Educational Research: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Approaches

Educational Research: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Approaches by R. Burke Johnson and Larry Christensen offers a comprehensive, accessible introduction to research methods for undergraduate and graduate students. Readers will develop an understanding of the multiple research methods and strategies used in education and related fields, including how to read and critically evaluate published research and how to write a proposal, construct a questionnaire, and conduct an empirical research study on their own. The Eighth Edition maintains the features that made this book a best-seller, including attention-grabbing chapter-opening vignettes, lively examples that engage student interest, a conversational and friendly writing style, and more. Fully updated for the Seventh Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, this new edition includes expanded information on research ethics and IRBs, expanded and more current information on sampling and causation across research designs, and the latest thinking on mixed methods research. Designed to make learning about research methods enjoyable without sacrificing the necessary rigor, this highly readable text transforms readers into critical consumers and users of research

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Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments Part I: Introduction Chapter 1: Introduction to Educational Research Why Study Educational Research? Areas and Examples of Educational Research General Kinds of Research Primary Sources of Knowledge The Scientific Approach to Knowledge Generation Six Major Objectives of Educational Research Overview of This Book Chapter 2: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods Research What Is a Research Paradigm? Characteristics of the Three Research Paradigms Quantitative Research Methods: Experimental and Nonexperimental Research Qualitative Research Methods Mixed Methods Research (or Mixed Research) Our Research Typology Chapter 3: Action Research for Lifelong Learning Defining Action Research Scientific Research and Action Research Types of Action Research The Cycle of Action Research Strengths and Weaknesses of Action Research Action Research Journaling Action Research in the Remaining Chapters of This Book Part II: Planning the Research Study Chapter 4: How to Critically Review the Literature and Develop Good Research Questions Sources of Research Ideas Review of the Literature Statement of the Research Problem Statement of the Purpose of the Study Statement of Research Questions Formulating Hypotheses Consumer Use of the Literature Action Research Reflection Chapter 5: How to Write a Research Proposal Framework of the Research Proposal Strategies for Writing Each Section of a Research Proposal Action Research Reflection Chapter 6: Research Ethics Philosophical Approaches to Ethics Research Ethical Concerns Ethical Guidelines for Research With Humans Institutional Review Board (IRB) Ethical Issues in Internet-Based Research Ethical Issues When Preparing a Research Report Action Research Reflection Part III: Foundations of Research Chapter 7: Standardized Measurement and Assessment Defining Measurement Assumptions Underlying Testing and Assessment Identifying a Good Test or Assessment Procedure Reliability Validity Educational and Psychological Tests Sources of Information About Tests Action Research Reflection Chapter 8: Methods of Data Collection in Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods Research The Six Major Methods of Data Collection Mixing Methods of Data Collection Tests Questionnaires Interviews Focus Groups Observation Constructed, Secondary, and Existing Data Action Research Reflection Chapter 9: How to Construct a Questionnaire What Is a Questionnaire? Principles of Questionnaire Construction Putting It All Together Action Research Reflection Chapter 10: Sampling in Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods Research Terminology Used in Sampling Random Sampling Techniques Nonrandom Sampling Techniques The Difference Between Random Selection and Random Assignment Determining the Sample Size When Random Sampling Is Used Sampling in Qualitative Research Sampling in Mixed Methods Research Action Research Reflection Chapter 11: Validity of Research Results in Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods Research Validity Issues in the Design of Quantitative Research Internal or Causation Validity External Validity or Generalizing Validity Construct Validity Statistical Conclusion Validity Research Validity (or “Trustworthiness”) in Qualitative Research Research Validity (or “Legitimation”) in Mixed Methods Research Action Research Reflection Part IV: Selecting a Research Method Section A. Quantitative Research Methods: Five Major Approaches Chapter 12: Experimental Research: Weak and Strong Designs The Experiment Independent Variable Manipulation How to Control for Confounding Variables Experimental Research Designs Basic Strong Experimental Research Designs Advanced Strong Experimental Research Designs Action Research Reflection Chapter 13: Experimental Research: Quasi-Experimental and Single-Case Designs Quasi-Experimental Research Designs Single-Case Experimental Designs Action Research Reflection Chapter 14: Nonexperimental Quantitative Research Steps in Nonexperimental Research Three Required Conditions for Cause-and-Effect Relationships Applying the Three Required Conditions for Causation in Nonexperimental Research Techniques of Control in Nonexperimental Research (i.e., How to Design Strong Nonexperimental Research) Interlude (the Study of Causal Relationships in Epidemiology) Classifying Nonexperimental Research by Time and Research Objective The Time Dimension in Nonexperimental Research Design The Research Objective Dimension in Nonexperimental Research Design Action Research Reflection Section B. Qualitative Research Methods: Five Major Approaches Chapter 15: Narrative Inquiry and Case Study Research Qualitative Research Design Narrative Inquiry Case Study Research Action Research Reflection Chapter 16: Phenomenology, Ethnography, and Grounded Theory Phenomenology Ethnography Grounded Theory Action Research Reflection Section C. Mixed Methods Research: Many Approaches Chapter 17: Mixed Methods Research Strengths and Limitations of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Strengths, Limitations, and Reasoning in Mixed Methods Research Constructing Mixed Methods Research Designs Stages of the Mixed Methods Research Process Limitations of Mixed Methods Research Action Research Reflection Part V: Analyzing the Data Chapter 18: Descriptive Statistics Descriptive Versus Inferential Statistics Graphic Representations of Data Measures of Central Tendency Measures of Variability Measures of Relative Standing Examining Relationships Among Variables Action Research Reflection Chapter 19: Inferential Statistics Four Fundamental Points The Concept of a Sampling Distribution Estimation Hypothesis Testing Hypothesis Testing in Research Practice Action Research Reflection Chapter 19 Appendix Chapter 20: Data Analysis in Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research Interim Analysis Segmenting, Coding, and Developing Category Systems Thematic Analysis and Creating Hierarchical Category Systems Identifying Relationships Among Categories Computer Programs for Qualitative and Mixed Methods Data Analysis Data Analysis in Mixed Methods Research Action Research Reflection Chapter 20 Appendix: Additional Types of Codes for Qualitative Research Thirteen Additional Types of Coding Part VI: Writing the Research Report Chapter 21: How to Prepare a Research Report and Use APA Style Guidelines General Principles When Writing Your Research Report Using APA Style (I) Writing an APA-Style Quantitative Research Report (II) Example of an APA-Style Manuscript Writing Qualitative Research Reports Writing Mixed Methods Research Reports Action Research Reflection Glossary References Index

