Educational Research: Fundamentals for the Consumer, Fourth Edition

The book is designed to enable students to become intelligent consumers of educational research in a non-technical, non-intimidating manner. Students are shown how to analyze and evaluate the research, and judge the usefulness of the findings for educational practice.

Extensive use of aides to facilitate student learning include; chapter roadmaps and concept maps, study questions, a book website, consumer tips, examples and excerpts from published articles (including seven full length articles), and author reflections. The fourth edition includes a more extensive, balanced presentation of both quantitative and qualitative methods, new discussion of mixed-mode studies, new discussion of effect size, greater treatment of survey research.

“This book is exceptionally well done.”
John Sanders
Middle Tennessee State University

Educational Research: Fundamentals for the Consumer is designed to enable students to become intelligent consumers of educational research and to introduce basic research principles to those who may eventually be involved in research in their work.

Principles for conducting research and criteria for evaluating its overall credibility are presented in a concise non-technical manner. Understanding researcher intent, procedures, and results is promoted throughout the text. Students are shown how to analyze and evaluate the research, and judge the usefulness of the findings for educational practice. Extensive use of aides to facilitate student learning include; chapter roadmaps and concept maps, study questions, a book website, consumer tips, examples and excerpts from published articles (including seven full length articles), and author reflections.

New to this Edition:

• Balanced presentation of both quantitative and qualitative methods and new discussion of mixed-mode studies, effect size and broader treatment of survey research provide thorough and current discussion of critical topics in research.
• A thoroughly updated chapter on using the Internet in educational research helps students access and use the vast amount of information on the World Wide Web and “Internet Connections” provide quick access to additional information available on the Web.
• Chapter roadmaps at the beginning of all chapters provide an overview of major learning objectives for the chapters.
• Personal Author Reflections have been included to help students relate to the perspectives and experiences of the author.
• New “Using Educational Research” boxes apply research principles to contemporary issues to show students the relevance of content and to spark discussion.
• Visit the companion Web site for this text at www.ablongman.com/mcmillan where you will find chapter outlines, sample questions, internet links and additional study questions!
• An Instructor Manual and CD that contains test questions and answers, activities, power point presentations and other resources is available.”