Evidence-Based Research – a ‘fly on the wall’ look

at the basics

Dr Bronwyn HegartyPrincipal Lecturer in Teacher

Education (Tertiary)CapableNZ

Fifth World Art at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/5wa/6516781997/

Overview

• What is evidence-based research?

• Why do it?• Examples.• How to get started.

Definition

“Educational research is an organized approach to

asking, answering, and effectively reporting a

question.” (Biddix, 2009.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/valeriebb/3006348550/

My definitionEvidence-based research is about satisfying your curiosity and passion about teaching and learning. It helps you to justify your approach.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5017/5537988512_9c1436fbf4_d.jpg

The teacher identifies a problem or issue – formulates a question?

wants to solve it

wishes to explore an area of interest

By Moithing - http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html - via Wikimedia Commons

What sort of questions do you have?

Why do it?1. Improve Practice – practical applications.

2. Add to Knowledge – build a picture.

3. Address Gaps in Knowledge – locally, nationally, internationally.

4. Expand Knowledge – discover new ways of doing things.

5. Replicate Knowledge – confirm what works.

6. Add Voices of Individuals to Knowledge – be inclusive. (based on Biddix, 2009.)

Examples of researchResearch question: How do staff and students access, and interpret digital information creating their own understandings, using Web 2.0 strategies? (Hegarty & Penman et al, 2010.)

•Collaborative with 42 participants (staff and students) at four organisations in NZ.•Action research methodology used to develop case studies.•Significant shifts were made in developing digital information literacy.•Elements of the approach continue to be used in my practice (e.g., action learning.)

Doctorate in Education researchResearch question: How do educational practitioners reflect when writing about their experiences?

•Qualitative case study methodology using an intervention – Three-Step Reflective framework.•Seven Masters of Education students in a multimedia design course.Outcome: the RF supported reflective practice. Application: I use this framework all the time in my teaching approach – blogs and ePortfolios .

Now I need to do some evidence-based research to check the effectiveness of the Reflective Framework in my teaching.

Steps in Evidence-Based Research1. Research Question - Planning

What do you want to find out? 2. Literature Review – Planning and Conducting

Review the literature.3. Research Design - Planning

Specify the purpose, participants and methodology – qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods.

4. Gathering data, Results and Discussion – Conducting Collect data, and analyse and interpret

5. Publish findings - ReportingPrepare a report and disseminate this for evaluation and discussion in the educational community.

Summary

• Evidence-based research in education enables you to confirm that your approach to learning and teaching (your practice) is supported by empirical research.

References• Biddix, P. (2009). What is Educational Research? Research Rundowns. Retrieved from

http://researchrundowns.wordpress.com/intro/whatisedresearch/• Hegarty, B. (2011). A Framework to Guide Professional Learning and Reflective Practice.

Doctor of Education thesis. Faculty of Education, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Retrieved from http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/3720

• Hegarty, B., Penman, M., Kelly, O., Jeffrey, L., Coburn, D. and McDonald, J. (2010) Digital Information Literacy: Supported Development of Capability in Tertiary Environments. Final report. Ministry of Education, Wellington. ISBN 978-0-478-34214-7 (web) http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/tertiary_education/80624

Resources• Ako Aotearoa National Register of Research and Implementation Projects. http://

akoaotearoa.ac.nz/research-register - Search keywords - teaching, learning. Lots of examples of projects about practical teaching.

• Australasian Journal of Educational Technology. http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/submission/index.php/AJET/index

• IRRODL - The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning. At: http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl Audio, pdf and epub papers.

• Scope. Contemporary research topics. http://www.thescopes.org/flexiblelearning/submissions.php