Chapter 2

Key Concepts

1. Research Problems and Hypotheses

Example: Students who use interactive technology in the classroom will have higher engagement levels than those who do not.

Research Problem: A research problem is a specific issue, difficulty, contradiction, or gap in knowledge that you aim to address through your study.

Example: Investigating the impact of technology on student engagement in high school classrooms.

Hypotheses: Hypotheses are testable predictions about the relationship between two or more variables.

Example: Students who use interactive technology in the classroom will have higher engagement levels than those who do not.

2. Literature Review

Synthesize Findings: Summarize and integrate the findings from various sources to build a coherent narrative.

Purpose: The literature review provides a comprehensive overview of existing research related to your topic. It helps to identify gaps in the current knowledge and justify the need for your study.

Process:

Identify Sources: Use academic databases to find relevant articles, books, and reports.

Evaluate Sources: Assess the credibility and relevance of each source.

3. Research Questions

  • Definition: Research questions are specific questions that guide your study. They should be clear, focused, and researchable.
    • Example: How does the use of interactive technology affect student engagement in high school classrooms?
  • Types:
    • Descriptive: Describe characteristics or functions.
    • Comparative: Compare two or more groups.
    • Relational: Investigate relationships between variables.

4. Variables

  • Independent Variable (IV): The variable that is manipulated or categorized to observe its effect.
    • Example: Use of interactive technology.
  • Dependent Variable (DV): The variable that is measured to see the impact of the IV.
    • Example: Student engagement levels.
  • Control Variables: Variables that are kept constant to prevent them from influencing the DV.
    • Example: Classroom environment, teacher experience.5. Research Design
    • Quantitative Research: Involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to identify patterns, relationships, or trends.
      • Example: Surveys, experiments, and statistical analysis.
    • Qualitative Research: Involves the collection and analysis of non-numerical data to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences.