This document provides an overview of educational research. It maps the typical 7 stages of research (selecting a problem, reviewing literature, designing research, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting results, making conclusions, reporting) to 5 sections of a research report: (1) Research Problem, (2) Literature Review, (3) Research Method, (4) Research Findings, and (5) Conclusions. It also outlines the typical contents and subtopics included in each section/chapter of a research report. Finally, it discusses using a research article to identify these 5 sections and evaluate aspects like whether references are fully cited.

1. PSB2014: RESEARCH METHODS IN
EDUCATION
Course Notes Writer: Prof. Dr. Abdul Razak Habib
Course Leader: Assoc Prof. Dr Abdullah Mohd Noor
TOPIC 1: OVERVIEW OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

2. 1.INTRODUCTION
Overview
Students should be able to:
(a)define research and educational research;
(b) explain stages in research;
(c) explain research as a problem-solving model;
(d) explain the chapters/sections and contents of a
research report; and
(e) identify stages of research in a research article
(Figure 1.1).

3. Overview of Educational Research
Research &
Educational Research
Stages of Research
•Defining Research
•Defining Educational Research
•Examples of Educational Research
•Selecting a Problem
•Reviewing the Literature
•Designing the Research
•Collecting the Data
•Analyzing the Data
•Interpreting the Results and Stating the Findings
•Making Conclusions and Reporting the Research
Research as a
Problem Solving
Process
•Select a Problem
•Understand the Problem
•Plan for Solution
•Carry Out the Plan
•Check the Solution
Chapters/Sections of
a Research Report
•Research Problem
•Review of the Literature
•Research Method
•Research Findings
•Conclusions

4. DEFINITION OF RESEARCH AND
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

5. Research and Educational Research
Defining Research
Defining Educational Research
Examples of Educational Research
Figure 1.2: Research and Educational Research

6. •Research generally can be defined as “a process of
searching again the truth about certain facts or existing
theories in a particular area which is guided by
intellectual curiosity and systematic planning of data
collection and analyses that ends up with a research
report about the research and also the new facts, new
theories or verification of the existing theories”.

7. •Educational research can be defined as “a process of
searching again the truth about educational facts or
existing educational theories which is guided by
intellectual curiosity and systematic planning of data
collection and analyses that ends up with a research
report about the research and the new educational facts,
educational theories or verification of the existing
educational theories”.

8. •An example of educational fact is “the number of students
who cannot read and/or write after completing primary
school education in Malaysia”. An example of an existing
educational theory is the Expectancy Theory of
Motivation, i.e. “Students who are satisfied with their work
and will continue to work hard, if they believe their work
will lead to things that are highly valued” (Hanson, 2003).

9. STAGES OF RESEARCH
Typically there are seven (7) stages of a research
regardless of the research methodology used to conduct it
(AJR, 29):
(a)selecting a problem;
(b) reviewing the literature on the problem;
(c) designing the research;
(d) collecting the data;
(e) analyzing the data,
(f) interpreting the results and stating the findings; and
(g) making conclusions and reporting the research

10. Stages of Research
7.Making Conclusions and Reporting the Research
6.Interpreting the Results and Stating the Findings
5.Analyzing the Data
4.Collecting the Data
3. Designing the Research
1. Selecting a Problem
2. Reviewing the Literature

11. 1. Selecting a Problem:
To select a suitable/relevant research problem,
which is important for a researcher to embark on,
bearing in mind the time, efforts and money required
to carry out the research.
The researcher also must make sure the answer to
the problem is not already available, the research
methodology is available, and the answer can be
used to solve a problem.

12. 2.Reviewing the Literature: The second stage is to review
relevant literature on the problem which will help the researcher to
understand the research problem deeper (e.g. concepts, theories,
models & principles involved) and to gain knowledge about the
past research on the problem and their findings, research
methodology (design, instruments & analysis) used, recommended
further research, and related references.
3. Designing the Research: The third stage is to design the
research, that is, to plan how the research to be conducted to
answer the research questions (converted from research problem).
For a quantitative research, the design will include research
population and sample, type of research (survey, experiment, etc.),
treatment(s) to be given to respondents, research instrument(s) and
procedures for data collection and analysis.

