Course Number: EL 5030 KEAN UNIVERSITY Union, New Jersey EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH Semester Hours: Prerequisites: Three Graduate Status Limitations on Enrollment: 15 Required: Catalog Description For all Principal/Supervisor Candidates; elective for School Business Administrator Candidates Familiarization with the steps necessary to carry out action research and evaluation in producer and consumer aspects of research in educational settings. Stresses issues of design, analysis, interpretation, and development of research. 3 Credits Course Outcomes: 1) Students will develop an understanding of the practical application of educational research as an educational leader by developing skills and techniques for locating and evaluating pertinent and significant research from a variety of sources; planning and understanding designs and methodologies for research and program evaluation; analyzing and evaluating educational research for school improvement; applying and synthesizing statistical tests and procedures, research designs, and methodologies; utilizing technological resources for research and data analyses; and by preparing a formal action research proposal. 2) Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the nature and application of educational research and be able to analyze, interpret, and evaluate findings in qualitative and quantitative scholarly educational research articles. Students will develop skills for applying the principles of educational research to individual situations in order to synthesize, evaluate and implement an action research project. N.B. In order to insure full class participation, any student with a disability condition requiring special accommodations (e.g. tape recorder, special adaptive equipment, special note taking or test taking procedures) is strongly encouraged to contact the professor at he beginning of the course. Fall 2008
2 KEAN UNIVERSITY Union, New Jersey EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH I. Course Objectives Students will achieve growth towards becoming informed, dynamic professionals by developing proficiency in knowledge, skill application and value development, as evidenced by demonstration of the ability to: A. define and describe various types of research. (Knowledge) B. identify, recognize, and differentiate sound quantitative and qualitative research approaches, methods and designs. (Knowledge/Skills/Values) C. identify and apply data collection and coding techniques. (Knowledge/Skills) D. demonstrate, discriminate, synthesize and determine appropriate methods of data analysis. (Knowledge/Skills/Values) E. develop and design a proposal for an action research project to be completed as part of EL 5813/14. (Knowledge/Skills/Values) F. evaluate and determine the role of the professional administrator as a consumer of and a leader in educational research. (Knowledge/Skills/Values) G. develop a plan for program evaluation. (Knowledge/Skills/Values)
3 II. Course Content A. Introduction to research in general and action research in particular 1. Definition of research 2. The utility of research 3. Professional responsibility a. To facilitate the development of learning communities b. Ethical considerations 4. Action research a. Definition b. Evolution c. Benefits d. Steps 5. Reflective practice B. Quantitative and qualitative research 1. The overall research plan 2. Clarifying purpose a. Problem statement b. Significance of the study 3. Selecting and developing a research design 4. Quantitative approaches to action research 5. Qualitative approaches to action research 6. Mixed methodological approaches to action research 7. Validity and reliability in research C. Data collection and data coding 1. Techniques used in action research 2. Primary data collection techniques a. quantitative b. qualitative 3. Secondary data collection techniques a. quantitative b. qualitative 4. Methods of coding quantitative data 5. Methods for coding qualitative data D. Data analysis 1. Quantitative a. Descriptive statistics b. Inferential statistics 2. Qualitative a. Content analysis b. Thematic analysis
4 3. Computer applications a. Excel b. SPSS 4. Display formats a. Tables b. Graphs c. Charts 5. Interpreting data 6. Evaluating data 7. Reporting data E. Action research proposal 1. Chapter I Introduction a. Statement of problem b. Research Question(s) I. hypotheses c. Purpose and significance of the study d. Limitations/delimitations/assumptions e. Definition of terms 2. Chapter II Review of the Literature a. Relevant b. Timely 3. Chapter III - Methodology a. Research setting b. Sample selection c. Primary and secondary data sources d. Instrumentation e. Procedures f. Projected data analysis F. Action research and educational leadership 1. Action planning and implementation 2. Becoming a reflective leader through action research G. Program development and evaluation research 1. Establishing and implementing a program 2. Designing and developing a general evaluation plan 3. Devising steps to program evaluation
