Education is an integral aspect of every society, and in a bid to expand the frontiers of knowledge, educational research must become a priority. Educational research plays a vital role in the overall development of pedagogy, learning programs, and policy formulation. 

Educational research is a spectrum that bothers on multiple fields of knowledge and this means that it draws from different disciplines. As a result of this, the findings of this research are multi-dimensional and can be restricted by the characteristics of the research participants and the research environment. 

What is Educational Research?

Educational research is a type of systematic investigation that applies empirical methods to solving challenges in education. It adopts rigorous and well-defined scientific processes in order to gather and analyze data for problem-solving and knowledge advancement. 

J. W. Best defines educational research as that activity that is directed towards the development of a science of behavior in educational situations. The ultimate aim of such a science is to provide knowledge that will permit the educator to achieve his goals through the most effective methods.

The primary purpose of educational research is to expand the existing body of knowledge by providing solutions to different problems in pedagogy while improving teaching and learning practices. Educational researchers also seek answers to questions bothering on learner motivation, development, and classroom management. 

Characteristics of Education Research 

While educational research can take numerous forms and approaches, several characteristics define its process and approach. Some of them are listed below:

1. It sets out to solve a specific problem.
2. Educational research adopts primary and secondary research methods in its data collection process. This means that in educational research, the investigator relies on first-hand sources of information and secondary data to arrive at a suitable conclusion.
3. Educational research relies on empirical evidence. This results from its largely scientific approach.
4. Educational research is objective and accurate because it measures verifiable information.
5. In educational research, the researcher adopts specific methodologies, detailed procedures, and analysis to arrive at the most objective responses
6. Educational research findings are useful in the development of principles and theories that provide better insights into pressing issues.
7. This research approach combines structured, semi-structured, and unstructured questions to gather verifiable data from respondents.
8. Many educational research findings are documented for peer review before their presentation.
9. Educational research is interdisciplinary in nature because it draws from different fields and studies complex factual relations.

Tools For Conducting Educational Research

Tools are instruments used to collect information for performance assessments, self- evaluations, and external evaluations. Tools are crucial in carrying out educational research. There are several tools used in carrying out educational research. Tools used in carrying out research differ depending on the type of research being carried out. The tools used in carrying out effective research are listed below:

Surveys: Survey is defined as the act of examining a process or questioning a selected sample of individuals to obtain data about a service, product, or process. Also, it is an investigation of the opinions, behavior e.t.c of a particular group of people, which is usually done by asking them questions. There are three common types of surveys. It could be descriptive, exploratory, and predictive. Methods through which surveys are carried out are questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups.

Questionnaires: are a set of printed or written questions with a choice of answers, devised for the purpose of a survey or statistical study. It is a research tool that gathers quantitative or qualitative information from respondents through a series of questions or prompts. Questionnaires could be structured, unstructured, or semi-structured forms. Structured questionnaires consist of open-ended questions, semi-structured consists of both closed and open-ended questions, while unstructured questionnaires consist of open-ended questions.

Interviews: are a qualitative research method that relies on asking questions in order to collect data. It usually has two or more people, an interviewer and an interviewee. An interview takes place with a goal or purpose in the mind of the interviewer. Interviews are used in various contexts, such as education, corporate organisations, research, and journalism. It is deployed as a tool to gather insights, research, and make informed decisions, and also to establish connections between individuals. Interviews could come in different forms. It could be structured (questions are pre-planned and follow specific guidelines), unstructured (does not have specific guidelines but is free-flowing in nature), or semi-structured (it’s a combination of structured and unstructured to achieve its goal).

Test/assessments: According to the Cambridge dictionary, ‘Test is a set of questions or practical activities that shows what someone knows or what someone/something can do or is like’. It is also considered a tool used in testing skills or areas of strength or weakness. Although a test cannot be a final yardstick through which you measure a person’s expertise, it is one of the tools used in research, and most especially educational research. Tests could be carried out in different forms in educational research. It could be formative, summative, or diagnostic. All of the mentioned types of tests above are applied differently for a goal to be achieved. Tests are usually carried out to measure the capability of a person’s understanding of a subject. A test is one of the essential tools adopted by researchers in carrying out educational research and assessment.

Types of Educational Research 

Educational research can be broadly categorized into 3 which are: descriptive research, correlational research, and experimental research. Each of these has distinct and overlapping features. 

