Maharashtra Board Class 12 Education Chapter 7 Educational Research Methods PDF Download

Educational Research Methods

In the previous standard you have learnt about research. This year, we will study about research methods and tools for conducting research.

Educational research is done by various methods and is broadly classified under following three headings:

1. Research related to the problems in Past.

2. Research related to the problems in Present.

3. Research related to the problems in Future.

In short the classification is based on time.

7.1 Historical Research Method

7.1.1 Meaning of Historical Research Method

A scientific method that is useful in relevant, real and objective description and analysis of past events, is said to be historical research method.

A method which helps to reveal true identity of history, is called as historical research method.

Basically in historical research method, past events are used as reference for understanding the present events and for anticipating about future.

Past problems are studied in historical research.

Example: 'Educational thoughts of Mahatma Jotirao Phule'. In this research, educational thoughts of Mahatma Jotirao Phule will be studied. In this study, educational thoughts of Mahatma Jotirao Phule is the main topic of study and data will be collected with the help of primary and secondary sources.

Primary source will include articles written by Mahatma Jotirao Phule, his autobiography, some documents and pictures etc.; whereas secondary sources include a lesson on Mahatma Jotirao Phule in a textbook, his biography, articles in the newspaper, information given in magazines, a movie etc.

Documents which are written by persons who have witnessed the incident and the things that can be directly examined and are used in past are called a primary source. These include documents, relics, pictures and printed material.

Documents which are provided by persons who have not witnessed the event directly but collected information from the person who witnessed the incident, are called secondary sources. These sources include encyclopaedia, textbooks, newspapers, journals, magazines and other reference books.

Teacher's Note

Historical research is like a detective story. We study old things like what our freedom fighters did in the past to learn from their mistakes.

Exam Trick

Remember: Primary = Person who saw it. Secondary = Person who heard about it from someone else. Like an eyewitness versus a newspaper reporter.

Points to Remember

Historical research studies the problems of the past.
Primary sources are things written or made by people who saw events happen.
Secondary sources are books or articles written by people who learned about events from others.
We use past events to understand what happens today.

In historical research, there is no scope for actual observation because researcher is of present state and the events are of past. Hence, he has to collect the information through various secondary sources.

7.1.2 Characteristics of Historical Research Method

1. In historical research method, collection, description, explanation and evaluation of past events is done.

2. In historical research method, support of past events is taken to solve the current problems.

3. In historical research, only collection of facts and information is not enough, but a clear picture of past is essential.

4. In historical research, though the information is collected newly, the information is already existing.

5. In historical research, primary and secondary sources are used for collecting data.

6. In historical research all the important evidences are collected, verification of past events is done and the collected data is interpreted fairly.

7. In historical research, collection and analysis of information is done simultaneously by the researcher.

Teacher's Note

We collect facts about the past and then study them carefully. Just like how your grandmother tells you stories about the old days and you try to understand what life was like then.

Exam Trick

Remember: All 7 characteristics start with "In historical research" - this helps you remember they all belong to this method. Write them all in your answer.

Points to Remember

We collect, describe and explain past events.
We use past to solve present problems.
We need a clear picture, not just facts.
We use both primary and secondary sources.
We verify and fairly interpret all information.

7.2 Descriptive Research Method

7.2.1 Meaning of Descriptive Research Method

When the research is related to the problems of present state, it is called as descriptive research.

In descriptive research, the information of present situation is collected and analysed.

In this research method, the researcher has to study about various aspects such as abilities, potential, views, characteristics, aptitude, properties, behaviour, similarities and differences of the specific population.

Research tools such as rating scale, questionnaire, interview, observation list, sociometric techniques, standardized tests are used for collecting the required data.

Description of current state and its interpretation is done in descriptive research. Descriptive research deals with present status, existing correlations, opinions, ongoing processes, consequences and tendencies.

