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Educational Research

This guide contains resources for educators.

What is educational research?

According to Gary Anderson and Nancy Arsenault, there are ten characteristics of educational research (2002).

  1. Educational research attempts to solve a problem.
  2. Research involves gathering new data from primary of first-hand sources or using existing data for a new purpose.
  3. Research is based upon observable experience or empirical evidence.
  4. Research demands accurate observation and description.
  5. Research generally employs carefully designed procedures and rigorous analysis.
  6. Research emphasizes the development of generalizations, principles or theories that will help in understanding, prediction and/or control.
  7. Research requires expertise- familiarity with the field; competence in methodology; technical skill in collecting and analyzing data.
  8. Research attempts to find an objective, unbiased solution to the problem and takes great pains to validate the procedures employed.
  9. Research is a deliberate but unhurried activity which is directional but often refines the problem or questions as the research progresses.
  10. Research is carefully recorded and reported to other persons interested in the problem.