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E-Research: Methods, Strategies, and Issues
Terry Anderson, Athabasca University
Heather Kanuka, Athabasca University

ISBN-10: 0205343821
ISBN-13:  9780205343829

Publisher:  Allyn & Bacon
Copyright:  2002
Format:  Paper; 192 pp
Published:  10/02/2002
Status: Instock


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E-Research teaches students how to become both active practitioners and informed consumers of Net-based research, its tools, and its techniques.

E-Research takes the learner through the complete research process from problem formulation, through literature review, ethics approval, quantitative and qualitative data gathering and analysis, to dissemination and publication. This text is written in clear, nontechnical language with educational research examples, illustrating how each of these components of the research process changes in a Net-enabled context.

Every professional is obliged to understand and, in most cases, master the use of tools of their trade—even when those tools are undergoing rapid evolution. E-Research is not a research methods text. Rather, it begins where standard methdology texts end, by focusing on when and how to use the Internet to enhance the research process.

  • This text is a comprehensive Internet guide related specifically to conducting research. It includes the use of emerging Net tools, online journals, Net-accessible data bases, and search engines providing researchers with a variety of resources to help in the research process.
  • E-Research is organized to align with the familiar research process—selection, literature review, data gathering, analysis and dissemination—so that it fits neatly with current teaching practices
  • Provides practical and useful information that includes special considerations for collecting both qualitative and quantitative data using the Net beneficially for research.
  • The information on results dissemination in Chapter 13, “Net-Based Dissemination of E-Research Results,” offers researchers necessary Net-based tools to gain maximum access to the results of research.
  • A comprehensive overview of how to conduct an online literature review that is efficient and effective is offered in Chapter 4, “The Literature Review Process in E-Research.”
  • "Tips" located at the end of each chapter provide readers with a short list of essential hints for the research methods or strategies covered in the chapter.
  • TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGE—A Companion Website (http://www.ablongman.com/andersoneresearch) provides access to all Web resources cited in the text.

Every chapter econcludes with “Summary” and “References.”

Preface.


1. Introduction.

What Is Research?.

What Does the "E" in E-Research Mean?.

What Kinds of Educational Research Activities Are Meant by "E-Research"?.

The Special Task of E-Research.

Scope of E-Research.

Research Attributes of E-Research.

The Qualities of the E-Researcher.

Perils of E-Research.

On Naming the Net.



2. What Is the Net?

What Is the Net?

Finding Information on the Net: Search Engines and Subject Guides.

Tips for Finding Useful and Relevant Information.



3. Designing E-Research.

Designing E-Research.

Asking the Answerable.

Choosing a Research Paradigm.

Matching the Language with the Method.

Tips for Writing Good Research Questions.



4. The Literature Review Process in E-Research.

Why Do a Literature Review?

Ensuring Quality of the Literature Reviewed.

Evaluating and Authenticating Net-Based Information.

Finding Sources of Information for the Literature Review.

Tips for Finding Formal Research Literature.

Tips for Effective Use of Email and Usenet Research Groups.

Plagiarism and Networked Sources.



5. Ethics and the E-Researcher.

How the Net Complicates Ethics.

Privacy, Confidentiality, Autonomy, and the Respect for Persons.

Obtaining Consent from Online Participants.

Obtaining Consent Electronically.

When Is Consent Needed?

The Public Versus Private Dilemma.

Reducing the Potential to Harm.

Tips for Ethical E-Research.



6. Collaborative E-Research.

Types of E-Research Collaboration.

Challenges of E-Research Collaboration.

Applications of Collaborative Software by E-Researchers.

Microsoft's Sharepoint™ Team Services.

CommunityZero™.

Groove Networks™: Peer-to-Peer Collaboration Software.

Time Tracking.

Applications of Collaborative Software by E-Researchers.



7. Semi-Structured And Unstructured Interviews.

Unstructured Versus Semi-Structured Interviews: What's the Difference?

Interviewing Skills.

Initiating the Process.

Asking the Questions.

Analyzing the Data.

Tips for Conducting Interviews.



8. Focus Groups.

The Different Kinds of Net-based Focus Groups.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Face-to-Face Versus Net-Based Focus Groups.

The Process.

Group Size.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Text-Based Synchronous Versus Text-Based

Asynchronous Focus Groups.

Participant Characteristics.

Organization.

The Moderator.

Bringing Closure.

Analyzing the Data.

Tips for Facilitating a Successful Net-Based Focus Group.



9. Net-Based Consensus Techniques.

Advantages of Consensus Techniques.

Types of Consensus Techniques.

Delphi Method.

Nominal Group Technique.

Consensus Conferences.

WIKI System.

Developing a Net-Based Consensus Building Research Project.

Concerns with Consensus Research.

Tips for Net-based Consensus Research.



10. Quantitative Data Gathering and Analysis on the Net.

The Big Picture: Quantitative Statistics on Internet Size, Usage, and Demographics.

Web Site Analytics or E-Metrics.

Who Is Really Visiting My Site?

Problems of Proxies and Anonymous Users.

Use of the Web for Observation of Net-Based Activities.



11. Surveys.

Why Use Surveys?

Why Use E-Surveys?

Disadvantages of E-Surveys.

Critical Issues in E-Survey Design and Administration.

Achieving a High Response Rate.

Creating Effective E-Survey Items.

Creating an Effective Cover Letter.

Sample Invitation to Participate Letter.

Insuring the Quality of E-Surveys.

Types of E-Surveys.

Email Survey.

Tips for Email Surveys.

Web-Based Surveys.

Tips for Web-Based Surveys.

Overcoming Sample Bias in Web-Based Surveys.

Strategies for Attracting General Respondents to Your Web-Based Survey.

Commercial E-Survey Packages.

Features of Popular Survey Packages.

Lists of Commercial E-Survey Products.



12. Content Analysis of Online Documents.

Types of Content to Be Analyzed.

Identifying the Content of Interest.

Qualitative Content Analysis.

Quantitative Content Analysis.

The Coding Process.

Defining the Unit of Analysis.

Software Tools to Aide in Classification, Analysis, and Theory Building.

Tips for Content Analysis.



13. Net-Based Dissemination of E-Research Results.

Why Publish Your Results?

Creating Quality Content.

Where to Disseminate Your Results.

Disseminating Through a Popular Press Article.

Disseminating Through Email List or Usenet Groups.

Tips for Dissemination.



14. The Future of E-Research.

Future of the Net: Volume, Velocity, Variety, and Value.

Conclusion.



Bibliography.


Index.

For the Ed Psych / Tests & Measurements Discipline

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