Applying Educational Research

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 .

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

• Table of Contents PART 1: INTRODUCTION Chapter 1: Using Research Evidence to Improve Educational Practice Evidence-Based Professional PracticeEvidence-Based Practice in EducationThe Purpose of Educational ResearchCharacteristics of Research as an Approach to InquiryQuantitative and Qualitative ResearchCollaborating with ResearchersA Personal Note: The Research “Spark”An Example of How Research Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: How Students’ Sleepy Brains Fail ThemChapter 2: Doing Your Own Research: From Proposal to Final Report Identifying a Research ProblemOutlining a Research ProposalOther Steps in the Research ProcessSelf-Check TestSample Outline of a Quantitative Research ProposalSample Outline of a Qualitative Research ProposalPART 2: APPLYING THE RESEARCH LITERATURE TO PROBLEMS OF PRACTICE Chapter 3: Conducting and Writing Your Own Literature Review Informal Literature ReviewsFormal Literature ReviewsProfessional Literature ReviewsA Systematic Procedure for Doing Formal Literature ReviewsParts and Presentation of a Literature ReviewSelf-Check TestArticle: The Case For and Against HomeworkArticle: The Process Writing Approach: A Meta-AnalysisChapter 4: Using Search Engines and Available Literature Reviews The Purpose of Search EnginesSelecting a Useful Search EngineUsing Search EnginesObtaining a Publication after a Literature SearchLocating Published Literature ReviewsCriteria for Evaluating Published Literature ReviewsAn Example of How Literature Reviews Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestPART 3: USING QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGY TO STUDY PROBLEMS OF PRACTICE Chapter 5: Analyzing and Evaluating Reports of Quantitative Research Studies Organization of a Quantitative Research ReportAbstract and IntroductionMethod Section: Sampling ProceduresMethod Section: MeasuresMethod Section: Research Design and ProceduresResults SectionDiscussion SectionAn Example of How Quantitative Research Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: Developing a Measure of Behavior Change in a Program to Help Low-Income Parents Prevent Unhealthful Weight Gain in ChildrenChapter 6: Using Descriptive Statistics to Study Problems of Practice Constructs, Variables, and Measurement ScalesStatistical Analysis of DataDescriptive StatisticsMultivariate Descriptive StatisticsCalculating Descriptive StatisticsAn Example of How Descriptive Statistics Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestChapter 7: Tests of Statistical Significance The Logic of Statistical Significance and Confidence IntervalsInferential StatisticsTests of Statistical SignificanceCalculating StatisticsUsing Statistics to Improve Professional PracticeAn Example of How Tests of Statistical Significance Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestChapter 8: The Practical Significance of Statistical Results The Practical Significance of Statistical ResultsComparisons with Personal and Organizational StandardsComparisons with Ideal StandardsComparisons with Curriculum StandardsComparisons Based on RankingsComparisons Involving Tables of NormsComparisons Involving Standard ScoresEffect SizesGain ScoresPractical Significance as an Interpretive ProcessAn Example of How Determining the Practical Significance of Statistical Results Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: Can Growth Ever Be beside the Point?Chapter 9: Descriptive Research The Relevance of Descriptive Research to Educational PracticeExamples of Descriptive ResearchFeatures of a Descriptive Research ReportEvaluating a Descriptive Research StudyAn Example of How Descriptive Research Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: Examining the Extent and Nature of Online Learning in American K-12 Education: The Research Initiatives of the Alfred P. Sloan FoundationChapter 10: Group Comparison Research Classification of Quantitative Research DesignsThe Relevance of Group Comparison Research to Educational PracticeExamples of Group Comparison ResearchFeatures of a Group Comparison Research ReportEvaluating a Group Comparison Research StudyAn Example of How Group Comparison Research Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: Jordanian Prospective and Experienced Chemistry Teachers’ Beliefs about Teaching and Learning and their Potential for Educational ReformChapter 11: Correlational Research Comparison of Correlational and Group Comparison Research DesignsExamples of Correlational ResearchCorrelation between Two VariablesCorrelation Involving More Than Two VariablesFeatures of a Correlational Research ReportEvaluating a Correlational Research StudyAn Example of How Correlational