Advance Educational Research, M. Ed., NET, Paper 2, Unit 6 Research in Education

Descriptive Method of Research

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The descriptive method is a research method used to describe or document a phenomenon or behavior. This method involves observing and documenting the characteristics and features of a particular group or population without attempting to explain or establish causality.

Descriptive research is often used in the early stages of research when little is known about a particular phenomenon or behavior. It is also used when a researcher wants to gain a deeper understanding of a particular group or population. The data collected in descriptive research can be qualitative or quantitative, or a combination of both.

There are several techniques used in descriptive research, including:

  1. Observational research: This involves observing and recording behaviors or characteristics of a group or population in their natural setting.
  2. Case studies: This involves conducting an in-depth investigation of a single individual or group in order to describe their experiences, behaviors, and characteristics.
  3. Surveys: This involves collecting data from a large number of individuals through questionnaires, interviews, or other forms of self-report.
  4. Archival research: This involves analyzing pre-existing data or documents, such as historical records or public records.
  5. Cross-sectional studies: This involves collecting data at a single point in time from different groups or populations.

Descriptive research can be useful in a variety of fields, including psychology, sociology, and marketing. It can help researchers gain a better understanding of a particular group or population, identify patterns or trends, and generate new hypotheses for future research. However, descriptive research is limited in its ability to establish causality or determine the underlying causes of a particular behavior or phenomenon.

Also Read : Scientific Method

Descriptive Method in Research

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Advance Educational Research, M. Ed., NET, Paper 2, Unit 6 Research in Education

Exploratory Method

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Exploratory research is a type of research method used to investigate a phenomenon or problem in an initial or preliminary way, with the goal of generating insights and developing hypotheses for further investigation.

  • It is often used when little is known about a particular topic or when the research question is broad and undefined.
  • Exploratory research typically involves a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, such as interviews, focus groups, surveys, case studies, and observational research. Data collected through these methods are often analyzed using qualitative techniques such as content analysis, thematic analysis, or grounded theory.
  • One key feature of exploratory research is that it is flexible and adaptable to new information as it arises. The research process is iterative, with researchers continuously revising their research questions and methods based on emerging data and insights.
  • Exploratory research can have several goals. For example, it can help researchers identify potential variables or factors that may be influencing a phenomenon, or it can help researchers develop hypotheses or theories that can be tested in later studies. It can also help researchers identify gaps in the existing literature or suggest new areas of inquiry.
  • Exploratory research is particularly useful in the early stages of research when the topic is still being defined and the research questions are still being refined. By generating preliminary data and insights, exploratory research can help guide the development of more focused and rigorous research studies in the future.

Exploratory research is a type of research method that is characterized by several key features:

  1. Flexibility: One of the key features of exploratory research is its flexibility. Researchers using this approach are able to adjust their research questions and methods based on emerging data and insights. This enables them to more effectively explore a phenomenon and develop new hypotheses or theories.
  2. Qualitative and quantitative methods: Exploratory research typically uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data. These may include interviews, focus groups, surveys, case studies, and observational research.
  3. Open-ended questions: Exploratory research often involves open-ended questions, which allow participants to provide detailed and nuanced responses. This can help researchers gain a more complete understanding of a phenomenon and identify potential areas for further investigation.
  4. Iterative process: Exploratory research is often an iterative process, with researchers collecting data, analyzing it, and then refining their research questions and methods based on their findings. This process may continue until the researcher feels that they have gained a sufficient understanding of the phenomenon they are studying.
  5. Non-representative sampling: Because exploratory research is often used to investigate phenomena that are not well understood, researchers may use non-representative sampling methods to select participants. This allows them to gain insights from individuals who may have unique perspectives or experiences related to the phenomenon being studied.
  6. Emergent design: In exploratory research, the research design often emerges during the research process, rather than being predetermined. This allows researchers to adapt to new information and insights as they arise, and to develop new research questions and methods based on their findings.

These features of exploratory research enable researchers to gain a more complete understanding of a phenomenon and to generate new hypotheses or theories that can be tested in future research. While exploratory research is not typically used to test specific hypotheses or establish causality, it can be a valuable tool for generating insights and identifying new areas of inquiry.

Exploratory Method in Research

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Advance Educational Research, M. Ed., NET, Paper 2, Unit 6 Research in Education

Characteristics of Scientific Method

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The scientific method is a systematic approach used by scientists to investigate natural phenomena, establish relationships between variables, and test hypotheses.

