Applying Educational Research: How To Read, Do, and Use Research To Solve Problems of Practice -- Pearson eText

Applying Educational Research focuses on relating research to practice, helping educators see the relevance of research to their daily work. This goal of making research relevant is accomplished by focusing on current problems of practice. Pearson eText is an easy-to-use digital textbook that you can purchase on your own or instructors can assign for their course. The mobile app lets you keep on learning, no matter where your day takes you -- even offline. You can also add highlights, bookmarks, and notes in your Pearson eText to study how you like. NOTE: This ISBN is for the Pearson eText access card. Pearson eText is a fully digital delivery of Pearson content. Before purchasing, check that you have the correct ISBN. To register for and use Pearson eText, you may also need a course invite link, which your instructor will provide. Follow the instructions provided on the access card to learn more.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents PART 1: INTRODUCTION Chapter 1: Using Research Evidence to Improve Educational Practice Evidence-Based Professional Practice Evidence-Based Practice in Education The Purpose of Educational Research Characteristics of Research as an Approach to Inquiry Quantitative and Qualitative Research Collaborating with Researchers A Personal Note: The Research “Spark” An Example of How Research Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: How Students’ Sleepy Brains Fail Them Chapter 2: Doing Your Own Research: From Proposal to Final Report Identifying a Research Problem Outlining a Research Proposal Other Steps in the Research Process Self-Check Test Sample Outline of a Quantitative Research Proposal Sample Outline of a Qualitative Research Proposal PART 2: APPLYING THE RESEARCH LITERATURE TO PROBLEMS OF PRACTICE Chapter 3: Conducting and Writing Your Own Literature Review Informal Literature Reviews Formal Literature Reviews Professional Literature Reviews A Systematic Procedure for Doing Formal Literature Reviews Parts and Presentation of a Literature Review Self-Check Test Article: The Case For and Against Homework Article: The Process Writing Approach: A Meta-Analysis Chapter 4: Using Search Engines and Available Literature Reviews The Purpose of Search Engines Selecting a Useful Search Engine Using Search Engines Obtaining a Publication after a Literature Search Locating Published Literature Reviews Criteria for Evaluating Published Literature Reviews An Example of How Literature Reviews Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test PART 3: USING QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGY TO STUDY PROBLEMS OF PRACTICE Chapter 5: Analyzing and Evaluating Reports of Quantitative Research Studies Organization of a Quantitative Research Report Abstract and Introduction Method Section: Sampling Procedures Method Section: Measures Method Section: Research Design and Procedures Results Section Discussion Section An Example of How Quantitative Research Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: Developing a Measure of Behavior Change in a Program to Help Low-Income Parents Prevent Unhealthful Weight Gain in Children Chapter 6: Using Descriptive Statistics to Study Problems of Practice Constructs, Variables, and Measurement Scales Statistical Analysis of Data Descriptive Statistics Multivariate Descriptive Statistics Calculating Descriptive Statistics An Example of How Descriptive Statistics Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Chapter 7: Tests of Statistical Significance The Logic of Statistical Significance and Confidence Intervals Inferential Statistics Tests of Statistical Significance Calculating Statistics Using Statistics to Improve Professional Practice An Example of How Tests of Statistical Significance Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Chapter 8: The Practical Significance of Statistical Results The Practical Significance of Statistical Results Comparisons with Personal and Organizational Standards Comparisons with Ideal Standards Comparisons with Curriculum Standards Comparisons Based on Rankings Comparisons Involving Tables of Norms Comparisons Involving Standard Scores Effect Sizes Gain Scores Practical Significance as an Interpretive Process An Example of How Determining the Practical Significance of Statistical Results Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: Can Growth Ever Be beside the Point? Chapter 9: Descriptive Research The Relevance of Descriptive Research to Educational Practice Examples of Descriptive Research Features of a Descriptive Research Report Evaluating a Descriptive Research Study An Example of How Descriptive Research Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: Examining the Extent and Nature of Online Learning in American K-12 Education: The Research Initiatives of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Chapter 10: Group Comparison Research Classification of Quantitative Research Designs The Relevance of Group Comparison Research to Educational Practice Examples of Group Comparison Research Features of a Group Comparison Research Report Evaluating a Group Comparison Research Study An Example of How Group Comparison Research Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: Jordanian Prospective and Experienced Chemistry Teachers’ Beliefs about Teaching and Learning and their Potential for Educational Reform Chapter 11: Correlational Research Comparison of Correlational and Group Comparison Research Designs Examples of Correlational Research Correlation between Two Variables Correlation Involving More Than Two Variables Features of a Correlational Research Report Evaluating a Correlational Research Study An Example of How Correlational Research Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: The Measurement and Predictive Ability of Metacognition in Middle School Learners Chapter 12: Experimental Research The Relevance of Experimental Research to Educational Practice Characteristics of Experiments Examples of Experimental Research Features of a Report of a Pretest–Posttest Control-Group Experiment with Randomization Other Group Experiment Designs Threats to the Internal Validity of Experiments Threats Directly Involving the Experimental Intervention Threats to the External Validity of Experiments Single-Case Experiments Features of a Report of a Single-Case Experiment Evaluating an Experimental Research Study An Example of How Experimental Research Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: After-School Multifamily Groups: A Randomized Controlled Trial Involving Low-Income, Urban, Latino Children Article: Increasing On-Task Behavior in the Classroom: Extension of Self-Monitoring Strategies PART 4: USING QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGY TO STUDY PROBLEMS OF PRACTICE Chapter 13: Case Studies in Qualitative Research How Qualitative Case Study Research Can Help Educators Solve Problems of Practice Key Characteristics of Case Studies Examples of Case Studies The Nature of Qualitative Research Qualitative Research Traditions Features of a Case Study Report Checking the Applicability of Case Study Findings Evaluating the Quality and Rigor of a Case Study An Example of How Case Study Research Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: Teaching Secrets: Ask the Kids! Article: Exemplary Social Studies Teachers’ Use of Computer-Supported Instruction in the Classroom Chapter 14: Ethnography and Critical Research The Use of Critical Ethnography to Study Problems of Practice in Education The Characteristics of Ethnographic Research Differences between Ethnographies and Basic Case Studies Examples of Ethnographic Research Critical Research as a Field of Inquiry and Practice Foundations of Critical Research in Education Features of a Critical Ethnographic Research Report Evaluating Ethnographies and Critical Ethnographies An Example of How Ethnography and Critical Research Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: A Visual Ethnography on Pedagogy, Aesthetics, and the Spatial Experience of Growing Up Urban Chapter 15: Narrative Research Narratives as a Focus for Research Examples of Narrative Research in Education Features of a Narrative Research Report Evaluating a Narrative Research Study An Example of How Narrative Research Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: Teacher Identity and Early Career Resilience: Exploring the Links Chapter 16: Historical Research The Nature of Historical Research The Role of Historical Research in Education Methods of Historical Research Identifying Historical Sources Validating Historical Evidence Interpreting Historical Data Features of a Historical Research Report Evaluating Historical Research An Example of How Historical Research Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: Go To the Principal’s Office: Toward a Social History of the School Principal in North America PART 5: COMBINING QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO STUDY PROBLEMS OF PRACTICE Chapter 17: Mixed-Methods Research The Need for Multiple Research Methods Types of Mixed-Methods Research Reading a Mixed-Methods Research Report Evaluating Reports of Mixed-Methods Studies An Example of How Mixed-Methods Research Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: A Portrait of Administrator, Teacher, and Parent Perceptions of Title I School Improvement Plans PART 6: USING OTHER RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES TO STUDY PROBLEMS OF PRACTICE Chapter 18: Action Research The History of Action Research Using Action Research to Address Problems of Practice Examples of Action Research Studies Design Features of Action Research How Action Research Differs from Educators’ Other Approaches to Problem Solving Purposes and Benefits of Action Research Applying Action Science to Action Research The Insider–Outsider Perspective in Collaborative Action Research Evaluating the Credibility and Trustworthiness of Action Research Projects An Example of How Action Research Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: Recognizing a “Different Drum” Through Close-Reading Strategies Chapter 19: Evaluation Research The Use of Evaluation Research in Educational Decision Making Examples of Evaluation Research Programs as a Focus of Evaluation Research Evaluation Research as a Political Activity Models of Evaluation Research How to Read an Evaluation Research Report Evaluating an Evaluation Research Study and Uses of Evaluation in Educational Practice An Example of How Program Evaluations Can Help in Solving Problems of Practice Self-Check Test Article: What Did the Teachers Think? Teachers’ Responses to the Use of Value-Added Modeling as a Tool for Evaluating Teacher Effectivenes Self-Check Test Answers Appendix 1 Guide for Outlining a Quantitative or Qualitative Research Proposal Appendix 2 Search Options in the ERIC Search Machine Appendix 3 Questions To Ask Yourself When Evaluating a Report of a Quantitative Study Appendix 4 Questions to Ask Yourself When Evaluating a Report of a Qualitative Study Appendix 5 Design-Specific Questions to Ask Yourself When Evaluating a Research Report Glossary

