Part 2: Research Design

Author

Eleanor C Sayre

Chapters

Designing research projects
How to design better research projects, and how to develop your skill as someone who generates research projects.
18 min
peer
getting started
design
Abstract
Designing good research studies is an important part of becoming a researcher, no matter what your field is. The exercises on this page are aimed at junior researchers who are designing their first studies in education research. If you’ve already done one or two projects, these exercises will help you get better at seeking funding and developing more projects. If you’ve never done research before, these exercises will help your first project be more successful.
Theory: A Primer
Theory tells you why. Let me tell you why.
24 min
peer
design
project elements
theory
Abstract
What is theory for? Theory shapes your research project, from connecting your research questions and your data streams to guiding what matters about your project and how to communicate about it. This article outlines what theory is for, how to use it, and a framework for classifying theories you find in the literature.
Data and Access
What are the common kinds of data in education research, and what are their affordances and constraints?
17 min
peer
getting started
project elements
Abstract
New education researchers are often curious about how much data they need, or whether their small classes are big enough to collect enough data. This article outlines common data types and quantities in education research, and how to match your data types to your research questions. It’s great to use this resource as a starting point to help you frame your work. You’ll want to go more in depth for the particular data types which interest you. There are tons of resources which go into a lot more depth than this quick introduction, and there are a lot of details omitted and subtleties elided here.
Iterative design
Why and how to use an iterative design for successful research projects.
11 min
peer
design
Abstract
Iteration is core feature of successful research project designs. This is true in education research as well as engineering, bench science, product design & testing, and software development. If you want to discover new things or develop new products, you iterate. However, many education researchers struggle with iterative project designs, especially if they are emerging education researchers or if they are stretching their research skills to more complex projects or new contexts and methodologies. In this article, I outline some core features in research project planning to build in iteration and increase research project success.
Planning research projects
How to develop a timeline for an education research project that makes space for emergence.
11 min
peer
getting started
design
philosophy
Abstract
Many education researchers struggle with planning successful research projects, especially if they are emerging researchers or if they are stretching their research skills to more complex projects or new contexts and methodologies. In this article, I outline a successful, scalable approach to planning projects that generate new knowledge, and help you plan to foster opportunities for new ideas and directions to emerge.
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