The Little Book: Conceptual Elements of Research - Softcover

Alvarez, Marino C.; Gowin, Bob D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 160709293X ISBN 13: 9781607092933

Publisher: R&L Education, 2010

Synopsis

This book is a companion piece to research texts, intended to guide readers through a personal path of inquiry that will enable them to better understand the concepts and facts that go into planning, carrying out, and finalizing a research. This unique book asks readers to think about questions that are interesting to them and which stimulate their interest and curiosity, which, in turn, provides an opportunity to create new questions and to explore all aspects of their research. The Little Book provides succinct questions and invites pauses for reflections, designed to focus and expedite the research process so that your research experience will be rewarding and provide pathways for future research endeavors.

About this title

About the Author:

Marino C. Alvarez is a professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning of the College of Education and a senior researcher and Director of the Exploring Minds Project, in the Center of Excellence in Information Systems at Tennessee State University. D. Bob Gowin was a Professor at Cornell University, Stanford University, and The University of Chicago. He specializes in philosophy, psychology and pedagogy.

Review:

This book provides the user with a sound research focus that guides the research process from beginning to completion. High school students, undergraduate students, and graduate students have prospered in our program using this guide. (Michael R. Busby, director, Center of Excellence Information Systems Engineering, Tennessee State University)

My own research efforts would have been much more fulfilling and efficient if I, and faculty members on my thesis and dissertation committees, had had access to this list of questions to discuss the development of the problem, the design of the investigation, the treatment of the findings, and subsequent reflections. The structure would have reduced writing time and resulted in fewer airline flights between my home and the university (Sam Kier, executive board member of the International Association of Cognitive Education and Psychology)

To be honest, this is not only an extremely helpful little book; its compactness makes it a wonderful companion for teachers, researchers, and students who have learned the processes in it. I use it in every class I have taught thus far - both middle school and graduate. (Sandra Keown, eighth grade teacher and adjunct professor, Tennessee State University)

Alvarez and Gowin personally guide novice researchers on an understandable, but not simplistic, journey through the purposes and processes of analyzing, planning, conducting, and reporting research. While the journey is narratively succinct the understanding of the "Why, What, How, When" of the inquiry process is deep and rich because of the authors' integral use of graphic organizers that systematically depict the research process from formulation of ideas and research questions through the subsequent actions taken "the So What" as a result of conducting an investigation. This book provides a great set of tools for understanding research purposes and procedures for novices at all levels including the advanced graduate level. (Jack Helfeldt, professor, Texas A&M University and director, Teaching Internship & Induction Program Coordinator, TAMIU Doctoral Cohort)

About this edition

• Publisher: R&L Education
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 160709293X
• ISBN 13: 9781607092933
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 76