Descriptive Educational Research

In this type of educational research, the researcher merely seeks to collect data with regard to the status quo or present situation of things. The core of descriptive research lies in defining the state and characteristics of the research subject being understudied. 

Because of its emphasis on the “what” of the situation, descriptive research can be termed an observational research method. In descriptive educational research, the researcher makes use of quantitative research methods, including surveys and questionnaires to gather the required data.

Typically, descriptive educational research is the first step in solving a specific problem. Here are a few examples of descriptive research: 

• A reading program to help you understand student literacy levels.
• A study of students’ classroom performance.
• Research to gather data on students’ interests and preferences.

From these examples, you would notice that the researcher does not need to create a simulation of the natural environment of the research subjects; rather, he or she observes them as they engage in their routines. Also, the researcher is not concerned with creating a causal relationship between the research variables. 

Correlational Educational Research

This is a type of educational research that seeks insights into the statistical relationship between two research variables. In correlational research, the researcher studies two variables intending to establish a connection between them. 

Correlational research can be positive, negative, or non-existent. Positive correlation occurs when an increase in variable A leads to an increase in variable B, while negative correlation occurs when an increase in variable A results in a decrease in variable B. 

When a change in any of the variables does not trigger a succeeding change in the other, then the correlation is non-existent. Also, in correlational educational research, the research does not need to alter the natural environment of the variables; that is, there is no need for external conditioning. 

Examples of educational correlational research include: 

• Research to discover the relationship between students’ behaviors and classroom performance.
• A study into the relationship between students’ social skills and their learning behaviors.

Experimental Educational Research

Experimental educational research is a research approach that seeks to establish the causal relationship between two variables in the research environment. It adopts quantitative research methods in order to determine the cause and effect in terms of the research variables being studied. 

Experimental educational research typically involves two groups – the control group and the experimental group. The researcher introduces some changes to the experimental group such as a change in environment or a catalyst, while the control group is left in its natural state. 

The introduction of these catalysts allows the researcher to determine the causative factor(s) in the experiment. At the core of experimental educational research lies the formulation of a hypothesis and so, the overall research design relies on statistical analysis to approve or disprove this hypothesis.

Examples of Experimental Educational Research

• A study to determine the best teaching and learning methods in a school.
• A study to understand how extracurricular activities affect the learning process.

Based on functionality, educational research can be classified into fundamental research, applied research, and action research. The primary purpose of fundamental research is to provide insights into the research variables; that is, to gain more knowledge. Fundamental research does not solve any specific problems. 

Just as the name suggests, applied research is a research approach that seeks to solve specific problems. Findings from applied research are useful in solving practical challenges in the educational sector such as improving teaching methods, modifying learning curricula, and simplifying pedagogy. 

Action research is tailored to solve immediate problems that are specific to a context such as educational challenges in a local primary school. The goal of action research is to proffer solutions that work in this context and to solve general or universal challenges in the educational sector. 

Importance of Educational Research

1. Educational research plays a crucial role in knowledge advancement across different fields of study.
2. It provides answers to practical educational challenges using scientific methods.
3. Findings from educational research; especially applied research, are instrumental in policy reformulation.
4. For the researcher and other parties involved in this research approach, educational research improves learning, knowledge, skills, and understanding.
5. Educational research improves teaching and learning methods by empowering you with data to help you teach and lead more strategically and effectively.
6. Educational research helps students apply their knowledge to practical situations.

Educational Research Methods 

• Surveys/Questionnaires

A survey is a research method that is used to collect data from a predetermined audience about a specific research context. It usually consists of a set of standardized questions that help you to gain insights into the experiences, thoughts, and behaviors of the audience. 

Surveys can be administered physically using paper forms, face-to-face conversations, telephone conversations, or online forms. Online forms are easier to administer because they help you to collect accurate data and to also reach a larger sample size. Creating your online survey on data-gathering platforms like Formplus allows you to.also analyze survey respondent’s data easily. 

In order to gather accurate data via your survey, you must first identify the research context and the research subjects that would make up your data sample size. Next, you need to choose an online survey tool like Formplus to help you create and administer your survey with little or no hassles. 

• Interviews

An interview is a qualitative data collection method that helps you to gather information from respondents by asking questions in a conversation. It is typically a face-to-face conversation with the research subjects in order to gather insights that will prove useful to the specific research context. 

