Introduction to Educational Psychology

Quantitative research

Research based on numerical data and measurement

Qualitative research

Research based on non-numerical data that explores meaning and experience

Descriptive

Describes characteristics of a population or phenomenon as it currently exists

Correlation

Examines the relationship between two or more variables without establishing cause and effect

Causal-comparative

Compares pre-existing groups to identify possible causes of differences between them

Experimental

Manipulates one or more variables to determine their effect on an outcome typically with control over conditions

Nominal

Categorical data that is mutually exclusive; categories have no inherent order (gender/eye color)

Ordinal

Data with meaningful ranks or order, but the distance between ranks is NOT assumed to be equal (class rank)

Interval

Data with equal intervals between values but no true/absolute zero point (temperature in Fahrenheit)

Formative assessment

Monitors progress before and during period of assessment

Summative assessment

Monitors progress after period of assessment

Case study

Intensive study of one individual

ABA approach

A treatment design comparing baseline (A), intervention (B), and return to baseline (A) phases

Action oriented

Research designed to directly inform or improve practice

Longitudinal

Studying the same participants repeatedly over an extended period of time

Microgenetic

Studying participants intensively over a short period to observe change as it happens in real time

Norm referenced

Interpreting a score by comparing it to the performance of other test-takers

Ratio

Data with an absolute zero point allowing direct comparisons like “twice as much” (weight/height)

Criterion refrenced

Interpreting a score by comparing it to a fixed standard or set of learning objectives regardless of how others performed

3 P’s

The three elements of standardization:

Population, procedures, parameters

Objective

Scoring that does not rely on personal judgement (multiple choice)

Subjective

Scoring that involves personal judgment or interpretation (essay grading)

Mean

Average

Median

Middle score in a group of scores

Mode

Most frequently occurring score

Test-retest

Reliability measured by giving the same test to the same group at two different points in time

Alternate forms

Reliability measured by comparing two different but equivalent versions of a test

Inter-rater

Reliability measured by the level of agreement between different scores or observers

Construct validity

The extent to which a test measures the theoretical concept (construct) it’s designed to measure

Content validity

The extent to which a test adequately coves the content domain it’s meant to assess

Underrepresentation

A content validity flaw where the test fails to cover the full breadth of the content domain

Irrelevance

A content validity flaw where the test includes items unrelated to what it’s supposed to measure

Criterion validity

The extent to which a test’s results correlate with an outside outcome or measure

Phenomonology

A qualitative research design that explores the lived experiences of individuals who have gone through a particular event