Person Usually Wants to Understand

¶ … person usually wants to understand a specific subject better. For example, if a person desires to grasp why people behave the way they do, then he or she will observe their actions and draw conclusions during this process. Furthermore, in regards to education, one needs to focus in on this specific area in order to understand better ways in which to teach his or her students better. Descriptive as well as evaluative studies are done.

With educational research, one will usually describe opinions, and this includes various characteristics, so that an intervention is determined for the students. One learns about their backgrounds in order to help them better. This includes any special education, scores on standardized tests as well as their behavior. Additionally, evaluative is a means of grasping how an actual program is working. An individual can do this by means of seeking new innovative ways in which to intervene for those who are in need of it.

Clarity of research

In regards to clarity of research, this means becoming as specific as possible. One can do this as a means of having research questions that the individual will answer throughout his or her work. Furthermore, an individual strives to grasp what is taking place as a means of answering the inquiries through using surveys, observations and so forth. The methodology makes it easier to understand because one has a means on how he or she will conduct their particular study. This helps any future investigator to replicate the study as well to determine if the same results occur or not.

Without clarity of research, an individual does not know how to conduct his or her study. He or she will either look incompetent regardless of the location and the subjects involved. The person will not have a plan of action, which will demonstrate how he or she may have utter chaos when doing their work. Ultimately, each subject will question his or her authority. This will make it difficult to complete the necessary investigation due to a lack of cooperation because of not knowing what to do in order to get the necessary results. Assumptions in Research

"An assumption is a realistic expection. It is something we believe to be true. However, no adequate evidence exists to support this belief. An assumption is an act of faith" (University of Tennesse, Knocksville, 2011). A person cannot test an assumption (University of Tennesse, Knocksville, 2011).

Here are some examples worth considering. "In a citation analysis, you assume that the citation is evidence of use and that use is reflected in the citation" (University of Tennesse, Knocksville, 2011). One can assume that each subject is truthful as well as knowlegable (University of Tennesse, Knocksville, 2011). However, how does one know this is the case? These are ways in which a person has to consider what others will think is true but in reality is false, which could hinder research if someone does not address it in their work. Literature Review

On needs to define literature review first and foremost in order to understand it. "A literature review discusses published information in a particular subject area, and sometimes information in a particular subject area within a certain time period" (University of North Carolina, 2007). For example, a person who is studying education will want to know more about ways in which to help his or her students better. The individual will look at journals and books in order get analyze the current data that is available as a means of helping him or her conduct their own study about a certain issue within this field. All of what is found is published, whether it is on the Internet or in the library.

A literature review is a baseline on how one will conduct their own research in education. This enables one to summarize their sources. Through this one use synthesis with the information that is currently available. An individual is able to interpret the data from their perspective. Ultimately, he or she has a feel for current studies and how he or she will conduct their own.

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Designs

A quantitative design has three characteristics. This includes "experimental, quasi-experimental and non-experimental" (Highfield, 2009). A person is able to control the situation by means of choosing whether or not to have a placebo and experimental group for the dependent and independent variables. Furthermore, one is able to determine the length of time in which to conduct the research. An individual can have a hypothesis to find out if either are true (Highfield, 2009).