INTRODUCTION TO

RESEARCH
METHODS IN
EDUCATION
Dr. H. Amuthenu
Learning objectives :
Upon completing this unit students will be able to:
• Define research and educational research
• Discuss the significance of educational research.
• Discuss key qualities of a good research.
• Explain the research process and its stages.
• Differentiate a research proposal from a research
project.
• Examine ethical procedures and expain the
significance of it in research.
 What is research in
general?
• Research can be referred to as a systematic way of answering
questions about the world.
• It is aimed at :
• developing knowledge for processes of discovering new ideas or innovations;
• developing an understanding of the natural laws governing the universe;
• commitment to pursuing and achieving scientific excellence, and;
• the pursuit of scientific and technological advantages which will improve the
welfare of mankind.
• Research is the process of finding solutions to a problem after a
thorough study and analysis of the situational factors.
• Research can take place in many settings ; in the
laboratories , classrooms, libraries , in streets and
villages etc..
 What is Educational
research?
• Educational Research is the systematic application of scientific
method for solving for solving educational problem.
• Individuals or group evaluate different aspects of education
including students learning, teaching methods, teacher training
and classroom dynamics.
• Although it the horizon keeps expanding educational research
scope includes :
individuals (Student, teachers, educational managers, parents.)
- institutions (Schools, colleges, research – institutes)
Educational Research Characterizes as follows

- Educational research involves a systematic and structured

process of inquiry into various aspects of education .
- It deals with educational problems regarding students and
teachers as well to seeks a solution.
- It includes : Educational Institutions , Educational Policy Makers ,
Funding Agencies, Parents and Guardians , teachers,
administrators, parents, and other stakeholders in the education
system.
 Research Key Concepts
• Methodology and methods have been used interchangeable by many
researchers. However they are different .
• A methodology is a general approach to practice : The two main types of
research methodologies namely qualitative research methodology and
quantitative research methodology or mixed methodology .
• Methods are the actual processes and procedures used when working within
a given Research methods are the various procedures, schemes, algorithms,
etc. used in research.
• All the methods used by a researcher during a research study are termed as
research methods. They are essentially planned, scientific and value-neutral.
Significance of educational research
 Explore an educational problem, so as to make further research
and find possible solution;
 Provide the needed information that guides educational
stakeholders to make informed decisions to successfully deal with
problems.
 Explain the social life of learners and teachers by providing
reliable, well-documented information;
 Evaluate social issues and their effect on learners and teachers;
 Understand human behaviour (students’ and teachers’) and
action in educational settings.
Importance of educational research
 Understand human behaviour (students’ and teachers’) and action
in educational settings;
 Develop and/or test educational theories or assess their relevant at
percentage times.
 Improve educational practice through applied research.
• Contributing to the further research and theory development; and
• Research could be used as a reflective practice by educators.
• Research informs policy debates in education and Adds to
knowledge in research
Thus, Educational Research overall purpose is to solve educational problem
in systematic and scientific manner, it is to understand, explain, predict and
control human behaviour.
 Key qualities of a good research
• Empirical:this means that any conclusions drawn are
based upon hard evidence gathered from information
collected from real life experiences or observations
• Systematic :refers to something that is characterized by a
structured, methodical, and organized approach
• Logical: The consistency of the research and extent to
which studies can be replicated (internal and external)
• Valid and verifiable - this concept implies that
whatever you conclude on the basis of your findings
is correct and can be verified by you and others
• Critical: critical scrutiny of the procedures used and the
methods employed is crucial to a research enquiry.
• The process adopted and the procedures used must be able to
withstand critical scrutiny.
• Timely
• Use of multiple methods OR Multiple sources to triangulate the data
 Research process/steps

