Educational Research This page intentionally left blank Educational Research Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research FOURTH EDITION John W. Creswell University of Nebraska–Lincoln Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City São Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo Vice President and Editor-in-Chief: Paul A. Smith Development Editor: Christina Robb Editorial Assistant: Matthew Buchholtz Marketing Manager: Joanna Sabella Production Editor: Karen Mason Production Coordination: TexTech International Text Design and Illustrations: TexTech International Cover Design: Linda Knowles Cover Art: © Chin Yuen.com This book was set in Garamond by TexTech. It was printed and bound by Edwards Brothers, Inc.
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paper) ISBN-10: 0-13-136739-0 (alk. Education—Research—Methodology.72—dc22 2010050958 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ED 15 14 13 12 11 ISBN-10: 0-13-136739-0 ISBN-13: 978-0-13-136739-5 This text is dedicated to Karen, who provided caring editorial help and support through four editions of this book. You have been my inspiration and thoughtful advocate throughout this project. Thanks for standing beside me.
This page intentionally left blank Brief Contents PART I An Introduction to Educational Research 1 CHAPTER 1 The Process of Conducting Research Using Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches 2 PART II The Steps in the Process of Research 57 CHAPTER 2 Identifying a Research Problem 58 CHAPTER 3 Reviewing the Literature 79 CHAPTER 4 Specifying a Purpose and Research Questions or Hypotheses 109 CHAPTER 5 Collecting Quantitative Data 140 CHAPTER 6 Analyzing and Interpreting Quantitative Data 174 CHAPTER 7 Collecting Qualitative Data 204 CHAPTER 8 Analyzing and Interpreting Qualitative Data 236 CHAPTER 9 Reporting and Evaluating Research 265 PART III Research Designs 293 CHAPTER 10 Experimental Designs 294 CHAPTER 11 Correlational Designs 337 CHAPTER 12 Survey Designs 375 CHAPTER 13 Grounded Theory Designs 422 CHAPTER 14 Ethnographic Designs 461 CHAPTER 15 Narrative Research Designs 501 CHAPTER 16 Mixed Methods Designs 534 CHAPTER 17 Action Research Designs 576 vii This page intentionally left blank Contents PART I An Introduction to Educational and Qualitative Research 26 • The Types of Research Research 1 Designs Associated with Quantitative and Qualitative Research 26 • The Important Ethical Issues 27 • 1 Chapter The Process of Conducting Research Using Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches 2 The Skills Needed to Design and Conduct Research 27 Useful Information for Producers of Research 27 Useful Information for Consumers of Research 27 A Definition of Research and Its Importance 3 Understanding Concepts and Evaluating Research Studies 28 Research Adds to Our Knowledge 4 • Research Improves Practice 4 • Research Informs Policy Sample Quantitative Study 29 Debates 6 • Several Problems with Research Sample Qualitative Study 42 Today 6 The Six Steps in the Process of Research 7 Identifying a Research Problem 8 • Reviewing the Literature 8 • Specifying a Purpose for Research 9 PART II The Steps in the Process • Collecting Data 9 • Analyzing and Interpreting of Research 57 the Data 10 • Reporting and Evaluating Research 10 The Characteristics of Quantitative and Qualitative Research in Each of the Six Steps 11 2 Chapter Identifying a Research Problem 58 Quantitative Research Characteristics 13 • What Is a Research Problem and Why Is It Important? 59 Qualitative Research Characteristics 16 • How Does the Research Problem Differ from Other Parts Similarities and Differences between Quantitative and of Research? 59 Qualitative Research 19 • Research Designs Can and Should Problems Be Researched? 61 Associated with Quantitative and Qualitative Can You Gain Access to People and Sites? 61 • Research 20 Can You Find Time, Locate Resources, and Important Ethical Issues in Conducting Research 22 Use Your Skills? 61 • Should the Problem Be Institutional Review Boards 22 • Professional Researched? 62 Associations 23 • Ethical Practices throughout the How Does the Research Problem Differ in Quantitative Research Process 23 • Some Ethical Issues in Data and Qualitative Research? 63 Collection 23 • Some Ethical Issues in Data How Do You Write a “Statement of the Problem” Reporting 24 Section? 64 Skills Needed to Design and Conduct Research 24 The Topic 64 • The Research Problem 66 • Solving Puzzles 25 • Lengthening Your Justification of the Importance of the Problem 66 • Attention Span 25 • Learning to Use Library Deficiencies in What We Know 69 • The Resources 25 • Writing, Editing, and More Audience 70 Writing 25 What Are Some Strategies for Writing the “Statement of Key Ideas in the Chapter 26 the Problem” Section? 70 The Definition and Importance of Educational A Template 70 • Other Writing Strategies 71 • Research 26 • The Six Steps in the Process of Think-Aloud About Writing a “Statement of the Research 26 • The Characteristics of Quantitative Problem” 72 ix x CONTENTS Examples of “Statement of the Problem” Sections 72 The Purpose Statement 110 • Research Reexamining the Parent Involvement and the Mothers’ Questions 110 • Hypotheses 111 • Research Trust in School Principals Studies 75 Objectives 111 Key Ideas in the Chapter 76 Why Are These Statements and Questions Define a Research Problem and Explain Its Important? 112 Importance 76 • Distinguish between a Research How Do You Design Quantitative Purpose Statements, Problem and Other Parts of Research 76 • Criteria Research Questions, and Hypotheses? 112 for Deciding Whether a Problem Can and Should Be Specify Variables 112 • The Family of Researched 76 • The Difference between Variables 114 • Think-Aloud About Identifying Quantitative and Qualitative Research Problems 76 Variables? 119 • Theories and Testing of • The Five Elements of a “Statement of the Problem” Variables 120 • Writing Quantitative Purpose Section 76 • Strategies Useful in Writing the Statements 122 • Writing Quantitative Research “Statement of the Problem” Section 76 Questions 124 • Writing Quantitative Useful Information for Producers of Research 77 Hypotheses 125 Useful Information for Consumers of Research 77 How Do You Design Qualitative Purpose Statements and Understanding Concepts and Evaluating Research Research Questions? 128 Studies 77 Differentiating between Quantitative and Qualitative Conducting Your Research 78 Purpose Statements and Research Questions 128 The Central Phenomenon in Qualitative Research 129 3 Chapter Reviewing the Literature 79 What Is a Literature Review and Why Is It Important? 80 Emerging Processes in Qualitative Research 130 • Writing Qualitative Purpose Statements 131 • Writing Qualitative Research Questions 132 Reexamining the Parent Involvement and Mothers’ Trust How Does the Literature Review Differ for Quantitative in Principals Studies 136 and Qualitative Studies? 80 Key Ideas in the Chapter 136 What Are the Five Steps in Conducting a Literature Distinguish among Purpose Statements, Research Review? 81 Questions, Hypotheses, and Objectives 136 • Know Identify Key Terms 82 • Locate Literature 82 • Why These Statements and Questions Are Critically Evaluate and Select the Literature 91 • Important 137 • Write Quantitative Purpose Organize the Literature 92 • Write a Literature Statements, Research Questions, and Review 98 Hypotheses 137 • Write Qualitative Purpose Reexamining the Parent Involvement and the Mothers’ Statements and Research Questions 137 Trust in Principals Studies 104 Useful Information for Producers of Research 137 Literature Review Analysis in a Quantitative Useful Information for Consumers of Research 138 Study 104 • Literature Review Analysis in a Understanding Concepts and Evaluating Research Qualitative Study 104 Studies 138 Key Ideas in the Chapter 105 Conducting Your Research 139 What Is a Review of the Literature and Why Is It Important? 105 • The Five Steps in Conducting a Literature Review 105 Useful Information for Producers of Research 106 Useful Information for Consumers of Research 107 5 Chapter Collecting Quantitative Data 140 Five Steps in the Process of Data Collection 140 Understanding Concepts and Evaluating Research What Participants Will You Study? 141 Studies 107 Identify Your Unit of Analysis 141 • Specify the Conducting Your Research 107 Population and Sample 141 What Permissions Will You Need? 147 4 Chapter Specifying a Purpose and Research Questions or Hypotheses 109 Obtain Different Types of Permissions 147 • Obtain Informed Consent 148 What Information Will You Collect? 150 What Are Purpose Statements, Research Questions, Specify Variables from Research Questions and Hypotheses, and Objectives? 109 Hypotheses 150 • Operationally Define Each CONTENTS xi Variable 151 • Choose Types of Data and Key Ideas in the Chapter 200 Measures 151 Identify the Steps in the Process of Analyzing and What Instrument Will You Use to Collect Data? 157 Interpreting Quantitative Data 200 • Preparing Locate or Develop an Instrument 157 • Search for Your Data for Analysis 201 • Analyzing the an Instrument 157 • Criteria for Choosing a Good Data 201 • Reporting the Results 201 • Instrument 158 • Interval/Ratio Scales 167 • Interpreting the Results 201 Think-Aloud About Finding and Selecting an Useful Information for Producers of Research 202 Instrument 167 Useful Information for Consumers of Research 202 How Will You Administer the Data Collection? 169 Understanding Concepts and Evaluating Research Standardization 169 • Ethical Issues 169 Studies 202 Reexamining the Quantitative Parent Involvement Conducting Your Research 203 Study 170 Key Ideas in the Chapter 170 State the Five Steps in the Process of Quantitative Data Collection 170 • Identify How to Select Participants for a Study 171 • Identify the Permissions Needed for a 7 Chapter Collecting Qualitative Data 204 What Are the Five Process Steps in Qualitative Data Study 171 • List Different Options for Collecting Collection? 205 Information 171 • Locate, Select, and Assess an What Are the Different Sampling Approaches for Selecting Instrument(s) for Use in Data Collection 171 • Participants and Sites? 206 Describe Procedures for Administering Quantitative Data Collection 171 Purposeful Sampling 206 • Sample Size or Number of Research Sites 209 Useful Information for Producers of Research 171 What Types of Permissions Will Be Required to Gain Useful Information for Consumers of Research 172 Access to Participants and Sites? 210 Understanding Concepts and Evaluating Research Seek Institutional Review Board Approval 210 • Studies 172 Gatekeepers 211 Conducting Your Research 173 What Types of Qualitative Data Will You Collect? 212 Observations 212 • Interviews 217 • 6 Chapter Analyzing and Interpreting Quantitative Data 174 Documents 223 • Audiovisual Materials 224 What Procedures Will Be Used to Record Data? Using Protocols 225 • Think-Aloud About 225 What Are the Steps in the Process of Quantitative Data Observing 227 Analysis? 175 What Field and Ethical Issues Need to Be How Do You Prepare the Data for Analysis? 175 Anticipated? 228 Score the Data 175 • Determine the Types Field Issues 228 • Ethical Issues 230 of Scores to Analyze 177 • Select a Statistical Revisiting the Mothers’ Trust in Principals Qualitative Program 178 • Input Data 179 • Clean and Study 232 Account for Missing Data 181 Key Ideas in the Chapter 233 How Do You Analyze the Data?