| Summary, etc |
"Research Methods is a new edition of An Introduction to Research Methods written in 1984 by the same authors. basic features and contents of the 1984 version have been retained since the authors consider them as classics in research.<br/>"Research Agenda for Graduate Students in Education" written by Ochave has been added to the new edition. Realizing the difficulty in choosing problems for research, Ochave, in this article, intends to guide graduate schools in identifying areas and topics for research. The various agenda he proposes end up in a research grid from which problems or topics may be chosen. Thus, students will find it easy to select problems for their theses or dissertations.<br/>Another area appended in this book is "Theoretical/Conceptual Framework", a subject matter that has long been invariably used in theses and dissertations but has not been elucidated as a distinct topic in books of research. it is not to be taken that the first edition of this book did not discuss the theoretical/conceptual basis of a thesis problem. In fact, Chapter Two of the 1984 issue was fully devoted to the theoretical/conceptual framework of a problem, only it was not labeled as such.<br/>The "Theoretical/Conceptual Framework", is a distinct topic in the new edition treats mainly of this area. It explains and illuminates what really it is. Three styles of presenting the theoretical/conceptual framework are included in this topic. Examples of theses and dissertations carrying each style are presented for the purpose of exemplifying the theoretical/conceptual framework of the problem.<br/>In the 1984 text, "Participatory Research" was presented as a separate chapter. in the new text, participatory research is discussed as one of the alternative research methods, the others being indigenous research methods and ethnographic research methods.<br/>By and large, the authors' objective in revising the book is to provide additional subject matter for the purpose of making the material a more credible piece of work.<br/>Research Methods is intended for use in the undergraduate and graduate schools. Although it is for these levels, it has been observed that some high school classes have used the book in their elective courses in research. <br/>In this revision, suggestions from teachers of research and statistics have been considered.<br/>Some topics we have retained are the following: research and the problem of investigation, theory and the review of related literature, research methods, sampling techniques, data collection methods, selecting appropriate statistical techniques, writing the report and the term paper, and writing abstracts.<br/>This book is our modest attempt to present and interpret research the way we understand it based on our intensive-extensive readings and on our own experiences in teaching research, statistics, and psychology; in advising undergraduate and graduate students doing their baby theses, theses and dissertations, respectively; an on our ow experiences doing individual and group research.<br/>We hope that you will be able to sue this book to the fullest. We wish you happy, gainful, and worthwhile reading." |
