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What is inquiry/Research??
A studious, systematic examination of facts or principles; research
Investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in light of new
facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories
or laws
© 2009, MJ Bober-Michel; all rights reserved
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Research is Everywhere
iPad and iPhone shift reading habits:http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/04/how-the-ip
ad-and-iphone-shift-reading-habits/The Educational Value of Ugly Font
http://blogs.wsj.com/ideas-market/2011/01/08/the-educational-value-of-ugly-fonts/
Building Self-Esteem through Facebookhttp://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/social.medi
a/03/01/facebook.self.esteem/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn
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Research is Everywhere (2)
Women are Better than Men?!http://www.glamour.com/sex-love-life/2011/
02/women-are-better-than-men?currentPage=2
Go Easy On Yourself, a New Wave of Research Urgeshttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/g
o-easy-on-yourself-a-new-wave-of-research-urges/
Google’s Quest to Build a Better Bosshttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/13/busines
s/13hire.html?hp
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Research is everywhere: connecting the world to what we're learning (Graded)
Inquiry -- from three different perspectives
Basic: scientific investigation to develop or enhance theory
Applied: testing theory to assess its ”usefulness” in solving
(instructional or educational) problems
Evaluation: determining whether a program, product, or process
warrants improvement, has made a difference or impact, or has contributed to general knowledge or understanding
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Inquiry calls for systematic thinking
What research (as we’ll study it) is not:Mere information gathering Mere information assembly Mere rummaging for information An abstraction (e.g., suggesting that “years
of research” have led to ________________)
© 2009, MJ Bober-Michel; all rights reserved
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© 2009, MJ Bober-Michel; all rights reserved
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The research/evaluation dichotomy: real or contrived?
Evaluation differs from other kinds of research in that... central questions are derived from policymakers and
practitioners, results are generally used to improve programs,
projects, products, or processes, it tends to occur in turbulent action settings, results are often reported to nonresearch audiences.
Why ED 690 in COE master’s programs?
To understand … your field’s historical roots: its genesis, drivers, etc. the issues and ideas about which practitioners have
been and are now most interested how your field has been explored/examined:
techniques, strategies, methods
The research base informs the performance solutions we develop/implement—from insights into audience needs to facilitation models and assessment options
© 2009, MJ Bober-Michel; all rights reserved
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The topics we’ll cover
The tools of research Formulating a research “problem” Determining a research design
traditional and eclectic, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods
Collecting data/triangulating data: techniques, sampling, reliability, validity
Analyzing data: conceptually and “technically”
© 2009, MJ Bober-Michel; all rights reserved
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Working with complex terminology
Theory Approach Model Principle Guideline Heuristic Framework Frame of reference Orientation
© 2009, MJ Bober-Michel; all rights reserved
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Why conduct research (broadly)
To judge merit or worth (accountability, accreditation/licensing, cost-benefit
decisions)
To improve programs (identify strengths and weaknesses, ensure quality,
or check progress toward goals)
To generate knowledge (make generalizations about effectiveness, build
theory, make policy, extrapolate principles that may be applied to other settings)
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Why conduct research (specifically)
To describe what happens
thus providing evidence regarding the short- and long-term effects of ….
To determine cost-effectiveness
To improve existing programs
To document successes and mistakes
To predict how variables might impact/affect specific situations
To explain or identify promising theories associated with specific phenomenon
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Research and decision-making (1)
Applied research (including evaluation) helps people make a wide array of instrumental action decisions, e.g.: making midcourse corrections continuing, expanding, or institutionalizing a
program … or cutting, ending, or abandoning it testing a new program idea choosing the best of several alternatives deciding whether or not to continue funding
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Research and decision-making (2)
Applied research (including evaluation) help people make a wide array of organizational decisions, e.g.: recording program history providing feedback to practitioners highlighting program goals establishing accountability understanding social intervention
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Personal Traits of A “Good” Investigator
MethodicalLogicalSystematic OrganizedAble to manage time, to prioritize tasksGood with people/able to connect,
commands respect, inquisitive/curious, not easily swayed by rumor and innuendo, persistent, tenacious, calm, etc.
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Research and Researchers in the Big Bang Theory
© 2009, MJ Bober-Michel; all rights reserved
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Research and Researchers in the Big Bang Theory
© 2009, MJ Bober-Michel; all rights reserved
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Research and Researchers in the Big Bang Theory
© 2009, MJ Bober-Michel; all rights reserved
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Sex and the City
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“Criteria”
As an researcher, then, you are expected...to be competentto be honest and demonstrate integrityto show respect for peopleto be politically savvyto work systemicallyto make data-based decisions
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