Practical research : planning and design

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
PART I: The Fundamentals
	Chapter 1 The Nature and Tools of Research
		What Research Is Not
		What Research Is
		Philosophical Assumptions Underlying Research Methodologies
		Tools of Research
		The Library and Its Resources
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Computer Technology
		Measurement
		Statistics
		Language
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Communicating Effectively Through Writing
		USING TECHNOLOGY Guidelines: Using the Tools in Word Processing Software
		The Human Mind
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Collaboration with Other Minds
		Reflections on Noteworthy Research
		Exploring Research in Your Field
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Identifying Important Tools in Your Discipline
		For Further Reading
PART II: Focusing Your Research Efforts
	Chapter 2 The Problem: The Heart of the Research Process
		Finding Research Projects
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Identifying and Describing the Research Problem
		Dividing the Research Problem into Subproblems
		Subproblems Versus Pseudo-Subproblems
		Characteristics of Subproblems
		Identifying Subproblems
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Using Brainstorming (Mind Mapping) Software
		Every Problem Needs Further Delineation
		Stating Hypotheses
		Identifying the Variables Under Investigation
		CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS EXERCISE: Identifying Independent, Dependent, Mediating, and Moderating Variables
		Defining Terms
		Stating Assumptions
		Identifying Delimitations and Limitations
		Importance of the Study
		Writing the First Chapter or Section of a Research Proposal
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Writing the First Section of a Proposal
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Reappraising a Proposed Research Problem
		For Further Reading
		Answers to the Conceptual Analysis Exercise \"Identifying Independent, Dependent, Mediating, and Moderating Variables”
	Chapter 3 Review of the Related Literature
		Understanding the Role of the Literature Review
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Strategies for Locating Related Literature
		Using the Library Catalog
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Using Online Databases
		Consulting with Reference Librarians
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Surfing the Internet
		Using Citations and Reference Lists of Those Who Have Gone Before You
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Planning a Literature Search
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Guidelines: Using Your Library Time Efficiently
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Evaluating the Research of Others
		Knowing When to Quit
		Organizing and Synthesizing the Literature into a Cohesive Review
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Writing the Literature Review
		A Sample Literature Review
		For Further Reading
	Chapter 4 Planning Your Research Project
		Planning a General Approach
		Research Planning Versus Research Methodology
		The Nature and Role of Data in Research
		Data Are Transient and Ever Changing
		Primary Data Versus Secondary Data
		Planning for Data Collection
		Linking Data and Research Methodology
		Comparing Quantitative and Qualitative Methodologies
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Choosing a General Research Approach
		Considering the Validity of Your Method
		Internal Validity
		External Validity
		Validity in Qualitative Research
		Identifying Measurement Strategies
		Defining Measurement
		Measuring Insubstantial Phenomena: An Example
		Types of Measurement Scales
		CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS EXERCISE: Identifying Scales of Measurement
		Validity and Reliability in Measurement
		CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS EXERCISE: Identifying Problems with Validity and Reliability in Measurement
		Ethical Issues in Research
		Protection from Harm
		Voluntary and Informed Participation
		Right to Privacy
		Honesty with Professional Colleagues
		Internal Review Boards
		Professional Codes of Ethics
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Planning an Ethical Research Study
		Critically Scrutinizing Your Overall Plan
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Judging the Feasibility of a Research Project
		When You Can’t Anticipate Everything in Advance: The Value of a Pilot Study
		USING TECHNOLOGY PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Developing a Plan of Attack
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Using Project Management Software and Electronic Planners
		Keeping an Optimistic and Task-Oriented Outlook
		For Further Reading
		Answers to the Conceptual Analysis Exercise \"Identifying Scales of Measurement”
		Answers to the Conceptual Analysis Exercise \"Identifying Problems with Validity and Reliability in Measurement”
	Chapter 5 Writing the Research Proposal
		Characteristics of a Proposal
		A Proposal Is a Straightforward Document
		A Proposal Is Not a Literary Production