Research Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: The Measurement and Predictive Ability of Metacognition in Middle School LearnersChapter 12: Experimental Research The Relevance of Experimental Research to Educational PracticeCharacteristics of ExperimentsExamples of Experimental ResearchFeatures of a Report of a Pretest–Posttest Control-Group Experiment with RandomizationOther Group Experiment DesignsThreats to the Internal Validity of ExperimentsThreats Directly Involving the Experimental InterventionThreats to the External Validity of ExperimentsSingle-Case ExperimentsFeatures of a Report of a Single-Case ExperimentEvaluating an Experimental Research StudyAn Example of How Experimental Research Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: After-School Multifamily Groups: A Randomized Controlled Trial Involving Low-Income, Urban, Latino ChildrenArticle: Increasing On-Task Behavior in the Classroom: Extension of Self-Monitoring StrategiesPART 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 PracticeKey Characteristics of Case StudiesExamples of Case StudiesThe Nature of Qualitative ResearchQualitative Research TraditionsFeatures of a Case Study ReportChecking the Applicability of Case Study FindingsEvaluating the Quality and Rigor of a Case StudyAn Example of How Case Study Research Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: Teaching Secrets: Ask the Kids!Article: Exemplary Social Studies Teachers’ Use of Computer-Supported Instruction in the ClassroomChapter 14: Ethnography and Critical Research The Use of Critical Ethnography to Study Problems of Practice in EducationThe Characteristics of Ethnographic ResearchDifferences between Ethnographies and Basic Case StudiesExamples of Ethnographic ResearchCritical Research as a Field of Inquiry and PracticeFoundations of Critical Research in EducationFeatures of a Critical Ethnographic Research ReportEvaluating Ethnographies and Critical EthnographiesAn Example of How Ethnography and Critical Research Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: A Visual Ethnography on Pedagogy, Aesthetics, and the Spatial Experience of Growing Up UrbanChapter 15: Narrative Research Narratives as a Focus for ResearchExamples of Narrative Research in EducationFeatures of a Narrative Research ReportEvaluating a Narrative Research StudyAn Example of How Narrative Research Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: Teacher Identity and Early Career Resilience: Exploring the LinksChapter 16: Historical Research The Nature of Historical ResearchThe Role of Historical Research in EducationMethods of Historical ResearchIdentifying Historical SourcesValidating Historical EvidenceInterpreting Historical DataFeatures of a Historical Research ReportEvaluating Historical ResearchAn Example of How Historical Research Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: Go To the Principal’s Office: Toward a Social History of the School Principal in North AmericaPART 5: COMBINING QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO STUDY PROBLEMS OF PRACTICE Chapter 17: Mixed-Methods Research The Need for Multiple Research MethodsTypes of Mixed-Methods ResearchReading a Mixed-Methods Research ReportEvaluating Reports of Mixed-Methods StudiesAn Example of How Mixed-Methods Research Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: A Portrait of Administrator, Teacher, and Parent Perceptions of Title I School Improvement PlansPART 6: USING OTHER RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES TO STUDY PROBLEMS OF PRACTICE Chapter 18: Action Research The History of Action ResearchUsing Action Research to Address Problems of PracticeExamples of Action Research StudiesDesign Features of Action ResearchHow Action Research Differs from Educators’ Other Approaches to Problem SolvingPurposes and Benefits of Action ResearchApplying Action Science to Action ResearchThe Insider–Outsider Perspective in Collaborative Action ResearchEvaluating the Credibility and Trustworthiness of Action Research ProjectsAn Example of How Action Research Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: Recognizing a “Different Drum” Through Close-Reading StrategiesChapter 19: Evaluation Research The Use of Evaluation Research in Educational Decision MakingExamples of Evaluation ResearchPrograms as a Focus of Evaluation ResearchEvaluation Research as a Political ActivityModels of Evaluation ResearchHow to Read an Evaluation Research ReportEvaluating an Evaluation Research Study and Uses of Evaluation in Educational PracticeAn Example of How Program Evaluations Can Help in Solving Problems of PracticeSelf-Check TestArticle: What Did the Teachers Think? Teachers’ Responses to the Use of Value-Added Modeling as a Tool for Evaluating Teacher EffectivenesSelf-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