1. Introduction to Educational Research Chapter 1

2. Why Study Educational Research? It can be interesting and beneficial Learn how to find evidence, not proof Help understand and critique information acquired via the media Learn that not all research is created equal

3. Areas of Educational Research America Education Research Association is largest association in the field of education is composed of individuals in all niches of education

4. Examples of Educational Research Abstract An abstract is a brief summary of what is included in the article Give a brief overview of the main ideas within the study that include: The purpose of the study How the researchers studied the phenomenon What the major results were

5. General Kinds of Research

6. Sources of Knowledge Epistemology is 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

7. John Locke the Empiricist https://resourcesforhistoryteachers.wikispaces.com/file/view/john-locke.jpg , 2009 Sources of Knowledge Empiricism is the idea that knowledge comes from experience

8. The Rationalist Rene Descartes http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/GeneralInterest/Key/descartes.jpg, 2009 Sources of Knowledge Rationalism is the philosophical idea that reason is the primary source of knowledge

9. Fun Fact: Rene Descartes and Frank Zappa are Twins http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/GeneralInterest/Key/descartes.jpg, 2009 http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff253/douglasbass/FrankZappa.jpg, 2009

10. Sources of Knowledge

11. Dynamics of Science Science is progressive because when researchers conduct new research studies, they try to build on and extend current research theories and results Science is also dynamic and open to new ideas and hypotheses, which may become new theories Science is a never-ending process that includes rational thinking, the reliance on empirical observation, constant peer evaluation and critique, and active creativity and attempts at discovery.

12. Basic Assumptions in Science There is a world that can be studied. Some of the world is unique; some of it is regular or patterned or predictable; and much of it is dynamic and complex The unique, the regular, and the complex in the world all can be examined and studied by researchers Researchers should try to follow certain agree-on norms and practices It is impossible to distinguish between more and less plausible claims and between good and poor research Science cannot provide answers to all questions

13. Scientific Method

14. Theory A theory is an explanation or an explanatory system that discusses how a phenomenon operates and why it operates as it does