		A Proposal Is Clearly Organized
		Organizing and Writing a Research Proposal
		Formatting Headings and Subheadings
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Writing Your Proposal
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Strengthening Your Proposal
		Final Thoughts About Proposal Writing
		A Sample Research Proposal
		For Further Reading
PART III: Quantitative Research
	Chapter 6 Descriptive Research
		Descriptive Research Designs
		Observation Studies
		Correlational Research
		Developmental Designs
		Survey Research
		Planning for Data Collection in a Descriptive Study
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Using Checklists, Rating Scales, and Rubrics
		USING TECHNOLOGY PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Computerizing Observations
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Planning and Conducting Interviews in a Quantitative Study
		USING TECHNOLOGY Guidelines: Conducting Interviews in a Quantitative Study
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Constructing and Administering a Questionnaire
		USING TECHNOLOGY Guidelines: Using Technology to Facilitate Questionnaire Administration and Data Analysis
		USING TECHNOLOGY PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Using the Internet to Collect Data for a Descriptive Study
		Choosing a Sample in a Descriptive Study
		Sampling Designs
		Sampling in Surveys of Very Large Populations
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Identifying a Sufficient Sample Size
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Analyzing the Population in a Descriptive Study
		Common Sources of Bias in Descriptive Studies
		Sampling Bias
		Instrumentation Bias
		Response Bias
		Researcher Bias
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Acknowledging the Probable Presence of Bias in Descriptive Research
		Interpreting Data in Descriptive Research
		Some Final Suggestions
		A Sample Dissertation
		For Further Reading
	Chapter 7 Experimental, Quasi-Experimental, and Ex Post Facto Designs
		The Importance of Control
		Controlling for Confounding Variables
		Overview of Experimental, Quasi-Experimental, and Ex Post Facto Designs
		Pre-Experimental Designs
		Design 1: One-Shot Experimental Case Study
		Design 2: One-Group Pretest–Posttest Design
		Design 3: Static Group Comparison
		True Experimental Designs
		Design 4: Pretest–Posttest Control-Group Design
		Design 5: Solomon Four-Group Design
		Design 6: Posttest-Only Control-Group Design
		Design 7: Within-Subjects Design
		Quasi-Experimental Designs
		Design 8: Nonrandomized Control-Group Pretest–Posttest Design
		Design 9: Simple Time-Series Design
		Design 10: Control-Group Time-Series Design
		Design 11: Reversal Time-Series Design
		Design 12: Alternating-Treatments Design
		Design 13: Multiple-Baseline Design
		Using Designs 11, 12, and 13 in Single-Subject Studies
		Ex Post Facto Designs
		Design 14: Simple Ex Post Facto Design
		Factorial Designs
		Design 15: Two-Factor Experimental Design
		Design 16: Combined Experimental and Ex Post Facto Design
		CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS EXERCISE: Identifying Quantitative Research Designs
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Determining Possible Cause-and-Effect Relationships
		Meta-Analyses
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Conducting Experiments on the Internet
		Testing Your Hypotheses, and Beyond
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Acknowledging the Probable Presence of Bias in Experimental Research
		A Sample Dissertation
		For Further Reading
		Answers to the Conceptual Analysis Exercise \"Identifying Quantitative Research Designs”
	Chapter 8 Analyzing Quantitative Data
		Exploring and Organizing a Data Set
		Organizing Data to Make Them Easier to Think About and Interpret
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Using Computer Spreadsheets to Organize and Analyze Data
		Choosing Appropriate Statistics
		Functions of Statistics
		Considering the Nature of the Data
		Descriptive Statistics
		Measures of Central Tendency
		Measures of Variability: Dispersion and Deviation
		Keeping Measures of Central Tendency and Variability in Perspective
		Measures of Association: Correlation
		Inferential Statistics
		Estimating Population Parameters
		Testing Hypotheses
		Meta-Analysis
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Using Statistical Software Packages
		Interpreting the Data
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Analyzing and Interpreting Data in a Quantitative Study
		A Sample Dissertation
		For Further Reading
PART IV: Qualitative Research
	Chapter 9 Qualitative Research Methods
		Research Problems and Methodology Choice in Qualitative Research
		Potential Advantages of a Qualitative Approach
		Qualitative Research Designs
		Case Study
		Ethnography
		Phenomenological Study
		Grounded Theory Study
		Content Analysis
		CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS EXERCISE: Choosing a Qualitative Research Design
		Collecting Data in Qualitative Research
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Addressing Validity and Reliability Issues in Qualitative Data Collection
