FEASIBLE

CLEAR
SIGNIFICANT
ETHICAL
Characteristics of a Good
Research Question
Characteristics of Good
Research Questions
n The question should be feasible: it can be
investigated without an undue amount of time,
energy, or money.
How do students feel about the new
guidance program?
Is a whole-language approach to reading
more or less effective than a basal
approach?
Characteristics of Good
Research Questions
n The question should be clear: most people
would agree as to what the key words in the
question mean.
Did the 2nd grade math curriculum work?
Is mainstreaming effective?


Key words?
Rephrase question.
Characteristics of Good
Research Questions
n The question is significant: is the question
worth investigating in terms of time needed,
energy required, effect on or for subjects.
What is the effect on student self-esteem
when taught to type on a manual
typewriter vs. a Pentium II computer with
a high resolution video screen?
Does an in-school suspension program
decrease problematic behaviors?

Problems?
Characteristics of Good
Research Questions

n The question is ethical: it will not involve
physical or psychological harm or damage to
human beings, or to the natural or social
environment of which they are apart.
Is physical punishment more effective
than positive reinforcement in decreasing
enuresis?
Will students master basic math facts
faster if instruction is delayed until grade
2?
Types of Research
Descriptive
Historical
Experimental
Descriptive Research
Research that describes what is, describing, recording, analyzing,
and interpreting conditions that exist *

Involves some type of contrast and attempts to discover
relationships between non-manipulated variables *

Research that provides and accurate portrayal of characteristics of a
particular individual, situation, or group **

Used as a means of discovering new meaning, describing what
exits, determining the frequency with which something occurs, and
categorizing information **

The systematic investigation of relationships among two or more
variables, without determining or interpreting cause and effect
* Best & Kahn (1986); ** Miller-Keane & OToole (2005
Experimental Research
describes what will be when certain variables
are carefully controlled or manipulated *

objective, systematic, controlled investigation
for the purpose of predicting and controlling
phenomena and examining probability and
causality among selected variables **
* Best & Kahn (1986); ** Miller-Keane & OToole (2005)
Historical Research
Involves investigating, recording, analyzing,
and interpreting the events of the past for the
purpose of discovering generalizations that
are helpful in understanding the past and the
present, and, to a limited extent, in
anticipating the future *

Research involving analysis of events that
occurred in the remote or recent past **
* Best & Kahn (1986); ** Miller-Keane & OToole (2005
n a. experimental
n b. descriptive
n c. historical

Type of Research
n What do students
think are the least
popular courses in
the high school
curriculum, and
why?
Type of Research Design
n How do parents feel
about the elementary
school counseling
program?
n a. experimental
n b. descriptive
n c. historical
Type of Research Design
n How can Tom Adams
be helped to learn to
read?
n a. experimental
n b. descriptive
n c. historical
Type of Research Design
n Do students who
have high scores on
reading tests also
have high scores on
writing tests?
n a. experimental
n b. descriptive
n c. historical
Type of Research Design
n Does team teaching
help or hinder
student learning?
n a. experimental
n b. descriptive
n c. historical
Type of Research Design
n What sorts of
activities are of most
interest to slow
learners?
n a. experimental
n b. descriptive
n c. historical
Type of Research Design
n What effect does the
gender of a
counselor have on
how he or she is
received by
counselees?
n a. experimental
n b. descriptive
n c. historical
Type of Research Design
n In what ways were
the kinds of bills
passed into law
during the
administrations of
Richard Nixon and
Ronald Reagan
similar and different?
n a. experimental
n b. descriptive
n c. historical

Research Hypothesis
&
Types of Variables
Null Hypothesis
and
Research Hypothesis
HYPOTHESIS TESTING
?
The Null Hypothesis (Ho)
n The null hypothesis
relates to a statistical method of interpreting conclusions about
population characteristics that are inferred from observations made
with a sample
asserts that observed differences or relationships merely result from
chance errors inherent in the sampling process

n If the researcher rejects the null hypothesis
she accepts the research hypothesis
concluding that the magnitude of difference between observed and
anticipated is too great to attribute to sampling error
The Null Hypothesis (Ho)
n Operational Definition:
MATH KNOWLEDGE
score obtained on the Stanford Diagnostic Test - Level - Brown
MATH SKILLS PRACTICE
number of problems completed on drill-and-practice work sheets

n H0
There will be no difference in Math Knowledge scores for students
who practice and students that do not practice
The Research Hypothesis (H1)
n The research hypothesis
is a formal affirmative statement predicting a single research
outcome
a tentative explanation of the relationship between two or more
variables
is directional

n In behavioral sciences
the variables may be abstractions that cannot be directly observed
these variables must be defined operationally by describing some
sample of actual behaviors that are concrete enough to be observed
directly
The Research Hypothesis (H1)
n Operational Definition:
MATH KNOWLEDGE
score obtained on the Stanford Diagnostic Test - Level - Brown
MATH SKILLS PRACTICE
number of problems completed on drill-and-practice work sheets

n H1
Math Knowledge scores will be higher for students that practice
Possible Outcomes in
Hypothesis Testing
True False
Accept
Reject
Correct
Correct Error
Error
Possible Outcomes in
Hypothesis Testing
True False
Accept
Reject
Correct
Decision
Correct
Decision
Error
Error
Type I Error
Type II Error
Type I Error: Rejecting a True Hypothesis
Type II Error: Accepting a False Hypothesis