Chapter 1

Question 1

Research

Answer 1

Systematic investigation using appropriate methodologies to provide justified answers to questions about our world

Question 2

Abstract

Answer 2

A summary of what is in an article; a brief description of the essential characteristics of the study

Question 3

Basic Research

Answer 3

Research aimed at generating fundamental knowledge and theoretical understanding about basic human and other natural processes

Question 4

Applied Research

Answer 4

Research focused on answering practical questions to provide relatively immediate solutions

Question 5

Evaluation

Answer 5

Determining the worth, merit, or quality of an evaluation object

Question 6

Formative Evaluation

Answer 6

Evaluation focused on improving the evaluation object

Question 7

Summative Evaluation

Answer 7

Evaluation focused on determining the overall effectiveness and usefulness of the evaluation object

Question 8

Theory Failure

Answer 8

A program performs poorly because it is based on a weak or faulty program theory

Question 9

Implementation Failure

Answer 9

A program performs poorly because it is not implemented correctly

Question 10

Action Research

Answer 10

Applied research focused on solving practitioners’ local problems

Question 11

Orientational/Critical Theory Research

Answer 11

Research explicitly done for the purpose of advancing an ideological position or orientation

Question 12

Epistemology

Answer 12

The branch of philosophy dealing with knowledge and its justification

The study of knowledge—including its nature, how it is gained or generated, how it is warranted, and the standards that are used to judge its adequacy—is known as epistemology.

Question 13

Empiricism

Answer 13

The idea that knowledge comes from experience

Empiricism is the idea that all knowledge comes from experience. We learn by observing, and when we observe, we rely on our sensory perception.

Question 14

Empirical

Answer 14

Empirical is a fancy word meaning “based on observation, experiment, or experience.”

Question 15

Deductive Reasoning

Answer 15

The process of drawing a conclusion that is necessarily true if the premises are true

Major Premise: All schoolteachers are mortal.

Minor Premise: John is a schoolteacher.

Conclusion: Therefore, John is mortal.

Question 16

Inductive Reasoning

Answer 16

Inductive reasoning is the form of reasoning in which the premises “provide good reasons, but not conclusive reasons to accept the conclusion” (Salmon, 2007, p. 79).

The process of drawing a conclusion that is “probably” true

Question 17

Science

Answer 17

An approach for the generation of knowledge

Question 18

Quantitative Research

Answer 18

A researcher who focuses on testing theories and hypotheses using quantitative data to see if they are confirmed or not

quantitative researchers (i.e., educational researchers who like “hard” quantitative data, such as standardized test results, and focus on hypothesis testing).

Question 19

Qualitative Research

Answer 19

A researcher who focuses on exploration, description, and understanding of subjective meanings and sometimes the generation and construction of theories using qualitative data

Question 20

Principle of Evidence

Answer 20

The philosophical idea that empirical research provides evidence, not proof

Question 21

Pseudoscience

Answer 21

Pseudoscience Any set of beliefs or practices that purport to be scientific but are not

Question 22

Anonymous Review

Answer 22

Anonymous review of book and article manuscripts by experts for scientific accuracy and merit