Interviews can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured. A structured interview is a type of interview that follows a premeditated sequence; that is, it makes use of a set of standardized questions to gather information from the research subjects. 

An unstructured interview is a type of interview that is fluid; that is, it is non-directive. During a structured interview, the researcher does not make use of a set of predetermined questions; rather, he or she spontaneously asks questions to gather relevant data from the respondents. 

A semi-structured interview is the midpoint between structured and unstructured interviews. Here, the researcher makes use of a set of standardized questions, yet he or she still makes inquiries outside these premeditated questions as dedicated by the flow of the conversations in the research context. 

Data from Interviews can be collected using audio recorders, digital cameras, surveys, and questionnaires. 

• Observation

Observation is a method of data collection that entails systematically selecting, watching, listening, reading, touching, and recording behaviors and characteristics of living beings, objects, or phenomena. In the classroom, teachers can adopt this method to understand students’ behaviors in different contexts. 

Observation can be qualitative or quantitative in approach. In quantitative observation, the researcher aims at collecting statistical information from respondents and in qualitative information, the researcher aims at collecting qualitative data from respondents. 

Qualitative observation can further be classified into participant or non-participant observation. In participant observation, the researcher becomes a part of the research environment and interacts with the research subjects to gather info about their behaviors. In non-participant observation, the researcher does not actively take part in the research environment; that is, he or she is a passive observer. 

QUALITATIVE VS QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

Qualitative research is a type of research that involves exploring real situations, human experiences, and provides in-depth meaning and understanding of the subject matter, while quantitative research is a type of research that focuses on data collection with the purpose of scientific exploration.

• Quantitative research uses objective, numerical data to answer questions like “what” and “how often.” It measures variables and analyzes numerical data( statistics, graphs) through surveys or experiments to determine how many or how often.
• Qualitative research, on the other hand, explores subjective experience, opinions, using non-numerical data like words and videos, through interviews to understand the “why” of something, like how quantitative research focuses on “what” and “how often something happens”.
• Qualitative research is exploratory in nature; it is more concerned with understanding human behaviour from the respondent’s point of view, while quantitative research is confirmatory and it aims at testing existing knowledge using hypothesis or testing theories, it is more concerned with uncovering facts about social phenomenon.
•  Qualitative research uses audio, text and images while quantitative research uses statistics and numbers. Qualitative focuses on exploring ideas or formulating theories/hypotheses, and it observes and interprets. Quantitative focuses on hypothesis testing and theories; it uses measurement and test methods.
• Qualitative research is analyzed through summarizing, interpreting, and categorizing. Quantitative is analyzed through maths and statistical analysis.
• Qualitative research is carried out on a few respondents, while quantitative research is carried out on as many respondents as possible.
• Qualitative research questions are open-ended, while quantitative research questions are closed-ended or multiple-choice.
•  Qualitative research is characterized by its understanding, context, complexity, and subjectivity, while quantitative research is characterized by testing, measurement, objectivity and replicability. A researcher carrying out qualitative research is a subjective participant, he/she is fully involved, while a researcher carrying out quantitative research is an observer.
• Qualitative research is inductive in nature; it focuses on collecting and analyzing data to develop theories, concepts and hypotheses. Quantitative research is deductive in nature; it focuses on testing a theory or hypothesis through observations and empirical evidence.

Educational Research VS Educational Assessment 

• Educational research is the systematic collection and analysis of evidence and data related to the field of education. It is a process carried out with the aim of expanding the existing body of knowledge used over time, providing solutions to surfacing problems with the aim of improving teaching and learning practices. Educational assessment is a logical process implemented to measure, document, and analyse students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes with the sole aim of improving learning and teaching methods.
• Educational research aims at expanding knowledge and improving effectiveness in learning, while Educational assessment focuses more on learners’ progress and devising means to make it better.
• Educational research employs quantitative and qualitative approaches as its methods in carrying out researchs while Educational assessment adopts the use of diagnostic, formative or summative methods in measuring learners’ capacity and knowledge of a subject.
• Educational research follows a structured process, while educational assessment is progressive; it is carried out in steps to know the learners’ understanding of the content over time.
• Educational research is researchers based, while educational assessment is learners based.
• Educational research helps widen the knowledge of the researcher, while educational assessment helps learners point out errors and enable them not to repeat such again.
• Educational research gives data-based teaching techniques rather than assumptions, while educational assessment helps administrators and teachers to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of curriculum and educational policies.
• Educational research helps in employing new technological tools, bringing about an effective learning process to the learners. Educational assessment helps educators to understand and master their content well.