13. 4. Collecting the Data: The fourth stage is to collect data, that is,
to implement the planned procedure for data collection to answer
the research question(s). A quantitative researcher may use a test,
questionnaire or inventory to collect data; while a qualitative
researcher may use in-depth interview, participant observation or
document analysis to collect data.
5. Analyzing the Data: The fifth stage is to analyse the data, that
is, to implement the planned procedure for data analysis to answer
the research question(s). A quantitative researcher may use
graphics, descriptive or inferential statistics to analyse the
collected data; while a qualitative researcher may use explanations
in words (descriptions, observations, impressions) or to code the
large mass of collected data in the analyses.

14. 6. Interpreting the Results and Stating the Findings:
to interpret the results of data analyses and stating the findings
based on research questions. A quantitative researcher may describe
the current status, accept a hypothesis, or reject a hypothesis, and
make conclusion(s); while a qualitative researcher may present the
interpretations, conclusions and credibility of findings in narrative
form.
7. Making Conclusions and Reporting the Research:
to make conclusions and to report the research. The research report
will include the research problem, the literature review, the research
methodology, research findings, conclusions and discussions.
Usually a researcher will explain each stage of the research clearly
such that other researchers can later replicate the research. The
researcher may also present the report in a seminar or publish it in a
journal.

15. RESEARCH AS A PROBLEM-SOLVING
PROCESS
•George Polya (1962) proposed a problem-solving
model which involves four stages, namely:
• (a) understand the problem;
• (b) plan for solution;
• (c) carry out the plan; and
• (d) check the solution (Figure 1.4).
• In Polya’s model, the problem is given to a person (e.g.
a student) to solve. However, in research, the problem is
not given to the researcher, but he/she has to
find/identify the problem.

16. Research as a Problem-Solving Process
Select a Problem
Understand the Problem
Plan for Solution
Carry Out the Plan
Check the Solution
Figure 1.4

17. •Since research involves identifying research problem
and solving it, we can use Polya’s problem-solving
model to better understand the process of research.
•Using this model, we may simplify the seven (7)
research stages into five (5) problem-identifying and
problem-solving stages, namely: (a) identify problem; (b)
understand the problem; (c) plan for solution; (d) carry
out the plan; and (e) check the solution.

18. We can map the seven (7) stages of research to five
(5), namely:
(a) selecting research problem (identify the problem);
(b) reviewing the literature (understand the problem);
(c) designing the research (plan for solution);
(d) collecting data, analyzing data, interpreting the
results, and stating the findings (carry out the plan);
and
(e) making conclusions and reporting the research
(check the solution) as shown in Table 1.1.

19. CHAPTERS/SECTIONS OF A RESEARCH
REPORT
This section will explain the typical chapters/sections
and contents of a research report. If your research report
is in the thesis form, you may report in five (5) chapters.
If your research report is in the article form, you may
report your research in five (5) sections (Figure 1.5).
The five (5) chapters/sections correspond to the five (5)
problem-identifying and problem-solving stages as
previously explained in Section 1.4. The brief
explanations are given below:

20. Chapters/Sections of a Research Report
Research Problem
Review of the Literature
Research Method
Research Findings
Conclusions
Figure 1.5: Chapters/Sections of a Research Report

21. Chapter/Section Titles:
Based on the problem-identifying and problem-solving
stages and the research stages, the five (5)
chapters/sections of a research report may have the
following titles:
(a)Research Problem;
(b) Literature Review;
(c) Research Method;
(d) Research Findings; and
(e) Conclusions.
The mappings between the stages and section/chapter
titles are given in Table 1.1

22. Table 1.1: The mappings between problem-identifying
and problem-solving stages, research stages and
chapter/section titles
•Chapter/Section Contents: Research Problem includes
research problem identified by researcher. Review of the
Literature includes related literature and related research.
Research Method includes research design and
procedures. Research Findings includes background of
respondents and research findings. Conclusions include
conclusions and related discussions. Details are given in
Table 1.2:

23. Problem-Solving
Stages
Research Stages Chapter/Section Title
Identify problem Selecting problem 1. Research Problem
Understand the
problem
Reviewing the
literature on the
problem
1. Literature Review
Plan for solution Designing the
research
3. Research Method
Carry out the plan Collecting data
Analyzing data
Interpreting results
Stating findings
4. Research Findings
Check the solution Making conclusions
Reporting Research
5. Conclusions

