Understanding Research Methods: An Overview of the Essentials,9781884585524

Understanding Research Methods: An Overview of the Essentials

by Patten, Mildred L.

Edition: 4th

ISBN13: 9781884585524

ISBN10: 1884585523

Format: Paperback

Pub. Date: 2003-10-01

Publisher(s): Pyrczak Pub

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Table of Contents

Introduction to the Fourth Edition

v

Part A Introduction to Research Methods

1

(28)

Introduction to Empirical Research

3

(2)

Experimental vs. Nonexperimental Studies

5

(2)

Experimental vs. Causal-Comparative Studies

7

(2)

Types of Nonexperimental Research

9

(2)

Variables in Nonexperimental Studies

11

(2)

Variables in Experimental Studies

13

(2)

Research Hypotheses, Purposes, and Questions

15

(2)

Operational Definitions of Variables

17

(2)

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research: I

19

(2)

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research: II

21

(2)

Program Evaluation

23

(2)

Ethical Considerations in Research

25

(2)

The Role of Theory in Research

27

(2)

Part B Reviewing Literature

29

(14)

Reasons for Reviewing Literature

31

(2)

Locating Literature Electronically

33

(2)

Organizing a Literature Review

35

(2)

Writing a Literature Review

37

(4)

Citing References

41

(2)

Part C Sampling

43

(14)

Biased and Unbiased Sampling

45

(2)

Simple Random and Systematic Sampling

47

(2)

Stratified Random Sampling

49

(2)

Other Methods of Sampling

51

(2)

Introduction to Sample Size

53

(2)

A Closer Look at Sample Size

55

(2)

Part D Measurement

57

(26)

Introduction to Validity

59

(2)

Judgmental Validity

61

(2)

Empirical Validity

63

(4)

Judgmental--Empirical Validity

67

(4)

Reliability and Its Relationship to Validity

71

(4)

Measures of Reliability

75

(2)

Norm- and Criterion-Referenced Tests

77

(2)

Measures of Optimum Performance

79

(2)

Measures of Typical Performance

81

(2)

Part E Experimental Design

83

(12)

True Experimental Designs

85

(2)

Threats to Internal Validity

87

(2)

Threats to External Validity

89

(2)

Pre-Experimental Designs

91

(2)

Quasi-Experimental Designs

93

(2)

Part F Understanding Statistics

95

(32)

Descriptive and Inferential Statistics

97

(2)

Introduction to the Null Hypothesis

99

(2)

Scales of Measurement

101

(2)

Descriptions of Nominal Data

103

(2)

Introduction to the Chi Square Test

105

(2)

A Closer Look at the Chi Square Test

107

(2)

Shapes of Distributions

109

(2)

The Mean, Median, and Mode

111

(2)

The Mean and Standard Deviation

113

(2)

The Median and Interquartile Range

115

(2)

The Pearson Correlation Coefficient

117

(2)

The t Test

119

(2)

One-Way Analysis of Variance

121

(2)

Two-Way Analysis of Variance

123

(2)

Practical Significance of Results

125

(2)

Part G Effect Size and Meta-Analysis

127

(42)

Introduction to Effect Size (d)

129

(2)

Interpretation of Effect Size (d)

131

(2)

Effect Size and Correlation (r)

133

(2)

Introduction to Meta-Analysis

135

(2)

Meta-Analysis and Effect Size

137

(2)

Meta-Analysis: Strengths and Weaknesses

139

(30)

Appendices

A. Examining the Validity Structure of Qualitative Research

141

(8)

B. Excerpts from Literature Reviews

149

(4)

C. Electronic Databases for Locating Literature

153

(2)

D. Electronic Sources of Statistical Information

155

(6)

E. Other Methods of Determining Reliability

161

(2)

F. A Closer Look at the Standard Deviation

163

(2)

G. A Closer Look at Effect Size

165

(2)

Tables

1. Table of Random Numbers

167

(1)

2. Table of Recommended Sample Sizes

168

(1)

Index

169