Methodological Advances in Educational Effectiveness Research is an important new work by some of the leading researchers in the field of Educational Effectiveness Research (EER). The book provides a state of the art snapshot of the methodology of EER now and clearly demonstrates the way it is applied in both research and evaluation. It shows how developments in the research methodology area such as the use of multilevel modelling approaches to analyse nested data have promoted the knowledge-base of educational effectiveness. But at the same time, as the authors show, the knowledge-base of educational effectiveness and the attempt to establish theoretical models do paradoxically challenge the development of methodologically appropriate studies including ways of analysing data.

Guiding readers though the effective and appropriate use in educational effectiveness of:

Longitudinal Studies

Experimental Studies

Mixed Research Methods

Meta-analyses of effectiveness studies

Using IRT to measure outcomes and factors

Using Generalisability Theory to test the quality of data

Multilevel modelling , and

Structural Equation Modelling Techniques

The authors draw in the expertise of scholars from around the world to show the mathematical background of each technique, the current and future applications, and Specific examples of applying this orientation to help the readers design their own effectiveness studies using specific methodological tools.

Contents

Part 1: The State of the Art of Educational Effectiveness: Challenges For Research Methodology 1: Background of Eer 2: Methodological Issues in Educational Effectiveness Research 3: Theory And Research: The Problem of Causality 4: Theory-Driven Evaluation Studies: Establishing Links Between Research, Policy and Practice Part 2: The Contribution of Different Methodological Orientations to the Development of Research and Evaluation on Educational Effectiveness 5: Longitudinal Des Experimental Studies in Education 7: Applications of Mixed Methods to the Field of Educational Effectiveness Research 8: Using Irt to Measure Outcomes and Factors: An Overview of Irt Models 9: Irt Models: Parameter Estimation, Statistical Testing and Application in Eer 10: Using Generalizability Theory 11: Multilevel Modelling 12: Structural Equation Modelling Techniques 13: Meta-Analyses of Effectiveness Studies Part 3: Methodological Advances And Eer: Retrospect & Prospect 14: Conclusions for the Development of Educational Effectiveness Research

Author Bio

Bert P. M. Creemers is Professor and Director of the Centre for Learning and Teaching, University of Groningen.

Leonidas Kyriakides is Associate Professor of Educational Research and Evaluation, Department of Education, University of Cyprus.

Pam Sammons is Professor of Education, Department of Education, University of Oxford.