Reflective Questions That Require to Think Critically - Essay Example

Task: Reflective questions that will require you to think and respond critically Outline i. Introduction ii. Comparison and contrast of articles regarding (a) purpose, (b) organization, (c) data collection and analysis, and (d) conclusions iii. What differentiates correlational research from other types of research? iv. What are the principal data sources in experimental and quasi-experimental research? v. Suppose you wanted to study a community’s satisfaction with its schools. Describe how you might plan your study. vi. Conclusion Introduction This piece offers a comparison and contrast of provided articles with regard to their purpose, organization, data compilation and analysis and conclusions. Further, the piece differentiates correlation research from other types of research. In addition, an explication of principal data sources in experimental and quasi-experimental is evident. Finally, the paper offers a description of a study plan for studying a community’s satisfaction with a school. Comparison and contrast of articles regarding (a) purpose, (b) organization, (c) data collection and analysis, and (d) conclusions The following is an overview of a World Bank research titled ‘World Bank policy research on vocational education and training” the purpose of this article is to establish whether it is important for the World Bank to fund educational projects. Particularly, the study focuses on vocational education and training (VET) with an aim to identify benefits of such projects to young people. Concurrently, the provided article equally focuses on deductive processes within the education process. Moreover, the organization of the study is as follows; first, the article begins by citing the origins of different educational projects, which are funded by the World Bank. After that, there is a highlight of the assumptions considered before undertaking of the research. Further, the article offers an explication of different challenges, which arose during the conduction of the study. The provided article deduces the background, methodologies; furthermore, it focuses on literature prior to presenting the postulations. Consequently, there is a further explication of how the scope of the study was limited and how the entire project was structured. Finally, there is provision of the research literature and ground study results that are significant to the study. The collection of data in both research processes and articles is from the mentioned field research and relevant literature on the topic. For example, it is noteworthy to mention that different scholars undertook the study in fifteen countries. Additionally, researchers in this study engaged in an analysis of case studies to collect their data. In conclusion, the pieces offer an explication of the findings. However, the piece on World Bank new technologies presents negative setbacks to employment opportunities. Second, there is a complementary link between vocational training and innovations in technology. A major conclusion depicted from this article is that there will be an improvement in vocational training with the deliberation of the following factors. There should be the establishment of proper training enterprises, which will offer the required training. Secondly, the merging of these training organizations with willing sponsors in educational matters. What differentiates correlation research from other types of research? According to Craig & Charles (120), the research one chooses depends on the nature of research question the researcher seeks to study. Consequently, Correlation research quantitatively studies the relation connecting variables in certain aspects. Evidently, any educational pollster who adopts this kind of research avoids the manipulation of variables. The research involves the collection of information, which focuses on already existing variables. Variably, there is a further examination of the existing connection linking the variables hence the name correlation. During the analysis of correlation data, there can be adoption of many numerical procedures. There can be approval of the above research method when a researcher wishes to examine connections between pupil performance and their gender. Additionally, correlation research could involve the analysis of the effect of the available quantity of teachers on the performance of students in a class. Further, the researcher engages in an in depth study in which he or she explores numerical relations of the two variables. There can be potential predictions on the performance of these students from such an analysis. Consequently, there can be utilization of other statistical techniques for example degeneration and multiple analyses. One common difference between correlation research and other diverse categories of research is that correlation researchers begin by establishing that a relationship exists between the variables under study. Next, there is the determination of D and R relations in the variables after establishing the relationship. Another difference is that unlike other types of research, this category of research does not always provide a contributory effect. This presents an implication that variables do not automatically affect the behavior of other variables in the study. In addition, the above research involves more observation than any other method of investigation. Variably, the researcher has no allowances to modify the data, which he or she has experienced. The difference therefore with this research is that the researcher has no power while undertaking the research. What are the principal data sources in experimental and quasi-experimental research? The following are basic data sources in experimental and quasi-experimental researches; first primary data includes literary texts, interviews, surveys, experiments, and artistic works. There is provision of raw data in both experimental and quasi-experimental researches from such sources. The most widespread method of primary data in the above researches is observation. Additionally, it is significant to mention that it is not mandatory to obtain primary data on the initial basis. Secondly, secondary data includes important statistics for example from the department of education. National registries and surveys equally provide secondary data for the utilization of researchers. However, a researcher ought to understand that he or she requires special permission before using certain variations of secondary data. In addition, it is important to note that secondary data sometimes presents the setback of missing bits of information. Suppose you wanted to study a community’s satisfaction with its schools. Describe how you might plan your study. The above study takes in consideration the following plan; first, I will assume a vigilant study of the variables I need to study. This will include the performance of the schools and the rate at which the community participates in activities of the school. I will consult various records from the schools on the different performances of the school such as the performance of the school in the fields of academics, sports and arts competition. Further, I will compare the mentioned changeables and establish whether there is a connection between the two. Consequently, other plans, which will be necessary in such a study, are informing relevant authorities for example the school administration of the intended research. In addition, I will identify suitable forums, which will enable me to meet reliable members of the community. These members will aid the research in establishing if the entire community is satisfied with the school. Conclusion In conclusion, educational research is significant in establishing factors, which contribute to certain occurrences, which affect academic performance. Additionally, it is imperative for participants in the education field to understand causes of problems in education. This will enable the establishment of more professional organizations, which will engage in beneficial researches. Finally, educational researchers ought to make adequate preparations before they commence conduction of any research. Works Cited Mertler, Craig. & Charles, CM. Introduction to Educational Research. Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon, 2011. Print. Read More