Educational Research

What

There are four types of research that I had the opportunity to evaluate, which are action, experimental, correlational, and descriptive. Each research serves it's own purpose and people can choose to interpret the information in different ways. Experimental research involves researchers asking a question of why something is happening. Correlational research involves finding relationships between several different situations, and although the two items may have similar outcomes it does not mean one is the cause of the other. Descriptive research is trying to find an explanation for something or why it is occurring. Action research involves research that collects information about certain methods and how those methods of teaching reflect on students outcomes. It also reflects on the information that is collected, The method of action research encourages changes to programs that need improvements. Action research makes a conclusion from the results of the improvements that were implemented.
So What?
This information that we had the opportunity to learn about will help me better understand research. It helped me better understand how to not make rash decisions regarding information that was reported from "researchers". I will be able to evaluate how the research was collected what method the researchers whose, whether it was action, descriptive, correlational, or experimental. With the knowledge of how different research is collected I have a better understanding of how to interpret studies that have been conducted. This will improve my research as a student and help me to make wise decisions regarding the information I use in my college courses.
Now What? reflection about educational research as follows:
What? Summarize what you have learned about each of the four educational research types.
So What? Write a critical analysis about the importance of what you have learned about this topic.
Now What?
I still need to learn how there can be different outcomes to similar studies. I hope to better learn how to interpret studies or research and make rational decisions regarding that information. I hope to learn more about correlational studies and exactly how they work in research. I still need to understand Action research better so I will be able to conduct educational research as I become a future educator. I need to take initiative and read differnt types of studies regarding reasearch that has been done in education where I can be the best teacher I can be.