Introduction to

Educational

Research

Chapter 1

Why Study Educational

Research? It can be interesting and beneficial

Learn how to find evidence, not proof

Help understand and critique information acquired via the media

Learn that not all research is created equal

Areas of Educational Research

America Education Research

Association is largest

association in the field of

education is composed of

individuals in all niches of

education

Examples of Educational Research

Abstract

An abstract is a brief summary of what is included in the article

Give a brief overview of the main ideas within the study that include:

The purpose of the study

How the researchers studied the phenomenon

What the major results were

General Kinds of Research

Sources of Knowledge

Epistemology is the study of

knowledge, including its nature,

how it is gained or generated,

how it is warranted, and the

standards that are used to judge

its adequacy

John Locke the Empiricisthttps://resourcesforhistoryteachers.wikispaces.com/file/view/john-

locke.jpg , 2009

Sources of Knowledge

Empiricism

is the idea

that

knowledge

comes from

experience

The Rationalist Rene Descartes http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/GeneralInterest/Key/descart

es.jpg, 2009

Sources of Knowledge

Rationalism

is the

philosophical

idea that

reason is the

primary

source of

knowledge

Fun Fact: Rene Descartes and Frank Zappa are Twins

http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/GeneralInterest/Key/descartes.jpg, 2009

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff253/douglasbass/FrankZappa.jpg, 2009

Sources of Knowledge

Dynamics of Science

Science is progressive because when researchers conduct new research studies, they try to build on and extend current research theories and results

Science is also dynamic and open to new ideas and hypotheses, which may become new theories

Science is a never-ending process that includes rational thinking, the reliance on empirical observation, constant peer evaluation and critique, and active creativity and attempts at discovery.

Basic Assumptions in Science

There is a world that can be studied.

Some of the world is unique; some of it is regular or patterned or predictable; and much of it is dynamic and complex

The unique, the regular, and the complex in the world all can be examined and studied by researchers

Researchers should try to follow certain agree-on norms and practices

It is impossible to distinguish between more and less plausible claims and between good and poor research

Science cannot provide answers to all questions

Scientific Method

Theory

A theory is an explanation or an explanatory system that discusses how a phenomenon operates and why it operates as it does