UNIT ONE

Question 1

Action research:

Answer 1

Systematic observations or tests of methods conducted by teachers or schools to improve teaching and learning for their students.

Question 2

Case study:

Answer 2

intensive study of one person or one situation

Question 3

Correlations:

Answer 3

statistical descriptions of how closely two variables are related

Question 4

Descriptive studies:

Answer 4

information about specific situations, often using observations, surveys, interviews, recordings or a combination of these methods

Question 5

Design-based research:

Answer 5

practitioners identify research questions based on problems of practice; then researchers gather and analyze the data to address those problems

Question 6

Educational psychology:

Answer 6

discipline concerned with teaching and learning processes; applies the methods and theories of psychology and has its own as well

Question 7

Empirical:

Answer 7

based on systematically collected data

Question 8

Ethnography:

Answer 8

descriptive approach to research that focuses on cultural life within a group and tries to understand the meaning of events to the people involved

Question 9

Experimentation:

Answer 9

research method in which variables are manipulated and the effects recorded

Question 10

Hypothesis/hypotheses:

Answer 10

prediction of what will happen in a research study based on theory and previous research

Question 11

Meta-analysis:

Answer 11

an integration and summary of many individual studies to synthesize the outcomes into one result that characterizes the findings from the studies

Question 12

Negative correlation:

Answer 12

relationship between two variables in which a high value on one is associated with a low value on the other (ex. Height and distance from top of head to ceiling)

Question 13

Participant observation:

Answer 13

method for conducting descriptive research in which the researcher becomes a participant in the situation in order to better understand life in that group

Question 14

Participants/subjects:

Answer 14

people or animals studied

Question 15

Positive correlation:

Answer 15

relationship between two variables in which the two increase or decrease together (ex. calorie intake and weight gain)

Question 16

Principle:

Answer 16

established relationship between factors

Question 17

Qualitative research:

Answer 17

exploratory research that attempts to understand the meaning of events to the participants involved using such methods as case studies, interviews, ethnography, participant observation, and other approaches that focus on few people in depth

Question 18

Quantitative research:

Answer 18

research that studies many participants in a more formal and controlled way using objective measures such as experimentation, statistical analyses, tests, and structured observations

Question 19

Quasi-experimental studies:

Answer 19

studies that fit most of the criteria for true experiments, with the important exception that the participants are not assigned to groups at random. Instead, existing groups such as classes or schools participate in the experiments

Question 20

Random:

Answer 20

without any definite pattern; following no rule

Question 21

Reflective:

Answer 21

thoughtful and inventive. These kinds of educators think back over situations to analyze what they did and why, and to consider how they might improve learning for their students

Question 22

Social and emotional learning (SEL):

Answer 22

The process of integrating thinking, emotion, and behavior into teaching and learning so that adults and children develop skills to be aware of themselves and others, learn to manage their own and others’ emotions and behavior, make responsible decisions, and build positive relationships

Question 23

Statistically significant:

Answer 23

not likely to be a chanceoccurrence

Question 24

Taxonomy:

Answer 24

classification system

Question 25

Teachers’ sense of efficacy:

Answer 25

teacher’s belief that he or she can reach even the most difficult students and help them learn

Question 26

Theory:

Answer 26

integrated statement of principles that attempts to explain a phenomenon and make predictions

Question 27

What Works Clearinghouse:

Answer 27

a service of the U.S. Institute of Educational Sciences that reviews the existing research on different programs, products, practices, and policies in education in order to provide educators with the information they need to make evidence-based decisions.