1. Explain the key differences between descriptive and experimental research.
The key differences between descriptive and experimental research is that each has different research questions and each has different research design to collect data. Descriptive research uses questions like, “What is happening? How is something happening? Why is something happening?” This research tends to investigate treatments such as educational programs, policies, and practices. The researcher doesn’t manipulate or change the treatment, thus the treatment is studied in its current stage and therefore doesn’t have an independent variable. There are three research designs for descriptive research, simple descriptive, comparative descriptive and correlational. In simple descriptive the data collected is to describe persons, organizations, setting, or phenomena. In comparative descriptive there are two or more groups of participants that are described and compared. The purpose of correlational design is to describe the statistical association between two or more variables.
Experimental research is used to answer research questions like, “Does something cause an effect?” One example of this question could be, does a high student-teacher ratio cause lower student achievement? Since the research needs to manipulate or change an independent variable to measure the effects on one or more dependent variables, this research needs an independent and dependent variable. There is a cause and effect because the dependent variable is influenced by the independent variable. This type of research has to types of research design, the true experimental and the quasi-experimental. In the true experimental the researcher randomly appoints the participants to the different comparison groups. In the quasi-experimental the researcher is not taking any chances, but instead is carefully appointing the participants to match the comparison group. For this design the chance procedure of the true-experimental is not feasible.
2. Explain correlational research.
Correlational research is a design used in the descriptive research. This type is used to describe the statistical association between two or more variables. This means that the researcher can make predictions according to the statistical associations. For example if the value of two variables changes then the numeral outcomes will change.
3. Explain the key differences between quantitative and qualitative research.
The key differences between quantitative and qualitative research is that quantitative uses numbers and measurement for the data. Qualitative uses narratives and observations for the data.
Quantitative research uses mathematical models and statistics to test hypotheses or to measure phenomena. For example the students’ exam scores are numbers that are used in this type of research.
Qualitative research uses observations for data in which the researcher observes the participants. For examples the researcher observes a teacher’s characteristic in his/her teaching methods. Another form to collect data is a case study and an ethnograhpy. These consist of detail descriptions of persons, behaviors, and contexts. Because the research is based on observation and narrative description, the research occurs in natural setting and less control research.
As a student for one of my child development course, I had to collect data by doing observations. It had to be in the natural setting of the classroom and without any interference on the child’s normal behavior. One of the instructors’ main concern and main advice was that I had to be objective with the observation and not subjective.
4. What is action research?
Action research is not just performing a research, and collecting data. This research includes other features like a reflection on the information acquired, developing and implementing an improved plan and finally the conclusion of the results of the improved plans. This type of research is done in classroom setting to try to improve instructions. Teachers and principals gather together to work out a plan to improve education outcomes.
As a student teacher I had the opportunity to be in a grade meeting, where the all the first grade teachers would discuss strategies that could improve reading comprehension and fluency. By the next month the teachers would gather again to discuss the outcomes.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Assignment 2, Belmont Report
September 29, 2007
ETEC 543
1. What were some of the events that caused the Belmont report to be written?
The Belmont report was written to establish basic ethical principles that would assure and protect human subjects involved in biomedical and behavioral research. Judging physicians and scientists will have to conduct research in accordance with the principles. Some events that caused this report to be written were the abuses of concentration camp prisoners in biomedical experiments during the Second World War, and the involvement of vulnerable human subjects like certain groups. These group are for example racial minorities, the economically disadvantage, the very sick, and the institutionalized. These groups of people are sought out for their easy availability, their manipulability, or their compromised positions.
2. What are the "Basic Ethical Principles" cited in the Belmont Report?
The “Basic Ethical Principles” cited in the Belmont Report are respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. The respect for persons involves two ethical convictions, one is to acknowledge autonomy of an individual and the second one is to protect those with diminished autonomy. For beneficence there are two guidelines, one is “do not harm.” The second is to maximize possible benefits and reduction of risks. For justice there are several ways to distribute burdens and benefits of a research. The report mentions five ways: to each person equal share, individual need, individual effort, societal contribution, and merit.
3. How are the "Basic Ethical Principles" assured in research practice?
The “Basic Ethical Principles” are assured by several ways. The first is an informed consent which gives the individual the opportunity to choose. The second is sufficient information. The third is that the subjects have comprehended the information. The fourth is the voluntariness of the subjects, which means they should not be influenced or forced. The fifth, the sixth, and the seventh involve the assessment, nature and systematic assessment of risks and benefits. For the research there should be enough data to inform of risks and benefits and what are the types of risks and benefits involves in the research. Finally the selection of subjects is another consideration. The selection should be fair and not based on selecting vulnerable groups like racial minorities, economically disadvantage, and institutionalized people.
ETEC 543
1. What were some of the events that caused the Belmont report to be written?
The Belmont report was written to establish basic ethical principles that would assure and protect human subjects involved in biomedical and behavioral research. Judging physicians and scientists will have to conduct research in accordance with the principles. Some events that caused this report to be written were the abuses of concentration camp prisoners in biomedical experiments during the Second World War, and the involvement of vulnerable human subjects like certain groups. These group are for example racial minorities, the economically disadvantage, the very sick, and the institutionalized. These groups of people are sought out for their easy availability, their manipulability, or their compromised positions.
2. What are the "Basic Ethical Principles" cited in the Belmont Report?
The “Basic Ethical Principles” cited in the Belmont Report are respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. The respect for persons involves two ethical convictions, one is to acknowledge autonomy of an individual and the second one is to protect those with diminished autonomy. For beneficence there are two guidelines, one is “do not harm.” The second is to maximize possible benefits and reduction of risks. For justice there are several ways to distribute burdens and benefits of a research. The report mentions five ways: to each person equal share, individual need, individual effort, societal contribution, and merit.
3. How are the "Basic Ethical Principles" assured in research practice?
The “Basic Ethical Principles” are assured by several ways. The first is an informed consent which gives the individual the opportunity to choose. The second is sufficient information. The third is that the subjects have comprehended the information. The fourth is the voluntariness of the subjects, which means they should not be influenced or forced. The fifth, the sixth, and the seventh involve the assessment, nature and systematic assessment of risks and benefits. For the research there should be enough data to inform of risks and benefits and what are the types of risks and benefits involves in the research. Finally the selection of subjects is another consideration. The selection should be fair and not based on selecting vulnerable groups like racial minorities, economically disadvantage, and institutionalized people.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Assignment 1, Introduction
ETEC 543
September 28, 2007
Hello, my name is Maria Pallares and I have included a picture of one of Vincent Van Gogh’s masterpiece called “Starry Night” (my favorite). I recently completed my credential in June. I’m desperately hoping to get hired as an elementary teacher, but I will not cry if I don’t get hired in this school year. I’m nervous because this is my first class online and for the Instructional Technology program.
September 28, 2007
Hello, my name is Maria Pallares and I have included a picture of one of Vincent Van Gogh’s masterpiece called “Starry Night” (my favorite). I recently completed my credential in June. I’m desperately hoping to get hired as an elementary teacher, but I will not cry if I don’t get hired in this school year. I’m nervous because this is my first class online and for the Instructional Technology program.
As an undergraduate one of my majors was in Studio Art. I learned how to apply all the elements of art to create a composition. I’m looking forward in applying some elements of art into technology.
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