Building Essential Components of a Research Project

Abstract

This chapter moves undergraduate education students forward into the field of educational research. The topics assist students in examining the importance and multifaceted components involved in preparing undergraduate education majors to explore and use human research activities. The chapter contents extend students’ learning to focus on educational research and applications as key components for fully understanding teaching and learning. Thus, it provides an overview of the procedures and considerations for undergraduates to conduct research in education including: (1) narrowing a Research Topic, (2) selecting an appropriate Research Design, and (3) understanding and practicing Research Ethics and working with the Institutional Review Board (IRB). In addition, this chapter provides a guide for students through the practice of complex, iterative, and transferable skills that lead to efficient, methodical, and ethical conduct of the basic steps in the research process. At the end of this chapter, undergraduate students will understand and become skilled in these essential components of the research process.