Edu 300 Lecture 2

EUCATIONAL RESEARCH –
1). WHAT IS IT?

2). WHY WE CONDUCT IT?
3). TYPES OF RESEARCH AND
4). RESEARCH APPROACH
MATE J. L
KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY
20/12/22
What is research?
• We saw that research means
• To find out
• To look for
• To examine
• To explore
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
• Several scholars give different meanings and
definitions to educational research. This is the main
focus of us as teachers/ educators in the teaching
fraternity.
• It is the collection and analysis of information in the
world of education for a) searching after truths b)
practioners’ inquiry of theory and practice in
education and c) policy makers

Few examples make this point clearer:
• Crawford states that educational research is a
systematic and refined technique of thinking, employing
specialized tools, instruments and procedure in order to
obtain a more adequate solution of an educational
problem.
• And that Educational research is a careful inquiry or
examination in the education field seeking to find out
facts, trends, problems, effects of some factors on
educational aspects such as teaching methods, teacher
education/training, students/learner performance,
learners and the learning process; classroom practices
or school dynamics and principles.
• It is a diligent investigation to ascertain some situation
or phenomenon of educational nature.

WHY CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
• There are three main reasons why we conduct
educational research though this does not mean that
the reasons are completely restricted to these three
only as indicated below the three main reasons
• To explore issues including funding in education and
specific questions such as” if there is a relationship
between coaching and educational attainment of
young people”
• To shape policy – this type of educational research
is conducted to collect information that can be used
to make judgments in making policies or to find out
the impact of any particular policy
• To improve practice – trying to do something better
than how it is done presently such improving
learners’ behaviours, improving access to education
or improving the quality of education, or improving
quality with little resources and indeed improving
teachers’ effectiveness in their teaching.
THERE ARE SEVERAL SOURCES PROBLEMS IN
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
• Since any research must have an identified problem,
one may ask; where do we find problems for
educational research?
• Curriculum development & implementation issues
• Human resource issues in schools & other institutions
of learning
• Financing in schools & other institutions of learning
• Teacher professionalism
• Teacher recruitment
• Out of school children
• Disciplinary issues
• Education, colonialism and decolonisation
• Special & inclusive education
• Teacher competencies
• Teaching methods
• Curriculum and current trends and demands
• Learner performance
• School-community relationships
• Teacher performance
• Schools’ local policies, e.t.c.

FUNCTIONS AND IMPORTANT OF RESEARCH
• Research has proved to be an essential and powerful
tool in leading man towards progress in all areas of
human Endeavour. Without systematic research and
its application, there would have been very little
economic, social, political and scientific development
(Sidhu, 2003).
• It is important to note that functions and
importance of research are one and the same. For
instance;
• Research is directed towards finding a solution of a
problem.
• Research help in the development of generalizations,
principles and theories that help in predicting future
occurrences.
• Research adds to the existing knowledge in an orderly
way.
• The knowledge which accrues from research is
verifiable. Thus the process by which research
knowledge is derived is replicable.
• All significant research leads to progress in one field
of life or the other e.g. in the education sector etc.
• Research shows us the way in our difficulties. It
opens new avenues and provides better alternatives.
• Research results are evident in the form of cure for
diseases considered earlier as incurable, machines
capable to replace man, green revolution, taming of
rivers, diverse methods and techniques for every
profession, scientific understanding of human
behavior, knowledge explosion and other latest
developments.
• The goal of research is always progress and good
quality life.
• Research enhances the efficiency of all agencies
engaged in the welfare and uplifting of mankind.
• Research is the only credible basis for making
rational decisions – (policies) by governments,
organizations and individuals.
TYPES OF RESEARCH
• Basic, pure or academic research – research mostly
conducted as in partial fulfilment of educational
institutions for an award of a qualification such as a
certificate, diploma or degree.
• Applied research – practical research designed to
solve a specific human problem such as improving
seeds in agriculture, finding a cure of a given disease
in medicines or improving the speed of a given means
of transportation in civil engineering.
• Action research – research conducted by a
professional in his or her professional field and
working environment to solve a problem related to
that persons work and working environment and
provision of a better service to clients.

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EUCATIONAL RESEARCH –

1). WHAT IS IT?

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