Chapter 1 Flashcards
Research
Systematic investigation using appropriate methodologies to provide justified answers to questions about our world
Abstract
A summary of what is in an article; a brief description of the essential characteristics of the study
Basic Research
Research aimed at generating fundamental knowledge and theoretical understanding about basic human and other natural processes
Applied Research
Research focused on answering practical questions to provide relatively immediate solutions
Evaluation
Determining the worth, merit, or quality of an evaluation object
Formative Evaluation
Evaluation focused on improving the evaluation object
Summative Evaluation
Evaluation focused on determining the overall effectiveness and usefulness of the evaluation object
Theory Failure
A program performs poorly because it is based on a weak or faulty program theory
Implementation Failure
A program performs poorly because it is not implemented correctly
Action Research
Applied research focused on solving practitioners’ local problems
Orientational/Critical Theory Research
Research explicitly done for the purpose of advancing an ideological position or orientation
Epistemology
The branch of philosophy dealing with knowledge and its justification
The study of knowledge—including its nature, how it is gained or generated, how it is warranted, and the standards that are used to judge its adequacy—is known as epistemology.
Empiricism
The idea that knowledge comes from experience
Empiricism is the idea that all knowledge comes from experience. We learn by observing, and when we observe, we rely on our sensory perception.
Empirical
Empirical is a fancy word meaning “based on observation, experiment, or experience.”
Deductive Reasoning
The process of drawing a conclusion that is necessarily true if the premises are true
Major Premise: All schoolteachers are mortal.
Minor Premise: John is a schoolteacher.
Conclusion: Therefore, John is mortal.
Inductive Reasoning
Inductive reasoning is the form of reasoning in which the premises “provide good reasons, but not conclusive reasons to accept the conclusion” (Salmon, 2007, p. 79).
The process of drawing a conclusion that is “probably” true
Science
An approach for the generation of knowledge
Quantitative Research
A researcher who focuses on testing theories and hypotheses using quantitative data to see if they are confirmed or not
quantitative researchers (i.e., educational researchers who like “hard” quantitative data, such as standardized test results, and focus on hypothesis testing).
Qualitative Research
A researcher who focuses on exploration, description, and understanding of subjective meanings and sometimes the generation and construction of theories using qualitative data
Principle of Evidence
The philosophical idea that empirical research provides evidence, not proof
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience Any set of beliefs or practices that purport to be scientific but are not
Anonymous Review
Anonymous review of book and article manuscripts by experts for scientific accuracy and merit
