Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"The textbook's logical format, accuracy, and many clear examples that are relevant to educational research provide students and any reader with samples to more easily familiarize themselves with tools needed to conduct a research investigation." --Laura J. Shea Doolan, St. Joseph's College "[Introduction to Educational Research] provides a very organized, non-technical introduction to enhance students' comprehension and interpretation of both qualitative and quantitative techniques in educational research." --Li-Ling Chen, California State University at East Bay This hands-on introductory text is supported by up-to-date technology. To develop students' understanding of research concepts, the text presents qualitative and quantitative techniques. The text guides learners through nine research methods to help plan and compose their first educational research project. Through chapter content and in-text exercises, readers simultaneously learn how to prepare a research plan, gather and analyze data, address research questions and hypotheses, and organize a research report. In keeping with the main purpose of helping students clearly understand and apply research concepts, the language of the text is non-technical and there are many pedagogical features throughout the text.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• I Orientation to Educational Research
• 1 Educational Research: Its Nature and Rules of Operation
• 2 Types of Educational Research and Corresponding Sources of Data
• II Preliminary Skills Needed for Conducting Research
• 3 Selecting, Refining, and Proposing a Topic for Research
• 4 Locating Published Research
• 5 Interpreting and Summarizing Published Research
• III Conducting Your Own Research Project
• 6 Designing a Research Project
• 7 Procedures and Tools for Gathering Data
• 8 Analyzing Research Data and Presenting Findings
• 9 Preparing a Research Report
• IV Procedures and Exemplars in Eight Types of Research
• 10 Qualitative Research Methods
• 11 Survey Research
• 12 Nonexperimental Quantitative Research
• 13 Experimental, Quasi-Experimental, and Single-Subject Research
• 14 Mixed-Methods Research Designs
• 15 Action and Evaluation Research
• Appendix A Overview of Statistical Concepts and Procedures
• Appendix B Using Take
• Note! To Organize Your Research Reports
• Glossary
• Index

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Dr. Craig A. Mertler is currently an Associate Professor of Educational Assessment and Research Methodologies at Bowling Green (OH) State University. Dr. Mertler teaches graduate courses in quantitative research methods, introductory and multivariate statistical analysis, and assessment methods. He is currently the author of 5 books, 2 invited book chapters, 12 refereed journal articles, 2 instructors' manuals, and numerous nonrefereed articles and manuscripts. His books include:

Mertler, C. A. (in press). Interpreting standardized test scores: Strategies for data-driven instructional decision making . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Mertler, C. A. (2006). Action research: Teachers as researchers in the classroom . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Mertler, C. A. & Vannatta, R. A. (2005). Advanced and multivariate statistical methods: Practical application and interpretation (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: Pyrczak.