This chapter discusses preparing and evaluating research plans for quantitative and qualitative research. For quantitative research plans, it describes the key components - introduction, method, data analysis, and timeline/budget. The introduction includes the topic, literature review, and hypotheses. The method section outlines the participants, instruments, design, procedures, and data analysis. Qualitative research plans are more emergent and flexible in their design. They include components like the title, introduction with purpose and research questions, and procedures for conducting the study. Both types of plans should justify the research problem and present detailed, well-thought out steps to guide the study.

1. Educational Research
Chapter 3
Preparing and Evaluating a Research Plan
Gay, Mills, and Airasian

2. Topics Discussed in this Chapter
 Characteristics of a research plan
 General considerations in developing a
research plan
 Components of a quantitative research
plan
 Components of a qualitative research
plan
 Evaluation of a research plan

3. Characteristics of a Research
Plan
A research plan is a detailed description
of the procedures that will be used to
investigate your topic or problem.
Obj. A.1

4. Characteristics of a Research
Plan
 General components of a research plan
 A justification for the hypotheses or
exploration of the research problem
 A detailed presentation of the steps to be
followed in conducting the study
Obj. A.1

5. Characteristics of a Research
Plan
 Purposes of a written research plan
 Forces the researcher to think through
every aspect of the study
 Facilitates the evaluation of the proposed
study
 Provides detailed procedures to guide the
conduct of the study
Obj. A.2

6. Characteristics of a Research
Plan
 Benefits of a written research plan
 A well thought out research plan…

saves time,

provides structure to the study,

reduces the probability of costly mistakes, and

generally results in a higher quality research
study.
Obj. A.3

7. General Considerations
 Three general issues to consider when
developing a research plan
 Ethics of research
 Legal restrictions
 Cooperation from participants

8. General Considerations
 Ethics of research
 Five ethical principles

Beneficence and non-malfeasance

Fidelity and responsibility

Integrity

Justice

Respect for people’s rights and dignity
Obj. 1.1

9. General Considerations
 Legal restrictions
 National Research Act of 1974

Protects participants
 Protection from harm – not exposing subjects to risks
 Informed consent – subjects participate of their own free
will with an understanding of the nature of the study and
possible risks

Stipulates that proposed research activities involving
human subjects must be reviewed and approved by an
authorized group

Internal Review Boards and Committees on Human
Subjects
Obj. 1.2 & 2.1

10. General Considerations
 Legal restrictions
 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
of 1974

Protects students’ privacy
 Access to students’ records
 Need for written permission to use data identifying
students

Known as the Buckley Amendment
Obj. 2.1

11. General Considerations
 Two additional issues related to ethical
and legal responsibilities
 Deception
 Cooperation of participants

12. General Considerations
 Deception

Situations in which complete information
related to the study is not given to participants
 Such information would influence or change
participants’ responses
 Studies can be negatively affected by informing
participants of certain details

Use of deceptive practices must be undertaken
very, very carefully
Obj. 1.2

13. General Considerations
 Cooperation of participants

Gaining entry to the research site
 Approval needed at several levels

Site

Administrators

Teachers

Students
 Approval is not cooperation
Obj. 1.6

14. General Considerations
 Cooperation from participants (continued)

Strategies to enhance cooperation
 Clearly explain the benefits of the study
 Afford stakeholders the opportunity to review drafts
of the report for their approval
 Brief stakeholders on the findings
 Provide professional development sessions for
stakeholders
Obj. 1.7

15. Quantitative Research Plans
 Four major components
 Introduction
 Method
 Data analysis
 Timeline and budget
Obj. 3.1

16. Quantitative Research Plans
 Introduction
 Three sections

Statement of the topic

Review of the literature

Statement of the hypotheses
 Statement of the topic

The topic is identified with a discussion of the
background and rationale

Stated at the beginning of the plan
Obj. 3.2

17. Quantitative Research Plans
 Introduction (continued)
 Review of the literature

Provides an overview of the topic and positions
the study in the context of what is known, and,
more importantly, what is not known about the
topic

Completed at the beginning of the study and
placed in the beginning of the plan
Obj. 3.2

18. Quantitative Research Plans
 Introduction (continued)
 Statement of the hypotheses

A formal statement specifying the hypothesis,
support for expected relationships between
variables, and operational definitions of all
variables

Hypotheses in quantitative studies are usually
deductively reasoned
Obj. 3.2

19. Quantitative Research Plans
 Method
 Five major sections

Participants

Instruments

Design

Procedures

Data analyses
 Participants

Identifies the characteristics of the population and
sample as well as the sampling technique used

Quantitative studies typically use large samples and
probability sampling techniques
Obj. 3.3

20. Quantitative Research Plans
 Method (continued)
 Instruments

Descriptions of the specific measures of each variable,
the technical characteristics of the instruments, and the
administration and scoring techniques

Quantitative studies typically use non-interactive
instruments
 Tests
 Questionnaires
 Surveys
Obj. 3.3

21. Quantitative Research Plans
 Method (continued)
 Design

Descriptions of the basic structure of the study
and the specific research design chosen

Quantitative studies typically use highly
structured, static designs
Obj. 3.3

22. Quantitative Research Plans
 Method (continued)
 Procedures

Detailed descriptions of all the steps that will be followed
in conducting the study, assumptions, and limitations
 Gaining entry to the site
 How subjects will be selected
 The ways data will be collected and analyzed

Assumptions – any important “fact” presumed to be true
but not verified

Limitations – some aspect of the study that could have a
negative effect upon the results
 Size of the sample
 Length of the study
Obj. 3.3

23. Quantitative Research Plans
 Method (continued)
 Data analysis

Descriptions of the techniques used to analyze
the data
 Descriptive statistics – statistics that summarize data
in terms of central tendency (e.g., means), variation
(e.g., standard deviations), relative position (e.g.,
standard scores), or relationships (e.g., correlations)
 Inferential statistics – procedures used to infer the
likelihood of the results happening in the population
rather than just the sample
Obj. 3.3 & 3.4

24. Quantitative Research Plans
 Method (continued)
 Data analysis (continued)

The hypotheses usually determine the specific
research design which in turn influences the
specific analyses used

Quantitative studies usually focus on the
appropriate statistical procedures to analyze
numerical data
Obj. 3.3 & 3.4

25. Quantitative Research Plans
 Timeline and budget
 Timeline

Description of the major activities and
corresponding anticipated completion dates

Help assess the feasibility of conducting the
study

The resulting structure helps avoid
procrastination

A general strategy is to allow more time than
you initially think you will need!!!
Obj. 3.5 & 3.6

26. Quantitative Research Plans
 Timeline and budget (continued)
 Budget

Descriptions of anticipated costs that are likely
to be incurred
 Salaries
 Copying
 Telephone
 Travel

Optional in many plans
Obj. 3.5 & 3.6

27. Qualitative Research Plans
 Qualitative studies are characterized by
open-ended, emergent designs
 Research plans must be responsive to the
context and setting as well as the flexibility of
the design
 The influence of prior fieldwork
 The authors recommend pre-proposal fieldwork to
help understand the socio-cultural context of the
setting
 Alternatives include drawing on one’s own
experiences or the literature
Obj. 4.1 & 4.2

28. Qualitative Research Plans
 Additional ethical issues in qualitative
research
 Unique emerging nature of qualitative designs
increases the likelihood of unanticipated and un-
reviewed ethical issues
 Unique personal involvement with participants
raises issues

Objective collection and interpretation of data

Possibility of observing potentially illegal or
unprofessional behavior
 Aligning professional and personal ethical
perspectives
Obj. 1.5

29. Qualitative Research Plans
 Six general components
 Title of the study
 Introduction to the study
 Research procedures
 Potential contributions of the study
 Limitations
 Appendices
Obj. 4.3

30. Qualitative Research Plans
 Title
 Conveys key concepts of the study
 Provides a framework for continued
reflection
 Serves as a conceptual point of reference
Obj. 4.4

