Foundations of Educational Research
What is ontology, and how do realists and relativists differ in their views of truth?
Ontology studies what exists. Realists believe truth is objective and measurable, while relativists view truth as subjective and context-dependent.
What kind of data would be collected in a phenomenological study of student burnout?
Narratives, interviews, or reflective journals exploring lived experiences.
What is the basic structure of an action research cycle?
Plan → Act → Observe → Reflect.
What is social desirability bias, and how can it affect student surveys?
It's when students respond in a way they think is socially acceptable, not truthful, skewing results.
What is the purpose of coding qualitative data?
To organize and interpret textual data into meaningful categories.
What is the difference between "ontology" and "epistemology"?
Ontology concerns the nature of reality; epistemology concerns how we know what we know.
Why would a mixed methods approach be ideal for evaluating a new classroom strategy?
It combines statistical trends with contextual understanding, offering comprehensive insights.
Why is failing to engage in teacher inquiry considered unethical by some scholars?
It can perpetuate ineffective practices and neglect students' evolving needs.
How is triangulation done to enhance the validity of a study?
By using multiple data sources/methods to confirm findings.
Name and describe two common types of qualitative data in the classroom.
Interviews and classroom observations — both offer rich, contextualized information
Give one example each of a realist and relativist position in education.
Realist: Standardized testing reflects objective knowledge. Relativist: Student experience is subjective and culturally constructed.
List three types of data that represent quantitative measurement in education.
Test scores, attendance records, survey ratings
Design a sample research question using the recommended action-outcome-context formula.
How does implementing weekly student self-assessments impact motivation in a Grade 10 English class?
Explain how blinding can reduce observer bias in teacher-led research.
Blinding ensures observers are unaware of the study's hypotheses, reducing bias in data collection.
Why is analyzing student exit slips useful in practitioner inquiry?
They provide immediate feedback and insights into learning or emotional states.
Why is generalizability a challenge in educational research?
Educational settings are context-specific and often not replicable across diverse populations.
Explain how a narrative study can contribute to our understanding of student experiences.
It highlights personal stories and meaning-making processes, providing deep insight into motivations and challenges.
How does Lewin's Change Model inform action research in schools?
It emphasizes unfreezing current practices, introducing changes, and refreezing them into routine.
A rubric used by two teachers gives different scores for the same student. What type of reliabilty does the rubric have?
It suggests low inter-rater reliability, indicating inconsistency between evaluators.
What are the purposes of quantitative research in education?
It "tracks changes over time in outcomes or behaviors (e.g., math scores and new teaching methods)" and helps "make informed decisions by providing clear evidence" (e.g., policy success rates).
Compare and contrast "etic" and "emic" perspectives in qualitative research.
Etic is the outsider's view, often structured; emic is the insider's perspective, grounded in participants' lived experiences.
What are two key differences between qualitative and quantitative research approaches? Give exmaples from your research in your classroom (it coudl be hypothetical)
Qualitative explores depth through words/subjective experiences; quantitative measures breadth through numbers/objective data.
Differentiate between Action Research and Design-Based Research in terms of purpose and application.
Action research focuses on improving practice in situ; DBR involves iterative design and theory-building.
Give two examples of how confirmation bias can occur during classroom observation.
Example. The teacher is focusing on behaviours that support their hypothesis and ignoring other evidence.
Explain how coding transforms raw qualitative data into meaningful themes, using examples from classroom observation notes.
Coding analyzes raw data (e.g., observation notes) by labeling key phrases (e.g., "student sighed" → "frustration"), then grouping these codes into broader themes (e.g., "engagement challenges") to reveal patterns.