2. Introduction
Education is not a small term and it has many classification and aspects.
Researches in education are carried out in order to understand terms in a better way
and explore those terms.
The reason to conduct research also leads to gaining insight and deeper
understanding of some critical terms or some unsolved questions.
It may also lead to discover some general principles or interpretations about the
facts discovered during the research process.
A scientific theory can be formulated in educational events by the means of
research.
3. Introduction
Human being acquires knowledgeable facts by the means of experience, authority,
deductive reasoning, and inductive reasoning and by the use of scientific
approach. The scientific approach is regarded as the most trusted source in
understanding and gaining new knowledge.
The scientific approach is based on two of the main belief
i) Human being can drive truth by the means of observation of the phenomena, and
ii) phenomena comply to a lawful relationships.
4. The meaning of Educational Research
Educational research deals with gaining a better understanding of educational
process, so that its efficiency can be improved for the development of the society.
As education is most important factor in the development of the society.
Scientific methods are applied to study various phenomenon and problems of
education.
Educational research gives us better understanding of various facets of human
being by the means of, explaining, predicting or controlling human behavior
concerning education.
This further helps in explaining, improving, enhancing or changing the present
situation related to education.
5. Definition of Research
“Research is an honest, exhaustive, intelligent searching for facts and their meanings or implications with
reference to given problem”.
- P.M.Cook
“Research is an attempt to discover and verify knowledge. It is an intellectual process that has developed
over hundreds of years, ever changing in purpose and forms and also researching the truths”
- J.Francis Rummel
“The systematic and objective analysis and recording of controlled observations that may lead to the
developments of generalizations’, principles, or theories,, resulting in prediction and possibly ultimate
control of events".
- John W. Best
“Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict, and control the observed phenomenon”.
- Earl Robert Babbie
6. Definition of Educational Research
“Educational research aims to make contribution towards the solution of the problems in the
field of education by the scientific philosophical methods”.
- F.L.Whitney
“The formal systematic application of the scientific method to the study of educational problems”.
- Gay
“When the scientific method is applied to the study of educational problems, educational
research is the result”.
- Aryetal.
7. The purpose of educational research can be listed as follow:
To solve problems concerning the education or the education system
To decide the principles and develop procedure that can be used in the field of educational
research
To be able to derive to conclusion so as to what extent we can educate the children and the
adults
To answer question using experimentation and reflective thinking
To determine the basis of the past, presents situation in relation to education
To discover new findings , principles and laws in the field of education
8. 1. Identification & Definition of the Problem
2. Formulation of the Hypothesis
3. Clarification of Research Procedure
4. Collection of Data
5. Analysis & Interpretation of the Data
6. Drawing Conclusions & Development of Theory & Principles
Steps of Educational Research
9. Types of Educational Research
Educational Research is classified in two main broad
categories;
Quantitative Research and Qualitative Research.
Both the researches have their own methodology and the
terminology.
Quantitative research uses measurement to draw out numeric
data, this data can be used to answer the question proposed
for the study or to test the pre-determined hypothesis.
Qualitative research is carried out in natural setting and it
helps in understanding and gaining better knowledge of
social phenomena that involves human participants.
11. Major Types of Quantitative Educational Research
o Quantitative research is further classified as Experimental research and Non-
experimental Research.
o Experimental research deals with studying effect of manipulation of one
variable on another.
o Non-experimental research deals with identifying the variables and studying the
relations between the two variables without manipulating them.
o The major forms of non-experimental research include ex post facto research,
correlational research and Survey research.
12. Major Types of Qualitative Educational Research
o Qualitative research aims to understand a whole phenomenon, without breaking it
into forms of variables.
o This does not involve analysis of numeric data.
o The types of qualitative research include basic interpretative studies, case studies,
document or content analysis, ethnography, grounded theory, historical studies,
narrative inquiry, and phenomenological studies.
13. Form of Data Words
Qualitative
Understands
a Phenomena
Approaches -
basic interpretative studies, case
studies, document or content analysis,
ethnography, grounded theory,
historical studies, narrative inquiry,
and phenomenological studies.
Numbers
Quantitative
Study effect
of
Manipulation
Approaches -
ex post facto research,
correlational research
and Survey research.
