UNIT ONE Flashcards
Action research:
Systematic observations or tests of methods conducted by teachers or schools to improve teaching and learning for their students.
Case study:
intensive study of one person or one situation
Correlations:
statistical descriptions of how closely two variables are related
Descriptive studies:
information about specific situations, often using observations, surveys, interviews, recordings or a combination of these methods
Design-based research:
practitioners identify research questions based on problems of practice; then researchers gather and analyze the data to address those problems
Educational psychology:
discipline concerned with teaching and learning processes; applies the methods and theories of psychology and has its own as well
Empirical:
based on systematically collected data
Ethnography:
descriptive approach to research that focuses on cultural life within a group and tries to understand the meaning of events to the people involved
Experimentation:
research method in which variables are manipulated and the effects recorded
Hypothesis/hypotheses:
prediction of what will happen in a research study based on theory and previous research
Meta-analysis:
an integration and summary of many individual studies to synthesize the outcomes into one result that characterizes the findings from the studies
Negative correlation:
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)
Participant observation:
method for conducting descriptive research in which the researcher becomes a participant in the situation in order to better understand life in that group
Participants/subjects:
people or animals studied
Positive correlation:
relationship between two variables in which the two increase or decrease together (ex. calorie intake and weight gain)
Principle:
established relationship between factors
Qualitative research:
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
Quantitative research:
research that studies many participants in a more formal and controlled way using objective measures such as experimentation, statistical analyses, tests, and structured observations
Quasi-experimental studies:
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
Random:
without any definite pattern; following no rule
Reflective:
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
Social and emotional learning (SEL):
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
Statistically significant:
not likely to be a chanceoccurrence
Taxonomy:
classification system
Teachers’ sense of efficacy:
teacher’s belief that he or she can reach even the most difficult students and help them learn
Theory:
integrated statement of principles that attempts to explain a phenomenon and make predictions
What Works Clearinghouse:
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.
