Frequently Asked Questions about Research and Teaching

What does "research and teaching" mean?
Research plays many roles in teaching.  Research can ensure that certain instructional  approaches are effective.  Research can help teachers understand how to organize their  classroom, how to create a classroom management plan, or how to present material to  different students. Teachers can conduct their own research in the classroom in an effort  to improve their own instruction and student achievement.From the policy perspective, research  evidence has recently been adopted by policymakers as an important way to ensure that federal dollars spent on instruction are being spent  effectively.  Schools that seek to improve achievement by utilizing a literacy program are  required to choose a literacy programs that is supported by "scientifically-based research" evidence asserting its effectiveness.

What is Scientifically-Based Research?
Scientifically-based research, often called SBR or SBRR (for scientifically-based reading  research), refers to research that conforms to scientific standards.  Scientific research,  using strategies like randomized experimentation, control groups, and double-blind trials  can be useful tools for assessing some kinds of educational initiatives.  However, scientific research is limited in its capacity to capture the full story of a child's  education.

What does No Child Left Behind have to do with SBR?
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires that all curricular programs implemented with  federal funds be supported by scientifically-based research.  This insistence on  scientifically-based research seeks to improve accountability, but it does not consider the  great value of research approaches like contextualized studies and qualitative research, both of which are known to boost achievement as well.

What does the "gold standard" of assessment refer to?
The press, policymakers, and educators sometimes refer to SBR as the "gold standard" of  assessment, referring to the seemingly indisputable nature of randomized experimental  studies.

How does SBR affect literacy education?
No one reading strategy works for all students all the time, so scientifically-based reading research is particularly difficult to apply to literacy and reading education.  Reading is a  complex lifelong process that differs among students, and scientifically-based assessments  and reading programs tend to limit the discretion of teachers to utilize different  instructional strategies for students who learn differently.

What is "action research"?
Action research refers to research conducted by teachers in the field. NCTE encourages  teachers to be reflective practitioners who conduct research in their classrooms in an  effort to constantly improve their instruction.

What is the difference between qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research?
Quantitative research focuses on numbers, collecting quantifiable data that is statistically analyzed.  In contrast, qualitative research focuses on descriptions, and gathers observations and open-ended data.  For more detailed descriptions of definitions of research methods and the policy implications of those definitions, read this ASCD Infobrief (2003).  In that brief, Laitsch further clarifies the difference, writing: "While quantitative research is exclusive (focusing on specific variables within an event), qualitative research is inclusive (focusing on the larger context of the event). Finally, quantitative research has been called deductive (deducing the relationship between variables), while qualitative research has been described as inductive (gathering meaning from patterns seen during repeated observations)."  Mixed research includes a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research methods.