Example: to find out the study habits of secondary school students. In this research study habits of students are considered. Tools like rating scale or questionnaire will be used to measure the study habits of the students for collecting the data. The data analysis will be statistically done using percentage or average calculations. The analysed data will be interpreted and conclusion of the research will be drawn. In this way descriptive research method will be used.

Teacher's Note

Descriptive research is like taking a picture of what is happening right now. If you want to know what problems students have in your school today, you use descriptive research.

Exam Trick

Remember: Descriptive = Describe NOW. It is about the present situation, not the past. You are describing what you see today in your school or class.

Points to Remember

Descriptive research studies problems happening today.
We collect information about people's views, skills and behavior.
We use tools like questionnaires and rating scales.
We analyze data using percentages and averages.
We study large groups of people quickly.

7.2.2 Characteristics of Descriptive Research Method

1. In descriptive research, problems related to present state are solved.

2. Data collection is done at large scale.

3. Though the sample is huge, data collection is done easily in very short duration.

4. In descriptive research, population is very large, but a sample is selected which represents the whole population.

5. Descriptive research is qualitative and quantitative. In this research qualitative and quantitative data are analysed and interpreted. Thereafter, on the basis of interpretations, conclusions are drawn.

6. Local problems are solved within short duration. In short time span, lot of information is collected and analysed to solve problems.

7. Descriptive research is based on scientific method. Scientific method is used systematically to solve the problems in education.

8. Descriptive research involves survey, case study and developmental method.

Teacher's Note

We describe what is happening today and find answers quickly. If you want to know why students are not doing homework, you ask them questions and write down their answers.

Exam Trick

Remember: Large population but we pick a small sample. Like taking 10 students from a class of 100 to answer questions - they represent all students.

Points to Remember

We solve present day problems in schools.
We collect lots of data from many people.
We pick a small sample to represent everyone.
We use both number data and written information.
We can do this quickly in a short time.

7.3 Experimental Research Method

7.3.1 Meaning of Experimental Research Method

In school education, we conduct or see the experiments only in science. But like science, experiments are done in social sciences too. Education is a social science.

In the field of education, various aspects like teaching-learning process, the nature of human intellect, memory and methods of study are studied using experimental method. In such experimental studies, observations are made and cause-and-effect relationships are investigated. The effectiveness of activities is examined by implementing the specific type of activities that are implemented. Comparative studies of different methods are carried out and based on all these, conclusions are drawn. From these conclusions, educational theories are derived and then journey of theory to practical applications begins.

No event can happen without reason. There are many reasons behind every event. Educational research involves study of reasons and consequences of any event.

Like Science, information is collected through various experiments in the field of education. The method of collecting or extracting information through the experiment is called experimental research method.

According to John. W. Best, "Experimental research is the description and analysis of what will be or what will occur, under careful controlled condition."

As experiment is the core of this method, so it is necessary to understand, what is experiment?

According to Chapin, "An experiment is an observation under controlled conditions."

Example: A teacher decides to study students' achievement by e-learning study material, on the 'digestive system' in science. For the experiment, he divides the students of a class into two groups. Each group has students with similar characteristics (age, gender, intelligence). One group of students is taught digestive system using e-learning material and the other group is taught the same topic with traditional method. At the end of the experiment, both groups are evaluated with respect to their achievement and a conclusion is drawn. In this experiment, the group that is taught by using e-learning materials is the experimental group, and group that is taught by traditional method is the control group. Here the teacher wanted to study the effect of the e-learning study material on the student's achievement. Use of e-learning study material is an independent variable and students' achievement is dependent variable.

Teacher's Note

Experimental research is like a science experiment. We try two different ways of teaching and see which one works better. This is done in schools to improve teaching methods.

Exam Trick

Remember: Experimental group = gets new thing being tested. Control group = gets old/normal thing. Compare them at the end. Independent variable = what we change. Dependent variable = what we measure.

Points to Remember

We test two different methods to see which is better.
One group uses the new method, one uses the old method.
Both groups should have similar students.
We measure the results at the end.
We find cause-and-effect relationships.

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