Analyse
Review Design
Data
Define Previous Research Collect Interpret
Formulate (Test
Research Research (Including Data and
hypothesis Hypothesis
Problem findings Sample (Execution) report
if any)
Design)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
 Process explained
1:Define Research problem: Educational research start with the selection of a
problem that the researcher identifies from the area or field of is interest.
2. Review of related literature: In this section researcher concentrates on
studies conducted in the area of interest, What is so far known about the
problem under investigation. Generally theoretical / conceptual frame work is
already reported in earlier section.
3. In formulating hypothesis: The researcher should keep in mind that the
hypotheses are tentative generalization about the nature of the difficulty
under consideration, calling attention to fundamental relationship or possible
solution.
4.The methods to be used: Selection of research method to be used is of
utmost importance in the research process. It refers to the general strategy
followed in collecting and analyzing the data necessary for solving of the
problem.
5. Data collection: Whereas the research method describes the overall
approach to the problem, this step concerned with the procedures
and techniques to be adopted for data collection.
6. Analyze data : Good research is characterized by the care taken in
the analysis and interpretation of data. It includes the selection of
appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques to be used for
processing the data collected for the study.
7. Interpret and Report: This is the last and important step of the
educational research process. It is characterized by interpreting the
data and carefully formulating conclusions.
 Check your Progress Questions
(1) What is meant by Educational Research?
(2) What is the need of Educational Research?
(3) State the purpose of Education Research?
 The role of a research
• Research involves a systematic inquiry into a specific topic,
issue, or question to generate new insights, expand existing
knowledge, or validate existing theories.
• It contributes to the development of various disciplines,
informs decision-making, and addresses real-world
problems.
• Research can be broadly categorized into different types,
including basic research that seeks to expand theoretical
understanding and applied research that aims to solve
practical problems.
 The role of a researcher
• Researcher: A researcher is an individual who actively engages in the
process of research. Their roles and responsibilities include:
• Defining Objectives: Researchers determine the objectives and scope
of the study. They formulate research questions or hypotheses that
guide the investigation.
• Literature Review: Researchers review existing literature to
understand what has already been studied, identify gaps in
knowledge, and build a foundation for their research.
• Designing the Study: Researchers decide on the research methods,
such as qualitative or quantitative approaches, surveys, experiments,
case studies, etc. They design the research protocol, including data
collection methods and tools.
• Data Collection: Researchers gather relevant data using appropriate
methods, which may involve surveys, interviews, observations,
experiments, or analyzing existing datasets.
• Data Analysis: Researchers process and analyze the collected data to
extract meaningful insights. This may involve statistical analysis,
coding qualitative data, or applying specialized techniques.
• Interpretation: Researchers interpret the analyzed data to draw
conclusions that address the research questions or hypotheses. They
relate the findings to existing knowledge and theoretical frameworks.
• Drawing Conclusions: Researchers summarize their findings and
discuss their implications. They reflect on the significance of the
results and their potential contributions to the field.
• Ethics and Integrity: Researchers adhere to ethical guidelines,
ensuring that their work respects the rights and well-being of
participants and upholds research integrity.
• Continuous Learning: Research is an ongoing process, and
researchers often engage in continuous learning to stay updated with
the latest advancements in their field.
• Communication: Researchers disseminate their findings through
various channels, including academic publications, presentations,
conferences, and reports.
Research proposal Vs Research project

• The proposal is like the blue print which the

architect designs before construction of a
house.
• It conveys the plan of entire research work
along with justification of conducting the
same.
• Research proposal serves as a plan of action.
• It conveys researcher and others as to how
study will be conducted. There is indication
of time schedule and budget estimates in
the proposal which guides researcher to
complete the task in time with in sanctioned
budget.
PURPOSE OF Research PROPOSAL
(i) It communicates researcher‘s plan to all others interested. Thereby
serving as a plan of action.
(ii) Timeline: It provides a timeline or schedule for the research project,
including key milestones and deadlines.
(iii) This helps in planning and managing the research process effectively.
(iv) Its presentation before experts provide further rethinking on the
entire work.
(v) Resource Allocation: It estimates the resources required for the
research, including funding, equipment, materials, and personnel.
This is crucial for budgeting and securing necessary resources.
(vi) Ethical Considerations: The proposal addresses ethical considerations,
especially when research involves human participants.
 Research project/report
• While a research project is the final
report that communicate the results
of a scientific investigation to an
intended audience.
• It presents also the conclusions and
recommendations derived from the
factual information presented.
• Introduce students to the templates
for proposal and project.
Ethics in Research
The researchers by all means
have to protect the participants
from:
a. Physical
b. Emotions/psychologic
and;
c. Social harm
 The rationale and the strategies to ensure
ethics
• Hence, ethics are value systems and acceptable standards applicable
to a society group of people that researchers consider in the conduct
of their research projects.
• These are Norms for conduct that distinguish between acceptable
and unacceptable behavior in conducting empirical studies.
• Participants should be comfortable throughout the whole study.
• Ethics is student’s assignment
• END OF UNIT 1 NOTES