About the Author :
Burke Johnson is a professor in the Professional Studies Department at the University of South Alabama. His PhD is from the REMS (research, evaluation, measurement, and statistics) program in the College of Education at the University of Georgia. He also has graduate degrees in psychology, sociology, and public administration, which have provided him with a multidisciplinary perspective on research methodology. He was guest editor for a special issue of Research in the Schools focusing on mixed research (available online at www.msera.org/rits_131.htm) and completed a similar guest editorship for the American Behavioral Scientist. He was an associate editor of the Journal of Mixed Methods Research. Burke is first author of Educational Research: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Approaches (Sage, 2014, 5th edition); second author of Research Methods, Design, and Analysis (Pearson, 2014, 12th edition); coeditor (with Sharlene Hesse-Biber) of The Oxford Handbook of Multimethod and Mixed Methods Research Inquiry (2015); coeditor (with Paul Vogt) of Correlation and Regression Analysis (2012); and associate editor of The SAGE Glossary of the Social and Behavioral Sciences (2009). Larry Christensen (PhD University of Southern Mississippi) is Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of South Alabama. Larry is the author of several successful textbooks and has published more than 60 journal articles.

Review :
I′ve enjoyed using Johnson & Christensen for many years now and I look forward to using in the future. Sharp, focused, and highly engaging, this book is essential for both students and teachers to advance their educational research journey, both graduate and postgraduate levels. Comprehensive, good for doctoral students. Good resource for your doctoral program and understanding all kinds of research. This is a very thorough education research textbook. It would make an exceptional desk reference for any researcher who just needs to brush up on a method or design. This is the ideal text for a research design course. The authors have done a wonderful job honoring the arc and magnitude of educational research methods in a readable text accessible to all students pursuing graduate degrees in education.