Name:________________

Date: ________________

Research in Education
Study Guide and Sample Questions
1. What: What is Educational Research?
In your own words what is research?
The dictionary definition for research is:
Research is the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to
establish facts and reach new conclusions.
What are the goals of educational research?
The goal of educational research is to improve teaching and student learning to provide a
successful future for our students and teacher. We should understand the teachers role in
educational research in both areas where teachers are contributors to research as well as
where teachers are the researcher. This research is collaborative, always on going and is
changing on a daily basis.

2. Why: Why is research in education important to us as

teachers?
Name one reason why research in education is important to teachers?
Possible answers:
-To promote better student learning
-For teachers to constantly grow & improve
-To ensure we are upholding our responsibility and duties as a teacher
-To contribute to the combined efforts of teachers global wide

3. What and how: What are some of the common research

methods used and how is it conducted?
Laboratory experiments, interviews, case studies, experiments, focus groups, surveys,
Observations
Quantitative: Experimental- measured values - these are the objective factors
Qualitatively: Characteristics,interpretations, underlying themes or subjective factors

Question: Graphing survey results would be an example of what time of research

method?
Answer: quantitative research method
Question: Drawing conclusions about observations or making interpretations about a
case study would be an example of what type of research method?
Answer: qualitative research method
Question: Teacher as Researcher is a form of what kind of research:
Answer: Action Research

4. Apply: How can the teacher translate and apply educational

research into their classrooms?
Question: How can teachers use research in their own classroom?
Answer: Trial and error. Constantly try new methods.

5. Learn: What can we learn from this research?

Question: Recall one method to being a wise consumer of Education Research?
Possible answers:
A. Be cautious of what is reported in the media
B. Avoid Drawing conclusions about individual needs based on group research
C. Recognize how easy it is to over generalize about a small or clinical sample
D. Be aware that a single study is usually NOT the defining word
E. Always consider the source of information and evaluate its credibility.
Question: True or False: Your Professional Growth Plans (PGP) can be used as way to
stay active in the educational research community?
Answer: True
Question: True or false Research values individualism?
Answer: False: Both Research and Education are Collaborative fields

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Additional Resources: How you can participate in Educational Research

Outline of Action Research:
http://www.teachers.ab.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ATA/Publications/ProfessionalDevelopment/ActionResearch.pdf
Access to the Canadian Journal for Teacher Research:
http://www.teachers.ab.ca/About%20the%20ATA/Education
%20Research/Pages/Index.aspx

Educational Research Scavenger Hunt

Name: _____________

___________________________________
1. Author:
_______________________________________________________
2. Title of Entry:
_______________________________________________________
3. Purpose of Study:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
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4. Method(s) used:
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5. Conclusion:
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