5 III. Methods of Instruction A. Lecture/Demonstrations B. Discussion C. Cooperative learning D. Individualized instruction E Computerized lab activities for quantitative measurement IV. Methods of Evaluation A. Examinations (Knowledge/Skills) B. Final research project (Knowledge/Skills/Values) C. Technological analysis activities (Knowledge/Skills/Values) D. Class participation (Knowledge/Skills/Values) E. Analysis of scholarly journal articles (Knowledge/Skills) V. Recommended Texts Hendricks, C. (2009). Improving schools through action research: A comprehensive guide for educators. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Glanz, J. (2003). Action research: An educational leader s guide to school improvement (2 nd Ed.). Norwood, MA: Christopher-Gordon Publishers, Inc. VI. Bibliography Best, J. W. & Kahn, J. V. (2006). Research in education (10 th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Creswell, J. W. (2008). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (3 rd Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
6 Denscombe, M. (2007). The good research guide (3 rd Ed.) Columbus, OH: McGraw Hill Higher Education. Elton-Charlcraft, S., Hansen, A. & Twiselton, S. (2008). Doing classroom research: A step by step guide for student teachers. Columbus, OH: McGraw Hill Higher Education. Gall, M. D. & Borg, W. R. (2005). Applying educational research: A practical guide (5 th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Gall, M. D., Gall, J. P. & Borg, W. R. (2008). Educational research: An introduction (8 th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Gay, L. R., Mills, G. & Airasian, P. W. (2009). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications (with MyEducationLab) (9 th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Hittleman, D. R. & Simon, A. J. (2006). Interpreting educational research (4 th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Kennedy, C. (2005). Single-case designs for educational research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Kincheloe, J. & Berry, K. (2004). Rigour and complexity in educational research. Columbus, OH: McGraw Hill Higher Education. Lankshear, C. & Knobel, M. (2004). A handbook for teacher research. Columbus, OH: McGraw Hill Higher Education. Marzano, R.J. (2003) What works in schools: Translating research into action. Alexandria, VA: ASCD. McMillan, J. H. (2008). Educational research: Fundamentals for the consumer (5 th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. McMillan, J. H. & Schumacher, S. (2006). Research in education: Evidence based inquiry (6 th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. McMillan, J. H. & Wergin, J. F. (2006). Understanding and evaluating educational research (3 rd Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Mertler, C. A. & Charles, C. M. (2008). Introduction to educational research (6 th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Reynolds, C. R., Livingston, R. & Willson, V. (2009). Measurement and assessment in education (2 nd Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
7 Robinson-Pant, A. (2005). Cross cultural perspectives in educational research. Columbus, OH: McGraw Hill Higher Education. Wiersma, W. & Jurs, S. G. (2009). Research methods in education: An introduction (9 th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. VII. Seminal Works Adler, E. & Clark, R. (1999). An invitation to social research. NY: Wadsworth. Airasian, P.W. & Gay, L.R. (2002). Educational research: Competencies for Analysis and Applications (7 th Edition). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual (6 th ed.) Washington, DC: The Association. Arhar, J.M. & Holy, M.L. (2000). Action research for teachers: Traveling the yellow brick road. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Arney, W.R. (1990). Understanding statistics in the social sciences. NY: Freeman. Ary, D. (2002). Introduction to research in education (6 th ed.) San Francisco: Holt, Rinehart and Winston Babbie, E. (2002). The basics of social research (2 nd. Ed.). NY: Wadsworth. Bell, J. (1993). Doing your research project. Philadelphia: Open University Press. Best, J. (Ed.) (1992). Encyclopedia of educational research (5 th ed.). NY: Free Press. Borg, W.R. et al. (1993). Applying educational research (5 th ed.) NY: Longman. Burgess, R. (1995). Essays in educational ethnography. San Francisco: Falmer. Carspecken, P. (1995). Critical ethnography in educational research. NY: Routledge. Charles, C.M. (1995). Introduction to educational research. NY: Longman. Coghlan, D. & Brannick, T. (2000). Doing action research in your own organization. Beverly Hills: Sage.
