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Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology
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Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology
Integrating Diversity With Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods

Fifth Edition


February 2019 | 568 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

Updated to align with the American Psychological Association and the National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education accreditation requirements.  

Focused on increasing the credibility of research and evaluation, the Fifth Edition of Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology: Integrating Diversity with Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods incorporates the viewpoints of various research paradigms into its descriptions of these methods. Students will learn to identify, evaluate, and practice good research, with special emphasis on conducting research in culturally complex communities, based on the perspectives of women, LGBTQ communities, ethnic/racial minorities, and people with disabilities. In each chapter, Dr. Donna M. Mertens carefully explains a step of the research process—from the literature review to analysis and reporting—and includes a sample study and abstract to illustrate the concepts discussed.  

The new edition includes over 30 new research studies and contemporary examples to demonstrate research methods including:

  • Black girls and school discipline: The complexities of being overrepresented and understudied (Annamma, S.A., Anyon, Y., Joseph, N.M., Farrar, J., Greer, E., Downing, B., & Simmons, J.)
  • Learning Cooperatively under Challenging Circumstances: Cooperation among Students in High-Risk Contexts in El Salvador (Christine Schmalenbach)
  • Replicated Evidence of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Disability Identification in U.S. Schools (Morgan, et. al.)
  • Relation of white-matter microstructure to reading ability and disability in beginning readers (Christodoulu, et. al.)
  • Arts and mixed methods research: an innovative methodological merger (Archibald, M.M. & Gerber, N.)   
 
Preface
 
Companion Website
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Research and Ethical Practice
Why Bother?

 
What is Research?

 
Research Terminology

 
Approach Taken in This Book

 
Major Paradigms in Research: A Brief History of Research

 
Postpositivism

 
Constructivist Paradigm

 
Transformative Paradigm

 
Pragmatic Paradigm

 
Politics, Legislation, and the Paradigms

 
Contested Territory: Quality, Causality, and Objectivity

 
Merging Paradigms—Across Differences

 
 
Chapter 2: Evaluation
Defining Evaluation

 
Distinguishing Research and Evaluation

 
History and Models of Evaluation

 
Resources and Processes for Conducting Evaluations

 
Steps in Planning an Evaluation

 
Standards for Critically Evaluating Evaluations

 
Ethics and Evaluation: The Guiding Principles

 
Questions for Critically Analyzing Evaluation

 
Evaluation Resources for Program and Policy Evaluations

 
 
Chapter 3: Literature Review and Focusing the Research
Reasons for Doing Literature Reviews

 
The Search Process

 
Critical Analysis of Literature Reviews

 
Questions for Critically Analyzing Literature Reviews

 
 
Chapter 4: Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research
Importance of Experimental Design

 
Research Designs and Threats to Validity

 
Experimental, Quasi-Experimental, and Single-Group Designs

 
Other Design Issues

 
Challenges to Using Experimental Designs in Educational and Psychological Research

 
Transformative Perspectives Regarding Experimental Research

 
Postpositivist Rejoinder

 
Final Thoughts

 
Questions for Critically Analyzing Experimental, Quasi-Experimental, and Single Group Designs

 
Where to From Here?

 
 
Chapter 5: Causal Comparative and Correlational Approaches
Inherent Characteristics: Challenging Issues

 
Causal Comparative Research

 
Correlational Research

 
Questions for Critically Analyzing Causal Comparative and Correlational Research

 
 
Chapter 6: Survey Methods
Design Phase

 
Sampling Plan

 
Designing the Survey Instrument

 
Pilot Testing the Questionnaire

 
Language Differences between the Researcher and the Respondent

 
Special Types of Questions

 
Letter of Transmittal

 
Conducting the Survey

 
Data Analysis and Troubleshooting Your Survey Instrument

 
Questions for Critically Analyzing Survey Research

 
 
Chapter 7: Single-Case Research
Quality Issues in Single-Case Research

 
Design Options

 
Data Analysis In Single-Case Research

 
Questions for Critically Analyzing Single-Case Research

 
 
Chapter 8: Qualitative Research and Action Research
Basis for Selection of Qualitative Methods

 
Types of Qualitative Research

 
Data Collection

 
General Methodological Guidelines

 
Translation Issues in Multilingual Contexts

 
Qualitative Data Collection Methods

 
Critically Analyzing Qualitative Research

 
Questions for Critically Analyzing Qualitative Research

 
 
Chapter 9: History, Narrative Study of Lives, and Autoethnography
Why Study History?

 
Importance of Historical, Narrative, and Autoethnographic Research

 
Types of Historical, Narrative, and Autoethnographic Research

 
Steps in Conducting Historical-Narrative Research

 
Notes on Biographical Research

 
Notes on Autoethnographic, Autobiographical/Self-Study Research

 
Questions for Critically Analyzing Historical-Narrative Research

 
 
Chapter 10: Mixed Methods Research
Definition and Characteristics

 
Importance in Educational and Psychological Research

 
Philosophical Assumptions and Mixed Methods Research

 
Mixed Methods Design Options

 
Questions for Critically Analyzing Mixed Methods Research

 
 
Chapter 11: Sampling
Definition, Selection, and Ethics

 
External Validity (Generalizability) or Transferability

 
Defining the Population and Sample

 
Identification of Sample Members

 
Sampling Strategies

 
Sampling Bias

 
Access Issues

 
Sample Size

 
Ethics and Protection of Study Participants

 
Questions for Critically Analyzing Sampling Strategies

 
 
Chapter 12: Data Collection
Operationalizing Concepts

 
Quantitative Measurement Topics

 
Selection and Development of Quantitative Instruments

 
Developing a Data Collection Instrument

 
Qualitative Data Collection Methods

 
Mixed Methods and Data Collection

 
Standards for Judging Quality of Data Collection

 
Questions for Critically Analyzing Data Collection

 
 
Chapter 13: Data Analysis, Interpretation, and Use
Quantitative Analysis Strategies

 
Qualitative Analytic Strategies

 
Analytic and Interpretive Issues in Mixed Methods

 
A Research Plan: The Management Plan and Budget

 
Writing Research Reports

 
Utilization of the Research Results

 
Questions for Critically Analyzing Data Analysis and Interpretation

 

Supplements

Student Study Site

The open-access Student Study Site includes the following:

  • EXCLUSIVE! Access to certain full-text SAGE journal articles have been carefully selected for each chapter. Each article supports and expands on the concepts presented in the chapter. 
Instructor Companion Website

study.sagepub.com/mertens5e

Password-protected Instructor Resources include the following:

  • Editable, chapter-specific Microsoft® PowerPoint® slides offer you complete flexibility in easily creating a multimedia presentation for your course. Highlight essential content, features, and artwork from the book.
  • Sample course syllabi for semester and quarter courses provide suggested models for use when creating the syllabi for your courses.
  • EXCLUSIVE! Access to certain full-text SAGE journal articles that have been carefully selected for each chapter. Each article supports and expands on the concepts presented in the chapter. Combine cutting-edge academic journal scholarship with the topics in your course for a robust classroom experience.
  • Chapter-specific exercises and activities offer practical application of the concepts and can be used in-class or as assignments.
  • Tables and figures from the book available for download.

This text aligns well with the various Research Methods courses offered in the Department of Educational Policy Studies (EPS). This text is particularly relevant to/for those whose concentration is in Research, Methods, and Statistics (RMS).

Dr Natasha N. Johnson
Educ Policy Studies Dept, Georgia State University
November 23, 2019

For instructors

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