Chapter 5 Flashcards
What is a qualitative research approach?
This research approach focuses on answering the how, why, and what through interviews, written reflections, or field notes (p. 99).
What is a quantitative research approach?
This research approach focuses on the collection of data that is in measurable units using a specific, replicable process (p. 99).
What is a mixed method approach?
The mixed method approach uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods (p. 99).
What defines validity in terms of research?
When the data collection tool measures what it is intended to measure (p. 100).
What defines reliability in terms of research?
It is consistency of measurement, or, when the research indicates the same or similar scores across multiple instances of measurement (p. 101).
What is inter-rater reliability?
Observations that produce the same or similar codes and themes within the analysis of qualitative data. Excellent inter-rater reliability falls between 1.00-.75. Acceptable inter-rater reliability falls between .74-.6 (p. 101).
What are anecdotal notes?
A more informal version of observation that involves shorter episodes where the instructor quickly jots a few notes about a student or situation (p. 105).
What defines a structured observation?
Structured observations are those that explicitly state when and how the observations will occur as well as precisely what behaviors are being studied (Ivankova, 2015) (p. 106).
What defines an unstructured observation?
Unstructured observations allow the researcher to simply record what is seen without focus on predetermined events, behaviors, intervals, or people. It offers flexibility, but can be challenging given the possibility of missing important aspects of the situation that could provide valuable data (p. 106).
How are interviews used in Action Research?
Interviews are opportunities to speak with participants directly. They can be individual or group, formal or informal, and are guided by a list of questions aimed at gathering specific data (p. 107).
How are surveys and questionnaires used in Action Research?
Surveys and questionnaires are quantitative in nature, and represent tools for systematic data collection that do not provide any face-to-face contact with the participants (p. 110).
With surveys and questionnaires, what are open response questions?
The respondent answers specific questions about the topic with written comments ranging from a single word to multiple paragraphs (p. 111).
With surveys and questionnaires, what are scaled or forced-response questions?
These questions are designed so that the respondent pick a specific response from among a previously generated list; it is a form of quantitative data analysis (p. 111).
How can records and artifacts be used in Action Research?
Records and artifacts, like school records and assessment data, and classroom artifacts, can be used in AR to establish the historical perspective relative to the participant. Can also be used combined with other data sources to see the “big picture” or provide insights into previous performance (p. 112).
What is nominal data?
Nominal data is information that can be classified into categories and allows the researcher to provide frequency counts of the number of cases that fit into a particular category (p. 114).
