An Introduction to Educational Research
Connecting Methods to Practice
- Chad R. Lochmiller - Indiana University, Bloomington, USA
- Jessica N. Lester - Indiana University, USA
Research Methods in Education
Expand your understanding of educational research with this practice-first introduction.
Written specifically for education practitioners, An Introduction to Educational Research: Connecting Methods to Practice approaches research methods from a practice-first perspective that aligns research with professional experiences and identifies the tools and resources readers can use when conducting their own research. Throughout the book, the authors illuminate complex research concepts using problems of practice confronting educators to help readers make meaningful connections with key concepts and research practices. The authors present balanced coverage across research methodologies that is linked to practice, so readers clearly see research as a tool they can use to improve classrooms, schools, districts, and educational organizations.
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Supplements
The password-protected SAGE Edge Instructor Resource Site includes the following:
- A Microsoft® Word® test bank is available containing multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions for each chapter. The test bank provides you with a diverse range of pre-written options as well as the opportunity for editing any question and/or inserting your own personalized questions to effectively assess students’ progress and understanding.
- Editable, chapter-specific Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides offer you complete flexibility in easily creating a multimedia presentation for your course. Highlight essential content, features, and artwork from the book.
- Lecture notes summarize key concepts on a chapter-by-chapter basis to help with preparation for lectures and class discussions.
- Sample course syllabi for semester and quarter courses provide suggested models for structuring your courses.
- Carefully selected, web-based multimedia resources feature relevant interviews, lectures, personal stories, inquiries, and other content for use in independent or classroom-based explorations of key topics.
SAGE edge for students provides a personalized approach to help students accomplish their coursework goals in an easy-to-use learning environment.
- A customized online action plan allows you to track your progress and enhance your learning experience
- Learning objectives reinforce the most important material
- Mobile-friendly practice quizzes allow for independent assessment by students of their mastery of course material.
- Mobile-friendly eFlashcards strengthen understanding of key terms and concepts.
- Carefully selected, web-based video and multimedia resources feature relevant interviews, lectures, personal stories, inquiries, and other content for use in independent or classroom-based explorations of key topics.
- Meaningful web resources facilitate further exploration of topics
- EXCLUSIVE! Access to full-text SAGE journal articles that have been carefully selected to support and expand on the concepts presented in each chapter
“It is practical for teacher leaders and researchers.”
“The content is not overly complex but at the same time explains very important research method concepts”
“The “practice-first” approach is very productive and creative. I enjoyed this aspect very much.”
"Links to practice are useful and clear, and provide “anchoring points” for the concepts and content."
“The embedded activities, links, reflections, etc., in each chapter are excellent and hopefully, if used by the instructor/student, may lead to a deeper, richer class discussion.”
"Very specific and well-articulated vocabulary reviews at the end of each chapter."
“School leaders, teachers, and other educators wanting to learn more about how to conduct research on important topics that will improve their knowledge and practice will find this book to be incredibly beneficial. Chad Lochmiller and Jessica Lester provide numerous examples of relevant research questions, strategies for collecting qualitative and quantitative data, ethical considerations influencing researchers, and effective ways to prepare and disseminate research findings. By presenting complex ideas in very readable and understandable terms, the authors demystify research jargon and approaches to conducting educational research. By furnishing educators with a fresh perspective on the practice and utility of educational research, this book provides a useful and practical approach for data-driven decision making.”
“In writing this book, Lochmiller and Lester have made useful progress on an issue that long plagued education – the divide between worlds of research and practice. Having lived for a number of years in both of these worlds, I recognize that resources for teaching research practices and traditions to Ed. D. students are often not written to speak to the particular issues that education practitioners face. The authors have fulfilled the promise of creating a volume that truly addresses the “practitioner-scholar,” recognizing that the marriage of scholarly work traditions and the practice of education is necessary for those seeking to develop a deep understanding what happens in schools, defining and investigating problems of practice, and, ultimately, for imagining solutions that ensure schools and school systems work better for students. Along the way, the authors have incorporated practical exercises and regular opportunities for reflection on- and in- practice. This volume is a must read for those heading into leadership roles in schools and systems who want to incorporate a research-grounded frame, and who are interested in integrating research practices into their daily work. Well done!”
This text has been advised to all masters students- helping to clearly utline the core elements they must consider when planning their level 7 thesis.
This is text is simultaneously accessible and in-depth. The authors' iterative focus on basic design features of qualitative and quantitative data ensures that readers really absorb the information. They also provide well-timed "reflection opportunities" that students can use on their own or instructors can incorporate easily into their classroom activities or assessments. They provide a wealth of external resources--accessible to both students and teachers--to deepen learning about what it means to do research in educational settings. But what makes this text really stand out is its singular focus in its writing style and understanding of the audience. This text is truly geared toward (emergent) practitioner-scholars. I teach teachers, administrators, counselors and others already in the field; they want to know how to operationalize information about how to do research from Day 1. This is the text to help them do that.
Sage College Publishing
