HOMEWORK THIRTEEN: PART I: PREPARING RESEARCH REPORTS
Topics 70-77: Preparing Research Reports
Isabel Cabrera
EDCI-6300.61 Foundations of Research in Education
Dr. Alberto Jose Herrera
The University of Texas at Brownsville
May 1, 2012
Exercise on Topic 71: The Structure of a Research Report
1. Should a Title describe the results of the research?
No, the title should name the major variables or populations of special interest.
2. The Title is usually followed by what?
The abstract follows the title.
3. An Abstract typically contains how many words?
The abstract contains 100-150 words.
4. Is Participants a “major heading” or a “subheading”?
Participants would be a subheading under the Method (major heading).
5. The measurement tools are described in which subsection?
Instrumentation (subsection) describes the measurement tools.
6. Is Procedure an optional subheading?
Yes, procedure is an optional subheading under the main heading of Method.
7. Researchers present their interpretations of the outcomes of their research under which major subheading?
Interpretations can be found under the final major heading Discussion.
Exercise on Topic 72: Introduction and Literature Review
1. Does a typical research report have the main heading Introduction?
No, the introduction is usually integrated with the literature review.
2. What is the first function of an integrated introduction and literature review?
The first purpose is to identify the research problem area.
3. In this topic, two ways to establish the importance of a problem are mentioned. What is the second way?
One way is to cite statistics indicating its prevalence. The second way is to establish the importance of a problem is to describe the severity of its impact on individuals.
4. Should a literature review consist of a series of summaries of previously published studies?
No, the literature review should not consist of a series of summaries but instead generalizations about findings.
5. Should statistics in the literature be cited sparingly?
Yes, statistics should be cited sparingly.
6. A combined introduction/literature review should end with what?
It should end with a statement of the specific research hypotheses, purposes, and/or questions.
Exercise on Topic 73: Describing Participants
1. The subheading Participants appears immediately under what main heading?
Participants should appear under the main heading Method.
2. Should the method of recruitment be described under Participants?
Yes, method of recruitment should be described under Participants.
3. Is it appropriate to mention informed consent under Participants?
Yes, informed consent can be mentioned under Participants.
4. When is it especially important to use a table to report demographics?
When a large number of demographics are to be reported, the researcher can use a table.
5. Are “qualitative” or “quantitative” researchers more likely to use purposive sampling?
Qualitative researchers often employ purposive samples.
6. Is saturation more likely to be mentioned in a report on “qualitative research” or “qualitative research”?
Saturation is most likely mentioned in a qualitative research.
Exercise on Topic 74: Describing Instrumentation
1. Does Example 1 in this topic mention validity? If so, which type of validity is mentioned?
Yes, it mentions construct validity.
2. If an instrument has been widely used, should this fact be mentioned?
Yes, it should be noted to suggest that other researchers have found the instrument to be useful.
3. When is it especially important for quantitative researchers to provide detailed information on the instrumentation?
When information on them is not available elsewhere.
4. If semi-structured interviews have been used, the researcher is relieved of the responsibility to describe them in detail. Is this statement “true” or “false”?
True, because you can obtain complete descriptions conducting semi-structured interviews.
5. Is it appropriate to provide background information on the interviewer when semi-structured interviews are used in the collection of data?
Yes, if space permits they could include background information on the interviewer.
6. When focus groups are used, should researcher indicate how many participants were in each group?
Yes, the number of focus groups and the number of participants.
Exercise on Topic 75: Reporting Research Results
1. For research that has more than one hypothesis, purpose, or question, is it usually best to report the results for each one separately? If so, in what order?
Yes, it is best to report the results for each one separately and in the order they were first presented in the research paper.
2. In reports on quantitative research, do researchers typically indicate how the statistical results were computed (e.g., do they name the statistical computer program used)?
No, researchers do not report how results and how they were computed.
3. Should “descriptive statistics” or “results of tests of statistical significance” be reported first?
The descriptive statistics should be reported first, followed by the results of tests of statistical significance.
4. When statistical tables are included in a Results section, which of the following is true?
A. The tables should be presented without commentary.
B. Highlights of the contents of statistical tables should be mentioned.
Letter B is true, highlights of the contents of statistical tables should be mentioned.
5. Is a subsection titled Data Analysis more likely to appear in reports of “quantitative research” or “qualitative research”?
Data Analysis are more likely to appear in qualitative research.
6. Are verbatim quotations more likely to appear in reports of “quantitative research” or “qualitative research”?
Verbatim quotations are more likely to appear in qualitative research.
7. Do reports of “quantitative research” or “qualitative research,” tend to have shorter results sections?
Quantitative research tends to have shorter results sections.
Exercise on Topic 76: Writing the Discussion
1. Should the heading “Discussion” be centered in bold?
Yes, it should be centered in bold.
2. The Discussion should begin with a reference to what?
It should refer to the original purpose of the research.
3. Is it usually important to cite specific statistics when discussion research results in the Discussion section?
No, the reader can refer to the Results section for them.
4. What should a statement of implication indicate?
The researcher should indicate what action a particular person, group or organization should perform.
5. When discussing limitations, it is appropriate to indicate how the limitations might affect what?
Limitations might affect interpretation of the results.
6. If a Discussion section is long, researchers sometimes include what?
If the section is long, researchers sometimes include subheadings to guide readers.
Exercise on Topic 77: Preparing Thesis and Dissertations
1. Chapter 1 should start by introducing what?
Chapter 1 should introduce the problem area for the research and the reasons why it is important.
2. Should direct quotations be used sparingly?
Yes, so they do not interrupt the flow of the essay.
3. Is it permissible in Chapter 1 to refer to the literature review in Chapter 2?
Yes, it is okay for Chapter 1 to refer to the literature review in Chapter 2.
4. Which chapter should contain a detailed discussion of the literature on related theories?
A detailed discussion of the literature can be found in Chapter 2.
5. In Chapter 1, after the researcher has introduced the problem area, establishing its importance and indicating its theoretical basis, what should be presented?
Next, the overview of the research approach and the rationale should be presented.
6. Is it ever appropriate in a literature review to discuss one study in greater detail?
Yes, this will be the study judged especially strong in terms of research methodology.