24. Chapter/Section Contents
1. Research Problem Explain research problem identified by researcher
Introduction State the purpose of research and explain the brief
contents/subtopics of section/chapter.
Background of Research Explain the motivation for carrying out this research in terms
of theoretical issues or practical problems.
Statement of Research
Problem
Explain the factors/variables to be included in this research,
show the conceptual/theoretical framework of research, and
state the research problem.
Purpose of Research Explain the purpose of research, research objectives, research
questions and research hypotheses (if any).
Importance of Research Explain the importance of research findings in terms of theory
confirmation/building or their implications to practitioners.
Limitations of Research Explain the restrictions of research in terms of population,
sample, instruments, data analyses or other problems based on
the availability of resources.
Definition of Terms Give the constitutive (conceptual) and operational
(measurement) definitions of the terms/variables used in the
research.
Summary Give a summary of important aspects explained in this
section/chapter.
Table 1.2: The subtopics of chapters/section of a research report

25. 2. Literature Review Bring in related literature and related research.
Introduction Explain the brief contents of section/chapter.
Related Literature Explain concepts, theories, principles or models
that are related to the research problem.
Related Research Explain and comment about previous/past
research/ studies that are related to the research
problem in terms of population, sample,
instruments, analyses, findings and limitations.
Summary Give a summary of important aspects explained
in this section/chapter.

26. 3. Research Method •Explain research design and procedures.
• Introduction •Explain the brief contents of section/chapter.
• Research Design •Restate the purpose of research and explain suitable/
appropriate research design to be used in the
research.
• Population and
Sample
•Explain the scope/limitation of research in terms of
population and sample & how respondents are
selected.
• Research Instruments •Explain research instruments to be used and how
they are developed/ constructed.
• Procedure for Data
Collection
•Explain step-by-step of the procedure for data
collection from obtaining the permission to do
research to how the data were collected.
• Procedure for Data
Analyses
•Explain step-by-step of the procedure for data
analyses from marking the test(s) to how the data
were analyzed to answer each research question.
• Pilot Study •Explain how you carried out the pilot study and
improvements you made on your research after the
pilot study.
• Summary •Give a summary of important aspects explained in
this section/chapter.

27. 4. Research Findings Explain the background of respondents
and research findings.
4.1 Introduction Explain the brief contents of
section/chapter.
4.2 Backgrounds of
Respondents
Explain the background of the research
respondents, e.g. their gender, age,
family income, etc.
4.3 Research
Question 1
Explain the results of data analysis with
together with a table and write the
finding(s) for Research Question 1
4.4 Research
Question 2
Explain the results of data analysis with
together with a table and write the
finding(s) for Research Question 2
4.5 …………. ………………………………
6. Summary Give a summary of important aspects
explained in this section/chapter.

28. 5. Conclusions Write the conclusions and provide related
discussions
5.1 Introduction Explain the brief contents of section/chapter.
5.2 Summary of Research Briefly explain again the research purpose,
design, population, sample, instruments and
procedures for data collection and analysis.
5.3 Conclusions List the conclusions based on research questions
and findings.
5.4 Discussion of the
Findings
Discuss the findings separately in terms of
whether the each finding supports or does not
support the finding of previous research.
5.5 Implications of the
Findings
Discuss the implications of the findings to theory
verification/building or to practitioners.
5.6 Recommendations for
Further Research
Recommend what future researchers should do to
improve the findings of this research.
5.7 Summary Give a summary of important aspects explained
in this section/chapter.

29. References List the references that were
quoted in your report.
Appendices You may include documents, such
as questionnaire or details of the
results of data analyses in the
appendices.

30. SUMMARY
This topic maps the seven (7) research stages into five
(5) topics of a research report:
(a)Research Problem (selecting a problem);
(b)Literature Review (reviewing the literature on the
problem);
(c)Research Method (designing the research),
(d)Research Findings (collecting data & analyzing
data),
(e)Conclusions (interpreting findings, stating
conclusions & reporting findings)

31. 1.7 TUTORIAL ACTIVITY
Find a short research article from a journal [around five
to ten (5-10) pages].
i) Identify and discuss the information on the five (5)
sections of a research report: (a) Research Problem; (b)
Literature Review; (c) Research Method, (d) Research
Findings), (e) Conclusions.
ii) Does the article include appendices?
iii) Does the list of references cover exactly those cited
in the article?