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Selecting an Appropriate Sample for a Qualitative Study
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Making Observations in a Qualitative Study
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Planning and Conducting Interviews in a Qualitative Study
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Using Technology to Facilitate Collection of Interview Data
		Criteria for Evaluating Qualitative Research
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Planning the Logistics of a Qualitative Study
		A Sample Dissertation
		For Further Reading
		Answers to the Conceptual Analysis Exercise \"Choosing a Qualitative Research Design”
	Chapter 10 Historical Research
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Data Sources in Historical Research
		Collecting Historical Records
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Online Databases for Historical Events
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Handling Historical Data USING TECHNOLOGY Systematically
		Evaluating and Interpreting Historical Data
		External Evidence
		Internal Evidence
		Psychological or Conceptual Historical Research
		Searching for Roots
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Historical Research Writing
		A Sample Dissertation
		For Further Reading
	Chapter 11 Analyzing Qualitative Data
		Qualitative Analysis Strategies
		General Strategies for Organizing and Analyzing Qualitative Data
		Creswell’s Data Analysis Spiral
		An Example: Data Analysis in a Grounded Theory Study
		An Example: Data Analysis in a Content Analysis Study
		USING TECHNOLOGY PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Using Computer Databases to Facilitate Data Organization and Analysis
		Acknowledging the Role of Researcher-as-Instrument in Qualitative Research
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Planning Data Analysis for a Qualitative Study
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Observing How Experienced Researchers Have Conducted Qualitative Research
		A Sample Dissertation
		For Further Reading
PART V: Mixed-Methods Research
	Chapter 12 Mixed-Methods Designs
		When Mixed-Methods Designs Are Most Useful and Appropriate
		Common Mixed-Methods Designs
		Convergent Designs
		Embedded Designs
		Exploratory Designs
		Explanatory Designs
		Multiphase Iterative Designs
		Common Symbolic Notations for Mixed-Methods Designs
		CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS EXERCISE: Identifying Mixed-Methods Research Designs
		Planning a Mixed-Methods Study
		Identifying Research Questions and Hypotheses
		Conducting the Literature Review
		Choosing One or More Appropriate Samples
		Addressing Validity Concerns
		Special Ethical Considerations in Mixed-Methods Research
		Analyzing and Interpreting Mixed-Methods Data
		USING TECHNOLOGY PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Using Computer Software to Facilitate Mixed- Methods Data Analysis
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Deciding Whether to Use a Mixed-Methods Design
		Systematic Reviews of Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Studies
		A Sample Dissertation
		For Further Reading
		Answers to the Conceptual Analysis Exercise \"Identifying Mixed-Methods Research Designs”
PART VI: Research Reports
	Chapter 13 Planning and Preparing a Final Research Report
		Getting Started
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Surfing the Internet for Writing Assistance
		Learn by Looking
		Essential Elements of a Research Report
		Explanation of the Research Problem
		Description of Methods
		Description of the Data and Data Analyses
		Interpretation of the Data
		Identification of Possible Weaknesses of the Study
		Summary and Connections to a Broader Context
		Maintaining Your Academic Integrity
		Front Matter and End Matter
		Preliminary Pages
		Endnotes and Footnotes
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Reference List
		Appendix Content
		Organizing a Research Report
		Writing—and Finishing!—A Report
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Writing Your Final Report
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Developing a Writing Schedule
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Critiquing a Final Research Report
		Beyond the Unpublished Research Report: Presenting and Publishing
		Conference Presentations
		PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Presenting Your Research at a Professional Conference
		Journal Articles
		Sharing Authorship
		Responding to Reviewers’ Critiques
		A Closing Thought
		For Further Reading
APPENDICES
	Appendix A: Using a Spreadsheet: Microsoft Excel
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Using Excel to Keep Track of Literature Resources
		Using Excel to Record and Recode Data
		Reorganizing Data in Excel
		Using Excel to Perform Simple Statistical Analyses
	Appendix B: Using SPSS
		USING TECHNOLOGY: Creating a Data Set
		Computing Basic Descriptive Statistics
		Computing Inferential Statistics
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References
Index
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