EDU 223 Research Methods

  EDU 223 Research Methods for NCE 3 Student

Course Overview 

This course equips future educators with foundational research skills to investigate educational challenges, design studies, and apply evidence-based solutions in teaching contexts.  

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will:  

1. Understand research principles and methodologies.  

2. Design and execute educational research projects.  

3. Apply ethical standards in data collection and analysis.  

4. Write structured research reports.  

Course Modules 

Module 1: Introduction to Educational Research

Key Concepts:  

  - Purpose of research in education.  

  - Types of research: Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods.  

  - Formulating research questions/hypotheses (e.g., "How does peer tutoring impact student performance in math?").  

Module 2: Research Design

- Key Concepts:  

  - Experimental, Correlational, Case Study, and Action Research designs.  

  - Sampling techniques (Random, Stratified, Convenience).  

  - Variables: Independent vs. Dependent.  

Module 3: Data Collection

- Methods:  

  - Surveys (e.g., Likert-scale questionnaires on teacher attitudes).  

  - Interviews (structured/semi-structured).  

  - Observations (e.g., classroom behavior tracking).  

- Tools: Questionnaires, checklists, audio recordings.  

Module 4: Data Analysis 

- Quantitative: Descriptive stats (mean, SD), t-tests, Excel/SPSS.  

- Qualitative: Thematic analysis, coding.  

- Common Pitfalls: Sampling bias, confirmation bias.  

Module 5: Ethics in Research 

- Principles: Informed consent, confidentiality, avoiding harm.  

- Case Study: Ethical dilemmas in researching minors.  

Module 6: Report Writing 

- Structure: Abstract, Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion.  

- Referencing: APA style guidelines.  

Practical Applications  

1. Design a Proposal: Outline a study on "Impact of Technology on Student Engagement."  

2. Peer Review: Evaluate classmates’ research questions for clarity.  

3. Data Simulation: Analyze a sample dataset using Excel.  

Assessment**  

- Quizzes: MCQs on research terminology.  

- Assignments: Literature review on a chosen topic.  

- Final Project: Full research report (proposal to analysis).  

Resources  

- Textbooks: Educational Research by Creswell; *Research Methods in Education* by Cohen.  

- Software: SPSS, Google Forms, NVivo (qualitative).  

- Online: JSTOR, ERIC, APA Style Blog.  

Glossary 

- Hypothesis: Testable prediction about variables.  

- Validity/Reliability: Accuracy and consistency of measurements.  

- Confounding Variable: External factor affecting results.