Challenges In Educational Research 

Life isn’t balanced without its challenges. Just like how humans encounter challenges daily, when trying to fill out a form but omitting an important part, and you’ve submitted before remembering you’ve made an error. What a big problem it is!

There are a few problems encountered when carrying out research, and this could stem from any of the methods used in carrying out the research.

• Difficulty in data collection: An effective research cannot be carried out without the input of humans from either a particular community or a specific age range. When research is to be carried out, but the human data needed for it isn’t accessible, there’s going to be a constraint in carrying out effective research.
• Legal constraint and data privacy: Research carried out on age groups that are underage, or teenagers, needs to be protected. Through unsecured privacy, confidential information gets leaked.
• Wrong methodology issue: Applying the right method to a problem yields positive results. It is essential to undergo the necessary steps in remedying a problem to make sure the solution has a lasting effect. Studying the problems and challenges before adopting an appropriate method to solve them cannot be overemphasized.
• Limitation in resources: Research can’t be carried out without making the necessary resources available. Once the resources, like lack of funding, quality data e.t.c are not available, it will be hard to carry out an effective educational research. Neither will it be called successful research.
• No time usage and management: Effective research is time-bound; there’s a time frame for research to be carried out to get the desired result.
• Permission from key authorities: Seeking permission from the head of a school for the teachers to help fill questionnaires might not be an easy feat because teachers are occupied with lesson notes, focused on delivering their lessons, sparing few of minutes of their time might not be convenient and not all get interested in filling out a questionnaires or grant interviews because every minute counts in their world.
• Health challenge: Carrying out effective research is tedious and takes time. This could lead to burnout and stress, which can disrupt the effectiveness and results of the research.

How To Choose The Right Educational Research Methods.

Researchers need to understand the problem they want to proffer a solution to; doing this will help decide on which research methodology would yield the desired result when adopted. Applying the right method to a problem yields a positive result, while applying an inappropriate method yields no result. The following steps could be taken to choose the right research method:

• Do a thorough study of the topic you want to research and make sure the data needed is within your reach.
• Invest in learning about different research methods and the data required.
• Learn and read on topics similar to the one you want to work on to avoid repeating the same research error.
• Understand the positive and negative sides of each research method
• Choose a research method that is efficient and valid.

How to Create Surveys and Questionnaires with Formplus

• Sign into your Formplus account. Don’t have an account? You can create one here.
• On your dashboard, choose the “create new form” button to access the form builder. You can also choose from the available survey templates and modify them to suit your need.
• Drag and drop preferred fields into your form. 
• Save your online survey to access the form customization section. Here, you can change the physical appearance of your form by adding preferred background images and inserting your organization’s logo.
• Copy your form link and share it with respondents. You can embed your form into your website, share by email invitation, or use the social media direct sharing buttons.
• Formplus has a form analytics dashboard that allows you to view insights from your data collection process such as the total number of form views and form submissions. You can also use the reports summary tool to generate custom graphs and charts from your survey data.

Steps in Educational Research

Like other types of research, educational research involves several steps. Following these steps allows the researcher to gather objective information and arrive at valid findings that are useful to the research context. 

• Define the research problem clearly.
• Formulate your hypothesis. A hypothesis is the researcher’s reasonable guess based on the available evidence, which he or she seeks to prove in the course of the research.
• Determine the methodology to be adopted. Educational research methods include interviews, surveys, and questionnaires.
• Collect data from the research subjects using one or more educational research methods. You can collect research data using Formplus forms.
• Analyze and interpret your data to arrive at valid findings. In the Formplus analytics dashboard, you can view important data collection insights and you can also create custom visual reports with the reports summary tool.
• Create your research report. A research report details the entire process of the systematic investigation plus the research findings.

Conclusion 

Educational research is crucial to the overall advancement of different fields of study and learning, as a whole. Data in educational research can be gathered via surveys and questionnaires, observation methods, or interviews – structured, unstructured, and semi-structured. 

You can create a survey/questionnaire for educational research with Formplus. As a top-tier data tool, Formplus makes it easy for you to create your educational research survey in the drag-and-drop form builder, and share this with survey respondents using one or more of the form sharing options.