Tim's+Terms


 * ​Research Methods**

Research Methods methods are the ways in which are how a researcher carries out administers a research study. Research methods are often refered to as a methodology which includes the role a researcher, the role of individuals being studied take on, the types of data collected, how the data is collected, and how the data is analyzed. There are two major paradigms that research methods can be divided into: Quantiative and Qualitative.

//Quantitative research// methods focus on the gathering of data through various experimental methods. Typically, the data that is collected is analyzed using statistical formulas. In simplistic terms, the data collected is numerical. A researcher in a quantiative study often is looking to prove or disprove a research hypothesis that he or she has developed. For example, a researcher may be interested in knowing whether a particular instructional software program can help improve the reading comprehension of struggling readers. A researcher could set up a quantiative resarch study that gathered data on a reading comprehension test prior to the implementation of the software for the stuggling readers. After a given time of the students using the software, the researcher would gather additional data (e.g., another reading comprehension test) from the students to see if an improvement in reading comprehension occured.

//Qualitative research// methods focus on the collection of data typically through face-to-face interactions with the individuals being studied. Interviews and observations are two major techniques used to gather data in a qualitative study. The researcher's goal in a qualitative study is often to understand or be able to describe what is taking place in a given environment. For example, a researcher may be interested in knowing why one student population of local high schools has a higher drop our rate than other student populations. The research could interview the students to help understand and explain what is going on with the students.


 * My Experience:** I have carried out quantiative and qualitative research studies in my own work. The most recent quantitative research study I was involved in looked at using graphic organizer software (Kidspiration) with students in 3rd grade to determine if student use of the software on pre-writing activities improved their writing. We looked at both quality and quantity of the student writing. We found that for some students that the use of Kidspiration did improve the quality and quantity of their writing. The software use had the most impact on the quantity of the writing (i.e., the amount of sentences students wrote when given a writing prompt to respond to).

My most recent qualitative research study is currently in progress. Two colleagues and I are looking at how Web 2.0 is being used by teacher education students and their instructors. We are interested in knowing if teacher education students want more use of Web 2.0 in their courses. We are currently in the data gathering stage phase of the research

Here is a good link if you would like more information about the differences and similarities between these two research pardigms: quantiative and qualiative.

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 * Future Implications:** This is where you would add future implications for research.