b) differentiate between quantitative and qualitative research
approaches
c) identify the features of different research methods
Course Description
Students are introduced to the research process with emphasis on educational research. Among the topics discussed are: educational resources & documentation such as library services (classification & catalogues, reference materials); identification of the research problem, hypotheses testing & sampling; research methods such as historical research, comparative research, experimental design, survey method, ethnography, action research and longitudinal studies; data collection procedures & problems; data analysis; and the technical aspects of reporting research (footnotes, bibliography, presentation of graphs & tables. This course includes both theory & practice.
References
Kerlinger, F. (1999). Foundations of Behavioral Research, Boston: Wiley
Schymacher, S. & McMillan, J. (1993). Research in Education: A Conceptual Introduction. New York: Harpers Collins College
Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. (1994). Handbook of Qualitative Research. London: Sage.
Evaluation
Evaluation is based on the following:
a) Assignment #1 (10%) Submission
Critique of a Quantitative 4th week
Research article
This exercise is an attempt to help students learn to critique the literature focussing on the theoretical, methodological and conceptual issues specific to the study. Students will be responsible for choosing their own article for critique. They are advised to show me the article the have selected before doing the critique. The following guidelines should be followed:
Article should be an empirical study (i.e. with quantitative data presented in tables, graphs and statistically analysed using t-test, chi-square, ANOVA, percentages, etc) in a peer-reviewed journal. Not a magazine, the newspaper or a book.
No internet papers or articles unless they are from a peer-reviewed journal.
Articles should be related to your field of specialisation. (eg. instructional technology, psychology, mathematics educations, social science education, special education, etc.)
The critique should be about 6-8 pages (double spacing) and should follow this format: CRITIQUE GUIDELINES
Submit a copy of the article
b) Assignment #2 (10%) Submission Critique #2 of a qualitative 10th week
research article
This exercise is to enable students to critique a qualitative research article focussing on the research questions, the methods employed for data collection and the techniques of data analysis used. Students should also focus on how the researcher/s argues that the study is valid. Please show me the article before doing the critque. The above guidelines apply.
This exercise is to enable students to write a research proposal describing their intended topic of study, the methods of data collection, the theorectial framework and review of related literature.
