

The third in a series of articles on performing and disseminating research projects in instructional technology presents guidelines for research planning: select a topic; identify the research problem; conduct a literature search; state the research questions; determine the research design; determine methods; and identify data analysis procedures.…

The author makes suggestions for two types of educational research and offers guidelines for carrying out and writing up the research. His first suggestion is a topic for research: the development of an authoritative definition for three terms: (1) regionally identified demand for workers, (2) articulation between secondary curriculums and related…

Trend analysis is explained in nontechnical language with examples given for both parametric and nonparametric situations. Similarities and differences between parametric and nonparametric trend analyses are conveniently charted. Practical research applications for Directors of Testing and Directors of Institutional Research are stressed. A linear…

Examines the schism of values between qualitative and quantitative social science researchers. Focuses on some practical methodological issues which face researchers wishing to adopt a qualitative-interpretive approach. (JDH)

In order to obtain accurate and factual data, a survey instrument must be well constructed and a survey planned carefully and conducted under strict conditions. Of importance in planning a survey is a determination of previous and on-going research through an extensive literature review. In designing the survey, the researcher should aim at…

To aid the student or researcher in the development of an effective procedural schematic (a graphic description of a research plan showing the steps needed to reach a stated objective), guidelines are presented under three topic headings: Compositional elements, taxonomy of research terms, and examples of procedural schematics. An introduction…

The study of the role parents play in the reading development of their children requires a methodology that is unobtrusive, humane, objective, and natural. Ethnography, with its corresponding technique of participant observation, offers these characteristics. The distinctive features of an ethnographic research design include: formulation of the…

This book is intended to give teacher education students and practicing teachers an introduction to research methods and does so by following the procedures and results of a recent study. Chapter 1 discusses the research problem and the procedures for setting up a research design. Chapter 2 discusses the major stages of field work. Chapter 3…

This booklet presents techniques used by the Office of Cancer Communications of the National Cancer Institute for pretesting health education materials for professional, patient, and public audiences. The approaches and experiences of other health organizations are also reviewed. Described are principles of pretesting and how pretesting can be…