Quantitative Research for the Qualitative Researcher

Laura O′Dwyer (Ph.D., Boston College) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. She teaches courses in applied data analysis (basic to advanced topics), quantitative research methods, survey construction, and experimental design. O’Dwyer′s research focuses on examining the impact of technology-based interventions on student and teacher outcomes, and on international comparative studies in education. She has conducted several studies that employ randomized experimental designs to examine educational interventions including the effects of online professional development on teaching practices and learning outcomes.James Bernauer, Ed.D. is an Associate Professor in the school of Education and Social Science at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh. He teaches qualitative and quantitative research methods at the masters and doctoral levels. He also teaches educational psychology to undergraduates. Bernauer’s research focuses primarily on instructional effectiveness, technology, and assessment in both pre-12 and higher education. He is particularly interested in exploring the integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches across phenomena.

• SECTION I: An Overview of Research in the Social Sciences: Qualitative Meets QuantitativeChapter 1: Understanding the Purpose of Research in the Qualitative and Quantitative TraditionsChapter 2: An Overview of the Qualitative Tradition and Connections to the Quantitative TraditionChapter 3: Overview of Research in the Quantitative TraditionSECTION II: The Sine Qua Non for Conducting Research in the Quantitative TraditionChapter 4: Choosing Research Participants and Making Generalizations: Sampling and External ValidityChapter 5: Measurement and Instrumentation in Quantitative ResearchChapter 6: Minimizing Alternative Explanations for Research Findings: Internal ValiditySECTION III: Research Design and Data Analysis in the Quantitative TraditionChapter 7: Non-Experimental Research DesignsChapter 8: Experimental Research DesignsChapter 9: Descriptive Analyses for Data Generated by Quantitative ResearchChapter 10: Inferential Analyses for Data Generated by Quantitative ResearchChapter 11: The Complementary Natures of Quantitative and Qualitative Research