NORTHERN CARIBBEAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION HMEC: 487 Introduction to educational Research
Reading Report # 2 Presented to: Mr. Dora Babu Tadepalli By: Nicholas Robinson 18090628 Date: October 11, 2011
The main purpose of any research is to ensure that it is a well executed research. Many steps have to be taken into consideration before it is carried out by the researcher. It is from these steps that the reader will have a proper and effective research to present. Let us first look at where the Research paper actually begins in its initial stages right to its last letter. The idea has to be initiated along with a problem area to be tackled, and then there is the initial review of the literature, which is followed by defining the specific research problem. You will then estimate the success and the prospective of the research by doing the second review of the literature. Preceding this we will select the research approach in which we will actually begin to gather data for the research. The selecting of the data gathering method or technique will then be initiated and the selecting and development of data gathering instruments. Aspects the writer will mainly be looking at in this report is purpose of collecting data, methods of collecting data and what are some of the tools you want to use for your research. The main purpose of the report is to collect data. Now why is this so important one might ask? Simply put, without the data one cannot solidify their questions without evidence to support the research. When the researcher is collecting data he /she has to first think about what is the best way to collect the data base on the selected audience. Methods of collecting data vary from a pilot study, observation, interview, and questionnaire. With the questionnaire method, the researcher is able to create sample questions geared towards the specific group. From these questions the researcher will look at the content and the context of the questioning to put on the questionnaire. There should also be a stimuli question from which the respondent will be exposed. There should be a provision for answers base on how you think the respondent will respond to
the questions. Another key area is the method of recording, which will either be writing or recording. Finally the researcher will decide along with the respondent if there will be a face to face or via the internet (online, email). The pilot study is another means of collecting data for the research. With the pilot study there can be a trial run for the collection of data. Its purpose also runs as a test to see if the data collection method is viable and if the subjects can handle form of questioning that may be issued. The observation method is widely used by many researchers as it is at times more convenient for both parties and it can be done incognito and therefore gets an honest reaction from the group. One of the negative aspects of the observation method is that it is only used when questioning and measuring are inappropriate. When the interviewer decides to use a more personal approach thats when the interview method is applied. This may come either as a totally free response or a structured response. The best aspect of the interview method is there can be honest response from the respondent without any influence from the interviewer base on the manner of questioning. So essentially, the interview method is most useful in those situations where it a structured response, for instance in schools. The final method is questionnaire. With this method a set of specific questions are formed from the general questions to put in the questionnaire. These questions can either be given to the teacher or student formulates a qualitative response. These questions can either be open-ended or close-ended questions. In using these methods the researcher will have varied way of collecting the data paramount to the research. This will also enable him/her to choose the best method used that is suitable to complete the research properly.
Works cited: Fox. J David, The Research Process in education, New York , Rinehart and Winston, 1969
