Educational Research: a Beginner's Guide

This book presents a rudimentary exposure to the fi eld of educational research and an attempt to allay the unwarranted fear of those who perceive research as a highly technical and complex scholarly activity carried out by persons in the sciences. The author takes the position that anyone can do research and that it can be an interesting and very worthwhile experience. Educational research, particularly action research, which the author emphasizes, is an invaluable exercise about which everyone in education should be knowledgeable or at least be familiar. Starting with an explication of some salient concepts in the study of research (e.g., research, educational research, research problem v. research topic, hypothesis, experimental v. non-experimental research) , the book takes the reader through the process of conducting a research problem from problem selection and statement, signifi cance, review of literature, methodology, data analysis, fi ndings to recommendations and conclusions. Detailed descriptions of the American Psychological Association (APA) style of referencing with ample examples are provided. The book is written in simple language so that even high school students will be able to acquire a fairly good understanding of each contents. Though the primary target population is undergraduate students of education, the contents are broad enough to provide a guide for students in other disciplines, as well as whet the appetite of the general reader who seeks only a basic knowledge of research and/or educational research.

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