Deck 13: Research in Action

Question 1

What are some potential data sources for the following topics?

Answer 1

$\bullet$ teacher mentoring
$\bullet$ administrative contracts
$\bullet$ student test scores
$\bullet$ policy requirements for classrooms
Responses will vary, and other topics may be substituted. The object is to ensure that students recognize participants in research as the source of information, and that it is essential to have the appropriate source in order to derive the right data for review.

Question 2

Design comparative studies for the following pairs of constructs:

Answer 2

$\bullet$ job satisfaction and salary
$\bullet$ time on task and pupil learning
$\bullet$ class size and student reading scores
$\bullet$ student teaching and first-year teachers
Once again, the results will vary, and the topics may be changed depending on the situation. The object is to ensure that students recognize distinct variables and identify ways that data may flow from these.

Question 3

Describe the contents of a research report based on:

Answer 3

$\bullet$ nterview data
$\bullet$ survey data
$\bullet$ budget analysis
$\bullet$ federal and state policy
Students should recognize that there are multiple data forms, including textual data that come from quotes from participants, numerical data from Likert-type scales, quantitative data from fiscal analyses, and historical data from published work such as laws and rules.

Question 4

Describe how data analysis may be used to support informed conclusions, and discuss how researchers may abuse data to reach unwarranted conclusions.