2nd Edition

Educational Research A Guide To the Process

By Norman E. Wallen, Jack R. Fraenkel Copyright 2001

    Educational Research: A Guide to the Process is a different kind of research text. It emphasizes the process of research, that is, what researchers actually do as they go about designing and carrying out their research activities. Rather than passively reading about research operations, it promotes content mastery by using a three-step pedagogical model that involves: a manageable chunk of text, a comprehension or application exercise, and author feedback on the exercise. The text contains approximately 150 of these exercise-feedback units.

    The second edition has been thoroughly updated, expanded from 15 to 20 chapters, and reorganized into two parts. Part I covers basic aspects of the research process, provides an example of a student research proposal, and shows how to evaluate a research report. Part II provides a separate chapter for each research methodology, including two chapters on qualitative research. Other noteworthy changes include more annotated studies and more visual illustrations of statistical and research methods.

    Contents: Preface. Part I: Basic Concepts of Educational Research. Introduction to Educational Research. The Research Question. Variables and Hypotheses. Reviewing the Literature. Instrumentation. More on Instrumentation. Samples and Populations. Internal Validity. Controlling Threats to Internal Validity. Data Analysis. The Research Proposal. Critiquing Research Reports. Part II: Research Methodologies. Experimental Research. Single-Subject Research. Causal-Comparative Research. Correlational Research. Survey Research. Content Analysis Research. Qualitative Research: I. Qualitative Research: II. Appendices: General Glossary of Research Terminology. Specialized Glossary of Statistical Terminology. Calculation of Some Commonly Used Statistics. Table of Random Numbers. Table of Chi Square Values.

    Biography

    Jack R. Fraenkel, Norman E. Wallen