8 Conner, R. (Ed.) (1991). Methodological advances in evaluation research. Beverly Hills: Sage. Creswell, J.W. (1994). Research design: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Beverly Hills: Sage. Crowl, T.K. (1996). Fundamentals of educational research. Madison, WI: Brown & Benchmarck Publishers. Denzin, N.K., & Lincoln, Y.S. (1994). Handbook of qualitative research. Beverly Hills: Sage. Drew, C.J., Hardman, M.J., & Weave-Hart, A. (1996). Designing and conducting research. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Edwards, A.L. (1985). Experimental design in psychological research. NY: Harper and Row. Eisenhart, M., & Borko, H. (1993). Designing classroom research: Themes, issues, and struggles. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Evans, J.D. (1985). Invitation to psychological research. NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Ferguson, G.A. (1981). Statistical analysis in psychology and education. NY: McGraw-Hill. Fitzgibbon, C.T., & Morris, L.L. (1978). How to calculate statistics. Beverly Hills: Sage. Fraenkel, J.R., & Wallen, N.E. (1990). How to design and evaluate research in education(2 nd ed.). NY: McGraw-Hill. Gall, M., et al. (2002) Educational research: An introduction (7 th Edition). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Gay, L.R. (1996). Educational research (5 th ed.). Columbus, OH: Charles Merrill. Glass, G.V. & Hopkins, V.P. (1996). Statistical methods in education and psychology. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Hopkins, D. (1993). A teacher s guide to classroom research (2 nd ed.) Philadelphia: Open University Press. Hyman, R.T. (1986). School administrator s faculty supervision handbook. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
9 Jones, R.A. (1996). Research methods in the social and behavioral sciences. MA: Sinauer. Kanji, G.K. (1993). 100 statistical tests. Beverly Hills: Sage. Krathwohl, D.R. (1993). Methods of educational and social science research: An integrated approach. NY: Longman. Lancy, P.F. (1993). Qualitative research in education. NY: Longman. Langenbach, M.C., & Argaard, L. (1994). An introduction to educational research. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Leedy, P. (1993). Practical research: Planning and design (5 th ed.). NY: John Wiley. McMillan, J.H. (1999) Educational research: Fundamentals for the consumer (3 rd Edition). New York: Addison-Welsey Publishing. Mertler, C.A. & Charles, C.M. (2001). Introduction to educational research (4 th Edition). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Mills, G.E. (2000). Action research: A guide for teacher researchers. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill. Parsons, R. & Brown, K. (2002). Teacher as reflective practitioner and action researcher. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Sagor, R. (2000). Guiding school improvement with action research. Alexandria, VA: ASCD. Sanders, J.R. (2000). Evaluating school programs: An educators guide. Newberry Park, CA: Corwin Press. Sorensen, C.K. (2002). Introduction to research in education using microcase explorit. NY: Wadsworth. Stringer, E.T. (1999).Action research: A handbook for practitioners. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Tuckman, B. (1999). Conducting educational research. (45 th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Wiseman, D.C. (1999). Research strategies for education. NY: Wadsworth.
10 1. Education Index http://www.educationindex.com 2. AERA.NET Front Page http://www.aera.netf 3. ED/OERI: Office of Educational Research and Improvement http://www.ed.gov/offices/oeri/oeribro.html 4. CERD-Center for Educational Research and Development http://www.cerd.org 5. ERIC- Educational Resources Information Center http://www.eric.ed.gov/ 6. Welcome to the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory http://nwrel.org 7. American Journal of Education http://www.journals.uchicajo.edu/aje/ 8. PEW research center http://www.people-press.org/ 9. National Center for Education Statistics http://nces.ed.gov/ 10. National Assessment of Education Progress http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/ 11. Online index of statistical tests http://www.physics.csbsju.edu/stats/