Fraenkel and Wallen, 1996

The Scientific ApproachMajor distinguishing features:

Done in ‘the public arena’Subject to rigorous testing in controlled

environmentsReplication of the study is always possible and

encouragedPublicity of results

ConclusionsDo not = proof!!!They are always subject to change if new

ideas or evidence arises

Example: Raising a child as a bilingual…

Steps of the scientific approach1. Identification of a problem or question2. Clarification of the problem3. Determination of the information needed &

how to obtain it4. Organization of the information5. Interpretation

Types of ResearchQuantitative

vs.

Qualitative

Types of Research (Quantitative)Experimental research:

The most conclusive type of research (but not always possible to conduct)

The independent variable…What is it? The dependent variable…Whatis it?Control of extraneous variables…

Types of Research (Quantitative)Correlational Research: measures the

relationship between two variablesIs factor X correlated with characteristic A?No active manipulation by the researcher

(unlike experimental research)Correlation does not = causation!

Types of Research (Quantitative)Causal-Comparison Research: also a

comparison between Often used when experimental research is not

possible for some reason (perhaps unethical, perhaps not feasible)

Two or more existing groups are used Goal: to find the cause or the consequence of

differences between themResults also cannot be considered direct

effects; other factors may have also played a role

Types of Research (Quantitative or Qualitative)Survey Research: Use of questions to obtain

specific information about a group

Types: 1.) Descriptive survey: written questionnaire or

proficiency test administered to a large group of people (by phone, mail, in-person) 2.)When questions are asked in person, then it’s an

interview

Benefits and Drawbacks of the approach?

Types of Research (Quantitative or Qualitative)Content-Analysis Research: Analysis of

materials already produced by people (No actual manipulation involved)Usually analysis of written documents (like

newspapers, magazines, diaries), but also possible to analyze any other kind of artifact (like movies)

Used in situations in which the material is not pre-organized; the researcher locates and analyzes the material.

Example?

Types of research (Qualitative)Ethnographic study:

Goal: To gain insight into people’s everyday lives

Methods used: Interviews with participants Interviews with people near the participant observation of the situation

Example: A classroom

Types of research (Qualitative)Case Study:A more detailed look into the topic of the

ethnographic approach

The focus is generally on one or a few people that are special in some way.

Example: High achieving individuals within the classroom.

Types of research (Qualitative)Historical Research: Attempt to

reconstruct some kind of an event in the past

Interviews with people who experienced the event

Analysis of documents that date back to the time of the historical event

Example?

Discussion Topic(Divide into groups)

Discuss the following question: What type of research is more important/has more value? Does any one type of research stand out in this way?