Ed 603 - Assignment 3

In this third assignment for Ed 603, you are going to generate three to six ideas for a research study, and then turn these topics into well stated research problems.

Generate three to six research problems as follows:

  1. Look through the titles of articles in four issues of your favorite research journal and select one or two quantitative research ideas and state the research problem for each.
  2. Look through the table of contents of a major textbook in your field, select one or two quantitative research problems, and state the research problem for each.
  3. Based on your own experiences and interests generate one or two more quantitative research topics, and state the research problem for each.

Remember the models for stating researh problems which we mentioned in the lesson:

  1. [variable], [variable], and [variable] among [type of subjects] - descriptive research.
  2. The relationship between [variable] and [variable] among [type of subjects] - correlational research.
  3. The effect of [independent variable not under experimenter's control] on [dependent variable] for [type of subjects] - quasi-comparative research.
  4. The effect of [independent variable under experimenter's control] on [dependent variable] for [type of subjects] - experimental research.

If you are doing a qualitative research problem for your Ed 603 project do the following:

    1. Read pages 170-174 in the Gay & Airasian (7th Edition) text on “Qualitative Research Questions” and “Step 1 Selecting a Research Topic or Issue.”
    2. Add a statement of the research topic or problem for your qualitative research study.

Specific Format for Completing the Lesson 3 Assignment and sending it to the Ed 603 Instructor

Once you have listed the three to six research problems you should create a word processing document for the assignment. As you did for lesson 1, at the top of the page, on the first line record the following: Ed 603, Lesson 3 Assignment. On the second line record your name and student number at MSUM (if you have one). On the third line record the date you completed the assignment. After you have completed the assigment (and saved it on your computer) send e-mail to your instructor indicating that you are sending the lesson 3 assignment in and then attach the file for the assignment to your email message.

The e-mail address for the instructor, John Wasson, is wassonj@teleport.com

Here is an example of what a completed assignment for lesson 3 could look like. For this example I am using some of the same research problems I developed in the body of Lesson 3.

Ed 603, Lesson 3 Assignment
John Wasson, Student Number 710967
November 13, 2001

Research Problems:

  1. IQ, Reading Achievement, Mathematics Achievement, and Achievement in Written Language for gifted students with learning disabilities in the middle school.
  2. The effect of type of instruction (computer program versus flash cards) on knowledge of addition and subtraction facts for elementary students with learning disabilities.
  3. The effect of type of presentation (concrete manipulables versus animated computer images) on efficiency in learning addition and subtraction facts by first grade students.
  4. The effect of mode of presentation, type of font, and type size on reading speed and reading comprehension among middle school students.

Qualitative Research Problem (Optional)

5.              Do this only if you are doing a qualitative research problem for your Ed 603 final project.

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