Research is a significant part of all work done in education as it relates to the development of policies and procedures
Research is a significant part of all work done in education, particularly as it relates to the development of policies and procedures. The two major types of research are quantitative research and qualitative research. For this week's discussion, please respond to the following:
Educational research drives policy development for K-12 and Higher Education environments. Discuss how research is used both in K-12 and in Higher Education. Support your discussion with information from our text, The American Education Policy Landscape, and additional resources as appropriate.
Sample Solution
Educational research is the systematic study of how people learn and how teaching and learning can be improved. It is used to inform policy development in both K-12 and higher education.
There are two major types of educational research: quantitative research and qualitative research.
- Quantitative research uses statistical methods to collect and analyze data. This type of research is often used to test hypotheses about the relationship between variables, such as the relationship between student achievement and teacher quality.
Full Answer Section
- Qualitative research uses non-statistical methods to collect and analyze data. This type of research is often used to understand the experiences of individuals or groups, such as the experiences of students in a particular classroom.
- To identify effective practices:Â Educational research can be used to identify practices that are effective in improving student learning. For example, research has shown that early childhood education can have a positive impact on student achievement.
- To evaluate programs and policies:Â Educational research can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and policies. For example, research has been used to evaluate the No Child Left Behind Act.
- To make decisions about resources:Â Educational research can be used to make decisions about how to allocate resources, such as how to distribute funds for teacher training.
- To improve teaching and learning:Â Educational research can be used to improve teaching and learning by providing teachers with information about effective practices. For example, research has shown that teachers who use formative assessment are more likely to have students who achieve at high levels.
- The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): NCES is a federal agency that collects and analyzes data on education. NCES publishes a variety of reports on educational research, including reports on the effectiveness of educational programs and policies.
- The American Educational Research Association (AERA): AERA is a professional organization for educational researchers. AERA publishes a number of journals and books on educational research.