About the Author :
Meredith “Mark” Gall, professor emeritus, has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. He was an R & D specialist at the Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development and then a professor of education at the University of Oregon, where he served in various capacities, including head of teacher education and director of graduate studies in curriculum and instruction. His specializations include research methodology, teacher development, teaching strategies, and the psychology of studying. He has served on the editorial boards of several journals, including the Journal of Experimental Education, Journal of Educational Research, and Elementary School Journal. Among his other book publications are Educational Research: An Introduction and Clinical Supervision and Teacher Development. Joyce P. “Joy” Gall has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. She has worked as a trainer-developer at the Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development, the American Institutes for Research, ROLM Corporation, and the University of Oregon. Her specializations include educational leadership, the psychology of studying, and training and development in education and industry. Her other books include Educational Research: An Introduction, Making the Grade, Help Your Son or Daughter Study for Success, and Tools for Learning: A Guide to Teaching Study Skills .

Review :
The writing style of the textbook is excellent ... Writing clarity for content builds from one paragraph to another... The Gall, Gall, and Borg textbook is the only text I would consider for EDU 6691. Because the authors are scholars and practitioners, they bring a depth and range to the topic of educational research that is unsurpassed. --Vikki K. Collins, Troy University The writing style is very clear. I find it easy to read and navigate among the chapters. Most graduate students in my class will not have any problems reading the book. The authors provide a very gentle introduction to educational research... The authors adopt a balanced view of educational research... They have explained most of the quantitative analyses used in educational research, and they have explicated the major theories of qualitative research. They have introduced the research techniques in a clear manner accessible to a broad audience inside and outside of the education field. --Xiaofeng Steven Lui, University of South Carolina For all chapters, I like the general organization of starting with Important Ideas, presenting example research questions and studies earlier in the chapters, and ending the chapters with review questions and an actual research article on the specific designs. Very good and effective educational psychology principles of advance organizers, presenting the material relating it to previously learned material, review and practice. --Ronald F. Dugan, College of Saint Rose