Nce - Research & Program Evaluation (10%)

Front 1

Inductive Research

Back 1

This research begins at the real world, practical level. It tends to be more descriptive, correlational, or historical and leads to the building of theory.

Front 2

Deductive Research

Back 2

This research springs from a theory which is already establishing. This research tries to determine what the relationships are between elements of the theory and may be experimental in nature.

Front 3

Survey

Back 3

Quantitative, non-experimental. May occur thru questionnaires, interview, etc. and is use to measure attitudes, perceptions, etc. Often the response rate of survey research is low, below 50%. Unless you know that the characteristics of the non-respondents are similar to the respondents, you must be cautious in generalizing.

Front 4

Descriptive research

Back 4

Quantitative, non-experimental. Simply describes an existing state of events. Numbers may be used to characterize groups or individuals.

Front 5

Comparative research

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Quantitative, non-experimental. Investigates whether there are differences between two or more groups. There is no manipulation of conditions experience by each group.

Front 6

Correlational research

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Quantitative, non-experimental. Uses the correlation coefficient to determine the degree of relationship between two or more variables or phenomena.

Front 7

Ex Post Facto (Causal Comparative)

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Quantitative, non-experimental. Studies possible causal relationships among variables after the fact (ex post facto). You do not manipulate any of the variables; the focus is on what has already happened. You may generate several reasons (causes) for the relationships you discover. (Typical stats used in ex post facto is the t-test and the ANOVA)

Front 8

True experiment

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Quantitative, Experimental. Characterized by the use of experimental and control groups with random assignment to each; use to determine cause-and-effect relationships.

Front 9

Experimental design variations

Back 9

txt and control with posttest only

txt and control with pre and post test

two different txt groups with control group and posttest, etc.

Front 10

Quasi-experiment

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Quantitative, Experimental. Similar to experimental research except that randomization of subjects to treatment and control groups is not possible.

Front 11

Qualitative research

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Emphasizes gathering data about naturally occurring phenomena (individual's and group' living experiences) and events.

Front 12

Case Study

Back 12

Qualitative, Interactive. The case may be a program, activity, or a set of individuals who are bounded in time and place.

Front 13

Ethnography

Back 13

Qualitative, Interactive. A description and interpretation of a cultural or social group or system. Data is typically collected through observation and interviewing. The issue of observer bias is important.

Front 14

Analytical research

Back 14

Qualitative, non-interactive. Conducted primarily through document analysis. May be historical, biographical, or legal analysis.

Front 15

Mixed-method research design

Back 15

These designs combine quantitative and qualitative methods in the same research effort. Typically, these designs are used sequentially.