31. Qualitative Research Plans
 Introduction
 Four sections

Purpose statement

Framing the study

Initial research question

Related literature
 Purpose statement

A clearly written, concise statement that sets
the stage for the rest of the plan
Obj. 4.5

32. Qualitative Research Plans
 Introduction (continued)
 Framing the study

An attempt to demonstrate the relevance of the
study using a frame of reference to which the
reader can relate

Describes the contribution of the study to
existing theory, educational policy, or the
solution of a practical problem
Obj. 4.5

33. Qualitative Research Plans
 Introduction (continued)
 Initial research question

Specifying research questions is difficult at this
stage given the ongoing, emergent nature of
qualitative research

Linked closely to the theory, policy, or practical
problem used to frame the study
Obj. 4.5

34. Qualitative Research Plans
 Introduction (continued)
 Review of the literature

Links the study to any underlying assumptions and
theories related to the initial research question

Accomplishes several things
 Assesses the researcher’s preparedness to conduct the
study
 Identifies potential gaps in the literature
 Suggests promising educational practices
 Refines the initial research question
 Embeds the research questions in “guiding hypotheses”
Obj. 4.5

35. Qualitative Research Plans
 Procedures
 Eight sections

Description of the overall approach and rationale for the
study

Site and sample selection

Researcher’s role

Data collection methods

Data management methods

Data analysis strategies

Trustworthiness features

Ethical considerations
Obj. 4.6

36. Qualitative Research Plans
 Procedures (continued)
 Overall approach and rationale

Identifies the qualitative approach (e.g.,
ethnography, historical study, grounded theory,
etc.)

Provides the rationale for why the particular
approach is appropriate

Provides a link to the appropriate literature on
research methods
Obj. 4.6

37. Qualitative Research Plans
 Procedures (continued)
 Site and sample

Describes the rationale for choosing the
particular sample

Describes the process for gaining entry to the
site

Describes the site

Discusses the likelihood of building trusting
relationships with the participants
Obj. 4.6

38. Qualitative Research Plans
 Procedures (continued)
 Researcher’s role

Describes any negotiations needed to gain entry to the
site

Discusses participants’ expectations in terms of
reciprocity

Anticipates any ethical dilemmas
 Data collection methods

Describes the fieldwork techniques and tools for
collecting data

Identifies multiple data sources
Obj. 4.6

39. Qualitative Research Plans
 Procedures (continued)
 Data management methods

Provides insights into ways by which the large
quantity of data will be manipulated
 Data sources
 Volume of data
 Storage
 Information such as times, dates, locations, etc.
Obj. 4.6

40. Qualitative Research Plans
 Procedures (continued)
 Data analysis strategies

Interpretive nature of the analyses of data from
fieldwork, observations, interviews, etc.

Describes procedures for collating data

Discusses the manner by which the data will be
categorized in terms of emergent themes

Provides a rationale for the conclusion and
interpretations
Obj. 4.6

41. Qualitative Research Plans
 Procedures (continued)
 Trustworthiness features

The researcher’s efforts to address traditional validity
and reliability issues

The use of triangulation – multiple data sources and
collection methods
 Ethical considerations

Demonstrates sensitivity to the ethical issues related to
informed consent

Describes the plan to obtain informed consent

States the researcher’s personal/professional ethical
perspectives
Obj. 4.6

42. Qualitative Research Plans
 Potential contribution of the research
 Describes how the study will contribute to an
understanding of the phenomenon being studied
 Provides a link from the possible implications of
the study to the broader framework under which
the study was begun
 Limitations
 Discusses any limitations related to the
researchers’ ability to deal with situations over
which they have no control

43. Qualitative Research Plans
 Appendices
 Provide information helpful in assessing
the value and feasibility of the study

Timeline

Proposed table of contents

Sample consent form

Internal Review Board (IRB) approval

Sample of data collection protocols
Obj. 4.7

44. Evaluation of a Research Plan
 Informal assessment
 Critiques by the researcher, advisors, peers and
colleagues, etc.
 Critiques by experienced researchers
 Formal assessment
 Field tests
 Pilot studies
 Modifications based on the results of both
informal and formal evaluations
Obj. 5.1 & 5.2