[NLA] Donna Mercers

Sun Apr 7 13:10:03 EDT 2002

Catherine had mentioned Donna M. Merten's book, "Research Methods in
Education and Psychology:  Integrating Diversity with Quantitative and
Qualitative Approaches" (1998), Sage Publications:  Thousand Oaks.

In light of the USDoE and OREI emphasis on "right"  methodology, Merten's
book might serve as a primer for the field and provide a counterbalance
to the current federal government's research focus.  The table of
contents is instructive in laying out the range of research methodologies
that characterize educational research, each of which contain their own
paradigmatic assumptions and sources of what is viewed as legitimate
evidence.  A critical dialogue among the various research traditions
linkeds to broader issues to which they are desined and equipped to
address is a singular matter of no small importance these days. One would
hope for a profound and balanced eclecticism where methodology is placed
in its proper role in helpiing to shed light on the *content* of
scholarship.

A critical discussion of methodology is important particularly when
certain methodologies are privileged over others.  There may be valid
reasons for such privileging (or not), but the broader matter still
remains what are the critical questions and issues that govern and should
govern  the still emerging field of adult literacy scholarship whgerein
methodology is viewed as a tool in gaining greater clarity..

A final point, though stated previously, bears repeating:  it would be a
great neglect to ignore the past 30 years of adult literacy scholarship.
Rather, for the continuity of research that is touted in the USDoE
strategic plan, it would do well to study this work to gain better
understanding of the issues facing the present and foreseeable future. 
Also, for the broader field of educational research it would do well for
the federal government to study the work of the past century and not to
consign such scholarship to a place of marginality or irrelevance,
defining such work as faddism or ideology in juxtaposition to the "surer"
foundation of the hard sciences.  Therein lies the pathway to
intellectual arrogance and ideological hegemony in the name of
"value-free" research.

Rather, we need to look more discerningly at the various models of
educational research for which "Research Methods in Education and
Psychology:  Integrating Diversity with Quantitative and Qualitative
Approaches" provides a convenient framework to engage in such study.

Thank you, Catherine, for bringing this book to our attention.

George Demetrion
sophocles5 at juno.com
___________________________________________________________________

ABOUT THE BOOK

>From The Publisher

Focused on providing as full a picture as possible of what is considered
to be "good" research, Research Methods in Education and Psychology
explains quantitative and qualitative methods and incorporates the
viewpoints of various research paradigms into the descriptions of these
methods. It not only covers two of the standard paradigms (postpositivist
and interpretive/constructivist) but discusses a relative newcomerthe
emancipatory paradigm - that is inclusive of the perspectives of
feminists, ethnic/racial minorities, and persons with disabilities. In
each chapter, Donna M. Mertens carefully explains a step of the research
process from the literature review to types of research method to
analysis and reporting of quantitative or qualitative approaches. As an
added plus, she includes a sample study and abstract in each chapter to
illustrate the concepts discussed in that chapter.  For longitudinal case
study analysis of student learning, perhaps chapters 6-8 would prove most
instructive, though all methodologies would need to be considered for
their potential contribution in shedding light on critical issues.

FROM THE BOOK

Table of Contents 

Preface
Acknowledgments
1 An Introduction to Research  1
2 Literature Review and Research Problems  33
3 Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Research  59
4 Causal Comparative and Correlational Research  85
5 Survey Research  105
6 Single-Case Research  145
7 Qualitative Methods  159
8 History and Narrative Study of Lives  193
9 Evaluation217
10 Sampling: Definition, Selection, and Ethics  253
11 Data Collection285
12 Data Analysis, Interpretation, and Reporting  329
AppWriting the Research Proposal  371
References  377
Author Index  399
Subject Index  406
About the Autho  422

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