Practical Research (Lessons 6-8)

Conceptual Framework

This is a diagrammatic presentation of the study also called as the research paradigm. This diagram connects variables of the study with lines or arrows

Correlations

In conceptual frameworks, we use lines for?

Cause-Effect Relationships

In conceptual frameworks, we use arrows for?

Research Hypothesis

Are statements in which the investigator makes a prediction or conjecture about the outcome of a relationship among attributes or characteristics.

Definition of Terms

In this part of a research paper, variables and sub-variables or values in conceptual framework are defined, except very common variables like grade level, gender, school type where the values are indicated in the framework itself.

Descriptive, Correlational, Experimental

The three types or research designs are:

True Experimental, Quasi-Experimental, Pre-Experimental

The three sub-types of experimental designs

Descriptive

This quantitative research design is done cross-sectionally, when data is collected at a single point in time.

Correlational

This quantitative research design is used to investigate the direction and magnitude of relationships among variables in a particular population.

Experimental

This quantitative research design is primarily concerned with cause-effect relationships in studies that involve the manipulation and measurement.

True Experimental Design

This is one of the sub-sets of the experimental designs wherein participants are randomly selected. There is the experimental group, where participants are exposed to the treatment, and the control group, where participants are not.

Quasi-Experimental Design

This is one of the sub-sets of the experimental designs wherein participants are not randomly selected.

Pre-Experimental Design

This is one of the sub-sets of experimental designs wherein a one-group pretest-posttest design provides a comparative description of a group of participants before and after the experimental treatment.

Population

A group of individuals who have the same characteristics

Target Population

A group of individuals with some common defining characteristics that the researchers can identify and study.

Sample

A sub-group of the target population that the researcher plans to study for generalizing about the target population.

Simple Random Sampling

This sampling technique draws randomly from a list of the population

Systematic Sampling

This sampling technique takes every kth element in the population as a sample where k=N/n

Stratified Random Sampling

This sampling technique is a process in which certain subgroups (strata) are selected for the sample in the same proportion as they exist in the population.

Cluster Sampling

This sampling technique is the selection of groups (clusters) of subjects rather than individuals.

Convenience Sampling

This sampling technique is the selection of a group of individuals who are conveniently available for the study.

Quota Sampling

In this sampling technique, the number of samples is decided by the researcher and selection is also made out of availability of the respondent.

Purposive Sampling

This sampling technique refers to using a researcher’s judgement to select a sample that they believe, based on prior information, will provide the data they need; selecting participants that will get the information they need.

Snowball Sampling

This sampling technique refers to one sample leading on to more samples of the same kind.

n = N/1+Ne²

What is Slovin’s formula when finding the sample size (n)?

e=√((N/n)-1)/N

What is Slovin’s formula when finding the margin of error (e)?

Research Instrument

This refers to the questionnaire or data gathering tool to be constructed, validated, and administered.

Contain different types of questions, Use strategies for good construction, Valid and reliable

A good questionnaire must:

Describe whose permission will be sought and administer instruments, Discuss how the samples will be contacted, State how the questionnaires will be retrieved.

The steps of the data collection are:

Data analysis

This section indicates how the data will be analyzed and reported; it should specify the qualitative and/or quantitative methods that will be used in analyzing the data gathered for the research.

Describe analysis for each question, State if tests of hypothesis will be done and for what purpose, Add scoring system, Avoid giving formulas or standard procedures.

The steps for a data analysis plan are: