Product Description

This is a new edition of one of our best-selling textbooks. The authors have thoroughly updated the fourth edition and included more text on current developments in research practice, action research, developments in ICT, questionnaire design, ethnographic research, conducting needs analysis, constructing and using tests, observational methods, reliability and validity, ethical issues and curriculum research. The entire text has been redesigned to cater for the increasingly sophisticated needs of the educational researcher. The new edition is more comprehensive, up-to-date and user-friendly, with increased accessibility. The authors, who are experienced teachers in the field, have produced a better written book (if that's possible) containing readable and realistic views of research and methodology, and show how to interpret the data.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4458 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-15
• Binding: Paperback
• 638 pages

(I.S. Gopinthian, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
'An excellent reference volume for both novice and experienced researchers, well deserving of its reputation in the field.'

Synopsis
This fully updated sixth edition of the international bestseller "Research Methods in Education" covers the whole range of methods currently employed by educational research at all stages. It is divided into five main parts: the context of educational research; planning educational research; styles of educational research; strategies for data collection and researching; and, data analysis. The book also contains references to a comprehensive dedicated website of accompanying materials. The sixth edition includes new material on: complexity theory, ethics, sampling and sensitive educational research, experimental research, questionnaire design and administration with practical guidance, qualitative and quantitative data analysis with practical examples on internet based research. "Research Methods in Education" is essential reading for the professional researcher and continues to be the standard text for students and lecturers in educational research.

Customer Reviews

An excellent reference resource
The latest edition of this best-selling textbook has undergone considerable revision. The previous edition I borrowed from the library differed from this one in both appearance and content, but on inspection I find the later one much better. It is not a cheap purchase, but for anyone serious about research in education, sociology or any of the humanities it is a must-have volume and an invaluable source of references for academic papers, theses or even coursework essays and assignments for students.

excellent text for research methods
I'm a masters student and this covers all the theory you need to know, plus discusses the most common pratical techniques (questionnaires, etc).

Jampacked and good value. For all research students - not just educational research.

Excellent introduction to a wide range of research methods
This book covers a wide range of research methods relating to both qualitative and quantitaive data. It is an excellent introduction for any higher degree student and invaluable for those who have to write an essay on research methodologies. The book is divided into 5 sections:

The context of research, Planning educational and social resesrch, Styles of resesrch, Strategies for data collection and researching, Recent developments in educational research

The book is both theoretical and practical. It discusses the nature of enquiry and the different approaches to research via a positivist approach and naturalistic enquiry. The ethics of research, research design, sampling and validity and reliability, each form separate sections. This is not necessarily a book to be read from start to finish but definitely one to be consulted carefully both at the start of any research programme and frequently during the research itself as there is extensive information on many styles of research. The bibliography covers 30 pages of closely typed text. Once a particular resesrch method has been chosen then any student will find ample classic and up-to-date references for futher reading in the area. Qualitative methods discussed are: ethnographic approaches, interviews, observations, accounts, case studies, action research and role play. Quantitative methods discussed are surveys and trend studies, correlation research, experimental research: pre and post test designs and multi-dimensional analysis.

The section on recent developments gives information on amongst other things using the internet for research, simulations, and geographical information systems.

This is far more than just a reprint of the earlier books written by Cohen and Manion. It has all the previous infromation of these texts but has been updated with the latest information and discussion on research texts.

It is excellent value for money for any research student and certainly worth owning one's own copy. I would not be without it.