The scientific method is characterized by several key features that distinguish it from other methods of inquiry. These features include:

  1. Empirical: The scientific method relies on empirical evidence obtained through direct observation or experimentation.
  2. Systematic: The scientific method involves a systematic and structured approach to investigation, with clearly defined steps and procedures.
  3. Objective: The scientific method strives to be objective and unbiased, with researchers attempting to eliminate personal bias and subjective interpretation from their investigations.
  4. Testable: The scientific method focuses on testable hypotheses that can be subjected to empirical scrutiny.
  5. Replicable: Scientific findings are expected to be replicable by other researchers, with consistent results obtained through repeated experimentation.
  6. Cumulative: The scientific method is cumulative, with new discoveries building on previous research and knowledge.
  7. Tentative: Scientific conclusions are always tentative, subject to modification or revision based on new evidence or analysis.
  8. Creative: The scientific method encourages creativity and innovation, with researchers encouraged to develop novel hypotheses and approaches to investigation.
  9. Precision: The scientific method requires precise measurement and accurate description of phenomena. Scientists strive to minimize errors and uncertainties in their observations and experiments.
  10. Falsifiability: Scientific hypotheses must be falsifiable, meaning they can be tested and potentially proven false by empirical evidence. If a hypothesis cannot be falsified, it is not considered scientific.
  11. Parsimony: The scientific method favors the simplest explanation that can account for the observed data. This is known as the principle of parsimony or Occam’s Razor, which suggests that explanations that require fewer assumptions or entities are more likely to be true.

Also Read : Meaning of Educational Research

Characteristics of Scientific Method
Characteristics of Scientific Method

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B. Ed., Childhood and Growing Up, Gender, School & Society, M. Ed., NET, Paper 2, Psychology of Learning and Development, Theories of Learning, Unit 3 Learner and Learning Process

Albert Bandura Social Learning Theory

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Albert Bandura social learning theory is a psychological theory that emphasizes the importance of observational learning, modeling, and imitation in shaping behavior. According to this theory, people learn through observing the behavior of others, and they can use this information to guide their actions.

Bandura’s theory proposes that learning can occur through three key processes: observational learning, reinforcement, and cognitive processes.

  • Observational learning refers to learning that occurs by observing the behavior of others. Bandura suggested that people can learn new behaviors and skills by watching others and imitating their actions. This process is particularly important in social contexts, where individuals can learn appropriate behaviors and social norms by observing and imitating others.
  • Reinforcement refers to the consequences that follow a behavior, which can either increase or decrease the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future. Bandura suggested that reinforcement is an important part of the learning process, and that people are more likely to repeat behaviors that are reinforced, while behaviors that are punished or ignored are less likely to be repeated.
  • Cognitive processes refer to the mental processes that are involved in learning, such as attention, memory, and motivation. Bandura suggested that people’s thoughts, beliefs, and expectations can influence their behavior, and that these cognitive processes can be shaped by the environment.

The principles of Albert Bandura’s social learning theory can be summarized as follows:

  1. Learning occurs through observation and imitation: According to Bandura, people can learn new behaviors and skills by observing the behavior of others and imitating them.
  2. Reinforcement is an important part of the learning process: People are more likely to repeat behaviors that are reinforced, while behaviors that are punished or ignored are less likely to be repeated.
  3. Cognitive processes are involved in learning: People’s thoughts, beliefs, and expectations can influence their behavior, and these cognitive processes can be shaped by the environment.
  4. Behavior is influenced by social context: Social factors such as social norms, cultural values, and peer pressure can all play a role in shaping behavior.
  5. Modeling and imitation are important in behavior change: Observing others who are successful in making behavior changes can be a powerful motivator for individuals to make similar changes themselves.
  6. Self-efficacy is a key component of behavior change: Bandura suggested that people’s beliefs about their own ability to successfully perform a behavior are a key determinant of whether they will actually engage in that behavior.

Overall, Bandura’s social learning theory emphasizes the importance of social context in shaping behavior, and highlights the role of observation, modeling, and reinforcement in the learning process. This theory has been applied in a wide range of areas, including education, psychology, and social policy, and has helped to shed light on how people learn new behaviors and skills, and how these behaviors can be modified and changed over time.

Also Read : Wechsler Intelligence Test

Albert Bandura Social Learning Theory
Albert Bandura Social Learning Theory

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B. Ed., Childhood and Growing Up, M. Ed., NET, Paper 2, Psychology of Learning and Development, Theories of Learning, Unit 3 Learner and Learning Process

Kurt Lewin Field Theory

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Kurt Lewin field theory is a psychological theory that describes behavior as a result of the interactions between a person’s internal psychological state and the external environment. According to this theory, behavior is influenced by the person’s psychological needs, attitudes, values, and goals as well as the social and physical environment they are in.

The theory is based on the idea that a person’s behavior is the result of two main factors: the person’s internal psychological state (such as their needs, values, and attitudes) and the external environment they are in (such as social norms, physical surroundings, and cultural influences). These factors interact with each other in complex ways, and behavior is the outcome of these interactions.

Lewin proposed that a person’s psychological state can be thought of as a “field” of forces that interact with the environment. This field is made up of both driving and restraining forces, and the behavior of the person will depend on the balance between these forces. Driving forces are those that push a person towards a particular behavior, while restraining forces are those that inhibit or discourage that behavior.

For example, if a person is trying to quit smoking, the driving forces might include their desire to be healthier and live longer, while the restraining forces might include their addiction to nicotine and the social pressure from friends who also smoke. The person’s behavior will depend on the balance between these driving and restraining forces.

Lewin’s field theory has been influential in many areas of psychology, including social psychology, organizational psychology, and developmental psychology. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the complex interactions between internal psychological factors and external environmental factors in determining behavior.

Kurt Lewin Field Theory

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