Chapter No :1

Research Method in Education

1.1:Introduction to the Educational Research
Educational research that uses the scientific method to collect scientific data can provide a
definite answer about best practices in teaching. The purpose of educational research is to
develop new knowledge about the teaching-learning situation to improve educational practice.

In addition, educational research is important because of contributing knowledge development,

practical improvement, and policy information. Therefore, educators can use
those research findings to improve their competences and teaching and learning process
(Yulirahmawati, 2008).

The main purpose of research is to inform action, to prove a theory, and contribute to
developing knowledge in a field or study.

Role of research is to provide a method for obtaining those answers by inquiringly studying the
evidence within the parameters of the scientific method. Research is considered to be
more objective, methodical, well-determined scientific process of investigation

The research is important for the students because it helps them to have a detailed analysis of
everything. When you have proper in-depth analysis on any topic, the result comes out to be
fruitful and also the knowledge is enhanced. Other benefits of research to the students are as
follows:

1. Enhances the knowledge: When you do research on any topic, you get to know detailed
information about that topic. The more the knowledge of the topic, the more successful is the
research. So, in order to get good output, the student needs to do maximum research.

2. Clarifies confusion: The research helps in clarifying the complicated facts and figures. If the
student has any doubt on the subject, the student must research and study on it in detail so as
to remove all sorts of confusion and get the proper understanding of the content.

3. To have a proper understanding of the subject: to understand the subject, one needs to go in
depth of the lines. The scanning of the content will never do any good for the students.

In order to learn the subject and to know the unknown facts, research, detail study and full
analysis are the must.
4. To learn about the methods and issues: Proper, the finding is the only way by which you can
learn about the methods and the current issues. Not just the current issues, rather the previous
past issues can also be learned in detail through the research. The research includes various
methods by which it can be done.

5. Rapid Expansion and Democratization of Education: Need for Research in education to

improve education policies and practices are being realized increasingly. Research in education
has assumed greater urgency because of the very rapid expansion and democratization of
education throughout the world during the last decade.

6. Technological change: The rapid technological changes have brought an increase in

educational problems and both laymen and educators have felt that we can no longer depend
upon trial and error. No amount of experience gathered and no amount of wisdom collected in
the form of casual observation

1.2: Methods of acquiring knowledge.

1. Intuition: The first method of knowing is intuition. When we use our intuition, we
are relying on our guts, our emotions, and/or our instincts to guide us. Rather than
examining facts or using rational thought, intuition involves believing what feels true.
The problem with relying on intuition is that our intuitions can be wrong because they
are driven by cognitive and motivational biases rather than logical reasoning or
scientific evidence.

2. Authority: Perhaps one of the most common methods of acquiring knowledge is

through authority. This method involves accepting new ideas because some authority
figure states that they are true. These authorities include parents, the media, doctors,
Priests and other religious authorities, the government, and professors.

3. Rationalism: Rationalism involves using logic and reasoning to acquire new

knowledge

4. Empiricism: Empiricism involves acquiring knowledge through observation and

experience. We are limited in what we can experience and observe and our senses can
deceive us. Moreover, our prior experiences can alter the way we perceive events .

5. The scientific Methods. The scientific method is a process of systematically

collecting and evaluating evidence to test ideas and answer questions. The scientific
method is a process of systematically collecting and evaluating evidence to test ideas and
answer questions. While scientists may use intuition, authority, rationalism, and
empiricism to generate new ideas they don’t stop there. Scientists go a step further by
using systematic empiricism to make careful observations under various controlled
conditions in order to test their ideas and they use rationalism to arrive at valid
conclusions.

1.3: Sources of Problem: