“These authors have done a masterful job in unpacking the fundamental issues in research and disciplined inquiry. They consistently help their readers to understand that in research, as in life, it essentially boils down to validity and reliability.” —Wayne H. Slater, University of Maryland “The authors achieve an authentic voice in their text. They explain concepts clearly and concisely, while providing appropriate examples to support their assertions. Finally, the authors engage the novice researcher (or consumer of research) with engaging ideas and prose . . . they consistently unpack complex, abstract concepts in a clear, lucid fashion.” —Wayne H. Slater, University of Maryland

• PrefacePart I: Overview of ResearchChapter 1: The Foundations of ResearchChapter ObjectivesPerspectives on Educational ResearchDefining Ways of Conducting ResearchFoundations of ResearchResearch Types and Methods in BriefThe Research ProcessSummaryAbout SimulationsSimulation 1.1Chapter 2: The Research ProcessChapter ObjectivesFinding a Topic to ResearchSteps in the Scientific MethodSummarySimulation 2.1Chapter 3: Ethical Issues in Conducting ResearchChapter ObjectivesEnsuring the Protection of Human ParticipantsEthical Considerations in Quantitative and Qualitative ResearchMonitoring Ethics in Research: Institutional Review BoardsEthics and ProfessionalismSummarySimulation 3.1Chapter 4: Participant Selection and AssignmentChapter ObjectivesParticipant SelectionParticipant AssignmentSummarySimulation 4.1Chapter 5: Measures and InstrumentsChapter ObjectivesSelection and Definition of Criterion MeasuresInstruments or TasksSummarySimulation 5.1Part II: Research Methods and DesignsChapter 6: Quantitative Research MethodologiesChapter ObjectivesDefining Quantitative ResearchBasic Experimental Design FormatsTraditional Group Experimental DesignsAfter the Design: Analysis and InterpretationSummarySimulation 6.1Chapter 7: Designing Non-Experimental ResearchChapter ObjectivesDefining Experimental and Non-Experimental ResearchSurvey ResearchObservation StudiesSummarySimulation 7.1Chapter 8: Introduction to Qualitative Research and Mixed-Methods DesignChapter ObjectivesAn Overview of Qualitative ResearchMixed MethodsSummarySimulation 8.1Chapter 9: Research Design PitfallsChapter ObjectivesTypes of Design ValidityThreats to Experimental Design ValidityStandards of RigorSummarySimulation 9.1Part III: Data Analysis and Results InterpretationChapter 10: Statistics ChoicesStatistics: What and WhyThe Decision Tree: Moving from the Question to the AnalysisThe Importance of Data Type in Selecting StatisticsSummarySimulation 10.1Simulation 10.2Chapter 11: Data TabulationChapter ObjectivesAggregating DataTablesGraphing DataSummarySimulation 11.1Chapter 12: Descriptive StatisticsChapter ObjectivesCategories of Descriptive StatisticsSummarySimulation 12.1Simulation 12.2Chapter 13: Inferential StatisticsChapter ObjectivesGeneral Background of Inferential StatisticsDifference Questions: Which Statistic and WhenRelationship Questions: Which Statistic and WhenSummarySimulation 13.1Simulation 13.2Chapter 14: Analyzing Qualitative DataChapter ObjectivesPreliminary AnalysisPost Data-Gathering AnalysisInductive and Deductive AnalysesPhenomenological Analytical TechniquesReporting Qualitative ResearchSummarySimulation 14.1Chapter 15: Interpreting ResultsResearch as an Integrated ProcessInterpretation of ResultsAcquiring Interpretation Skills for ResearchSummarySimulation 15.1Appendix A: Table of Random NumbersReferencesGlossary/Index

“These authors have done a masterful job in unpacking the fundamental issues in research and disciplined inquiry. They consistently help their readers to understand that in research, as in life, it essentially boils down to validity and reliability.” —Wayne H. Slater, University of Maryland “The authors achieve an authentic voice in their text. They explain concepts clearly and concisely, while providing appropriate examples to support their assertions. Finally, the authors engage the novice researcher (or consumer of research) with engaging ideas and prose . . . they consistently unpack complex, abstract concepts in a clear, lucid fashion.” —Wayne H. Slater, University of Maryland

• PrefacePart I: Overview of ResearchChapter 1: The Foundations of ResearchChapter ObjectivesPerspectives on Educational ResearchDefining Ways of Conducting ResearchFoundations of ResearchResearch Types and Methods in BriefThe Research ProcessSummaryAbout SimulationsSimulation 1.1Chapter 2: The Research ProcessChapter ObjectivesFinding a Topic to ResearchSteps in the Scientific MethodSummarySimulation 2.1Chapter 3: Ethical Issues in Conducting ResearchChapter ObjectivesEnsuring the Protection of Human ParticipantsEthical Considerations in Quantitative and Qualitative ResearchMonitoring Ethics in Research: Institutional Review BoardsEthics and ProfessionalismSummarySimulation 3.1Chapter 4: Participant Selection and AssignmentChapter ObjectivesParticipant SelectionParticipant AssignmentSummarySimulation 4.1Chapter 5: Measures and InstrumentsChapter ObjectivesSelection and Definition of Criterion MeasuresInstruments or TasksSummarySimulation 5.1Part II: Research Methods and DesignsChapter 6: Quantitative Research MethodologiesChapter ObjectivesDefining Quantitative ResearchBasic Experimental Design FormatsTraditional Group Experimental DesignsAfter the Design: Analysis and InterpretationSummarySimulation 6.1Chapter 7: Designing Non-Experimental ResearchChapter ObjectivesDefining Experimental and Non-Experimental ResearchSurvey ResearchObservation StudiesSummarySimulation 7.1Chapter 8: Introduction to Qualitative Research and Mixed-Methods DesignChapter ObjectivesAn Overview of Qualitative ResearchMixed MethodsSummarySimulation 8.1Chapter 9: Research Design PitfallsChapter ObjectivesTypes of Design ValidityThreats to Experimental Design ValidityStandards of RigorSummarySimulation 9.1Part III: Data Analysis and Results InterpretationChapter 10: Statistics ChoicesStatistics: What and WhyThe Decision Tree: Moving from the Question to the AnalysisThe Importance of Data Type in Selecting StatisticsSummarySimulation 10.1Simulation 10.2Chapter 11: Data TabulationChapter ObjectivesAggregating DataTablesGraphing DataSummarySimulation 11.1Chapter 12: Descriptive StatisticsChapter ObjectivesCategories of Descriptive StatisticsSummarySimulation 12.1Simulation 12.2Chapter 13: Inferential StatisticsChapter ObjectivesGeneral Background of Inferential StatisticsDifference Questions: Which Statistic and WhenRelationship Questions: Which Statistic and WhenSummarySimulation 13.1Simulation 13.2Chapter 14: Analyzing Qualitative DataChapter ObjectivesPreliminary AnalysisPost Data-Gathering AnalysisInductive and Deductive AnalysesPhenomenological Analytical TechniquesReporting Qualitative ResearchSummarySimulation 14.1Chapter 15: Interpreting ResultsResearch as an Integrated ProcessInterpretation of ResultsAcquiring Interpretation Skills for ResearchSummarySimulation 15.1Appendix A: Table of Random NumbersReferencesGlossary/Index

“These authors have done a masterful job in unpacking the fundamental issues in research and disciplined inquiry. They consistently help their readers to understand that in research, as in life, it essentially boils down to validity and reliability.” —Wayne H. Slater, University of Maryland “The authors achieve an authentic voice in their text. They explain concepts clearly and concisely, while providing appropriate examples to support their assertions. Finally, the authors engage the novice researcher (or consumer of research) with engaging ideas and prose . . . they consistently unpack complex, abstract concepts in a clear, lucid fashion.” —Wayne H. Slater, University of Maryland

• PrefacePart I: Overview of ResearchChapter 1: The Foundations of ResearchChapter ObjectivesPerspectives on Educational ResearchDefining Ways of Conducting ResearchFoundations of ResearchResearch Types and Methods in BriefThe Research ProcessSummaryAbout SimulationsSimulation 1.1Chapter 2: The Research ProcessChapter ObjectivesFinding a Topic to ResearchSteps in the Scientific MethodSummarySimulation 2.1Chapter 3: Ethical Issues in Conducting ResearchChapter ObjectivesEnsuring the Protection of Human ParticipantsEthical Considerations in Quantitative and Qualitative ResearchMonitoring Ethics in Research: Institutional Review BoardsEthics and ProfessionalismSummarySimulation 3.1Chapter 4: Participant Selection and AssignmentChapter ObjectivesParticipant SelectionParticipant AssignmentSummarySimulation 4.1Chapter 5: Measures and InstrumentsChapter ObjectivesSelection and Definition of Criterion MeasuresInstruments or TasksSummarySimulation 5.1Part II: Research Methods and DesignsChapter 6: Quantitative Research MethodologiesChapter ObjectivesDefining Quantitative ResearchBasic Experimental Design FormatsTraditional Group Experimental DesignsAfter the Design: Analysis and InterpretationSummarySimulation 6.1Chapter 7: Designing Non-Experimental ResearchChapter ObjectivesDefining Experimental and Non-Experimental ResearchSurvey ResearchObservation StudiesSummarySimulation 7.1Chapter 8: Introduction to Qualitative Research and Mixed-Methods DesignChapter ObjectivesAn Overview of Qualitative ResearchMixed MethodsSummarySimulation 8.1Chapter 9: Research Design PitfallsChapter ObjectivesTypes of Design ValidityThreats to Experimental Design ValidityStandards of RigorSummarySimulation 9.1Part III: Data Analysis and Results InterpretationChapter 10: Statistics ChoicesStatistics: What and WhyThe Decision Tree: Moving from the Question to the AnalysisThe Importance of Data Type in Selecting StatisticsSummarySimulation 10.1Simulation 10.2Chapter 11: Data TabulationChapter ObjectivesAggregating DataTablesGraphing DataSummarySimulation 11.1Chapter 12: Descriptive StatisticsChapter ObjectivesCategories of Descriptive StatisticsSummarySimulation 12.1Simulation 12.2Chapter 13: Inferential StatisticsChapter ObjectivesGeneral Background of Inferential StatisticsDifference Questions: Which Statistic and WhenRelationship Questions: Which Statistic and WhenSummarySimulation 13.1Simulation 13.2Chapter 14: Analyzing Qualitative DataChapter ObjectivesPreliminary AnalysisPost Data-Gathering AnalysisInductive and Deductive AnalysesPhenomenological Analytical TechniquesReporting Qualitative ResearchSummarySimulation 14.1Chapter 15: Interpreting ResultsResearch as an Integrated ProcessInterpretation of ResultsAcquiring Interpretation Skills for ResearchSummarySimulation 15.1Appendix A: Table of Random NumbersReferencesGlossary/Index