overview of evidence-based research with steps and references.

1. Evidence-Based
Research – a ‘fly
on the wall’ look
at the basics
Dr Bronwyn Hegarty
Principal Lecturer in Teacher
Education (Tertiary)
CapableNZ
Fifth World Art at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/5wa/6516781997/

2. Overview
• What is evidence-based
research?
• Why do it?
• Examples.
• How to get started.

3. Definition
“Educational research is an
organized approach to
asking, answering, and
effectively reporting a
question.” (Biddix, 2009.)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/valeriebb/3006348550/

4. My definition
Evidence-based research is about satisfying your
curiosity and passion about teaching and
learning. It helps you to justify your approach.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5017/5537988512_9c1436fbf4_d.jpg

5. The teacher identifies a problem or issue – formulates a question?
wants to solve it
wishes to explore an area of interest
By Moithing - http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html - via Wikimedia Commons

6. What sort of questions do you have?

7. Why do it?
1. Improve Practice – practical applications.
2. Add to Knowledge – build a picture.
3. Address Gaps in Knowledge – locally, nationally,
internationally.
4. Expand Knowledge – discover new ways of doing things.
5. Replicate Knowledge – confirm what works.
6. Add Voices of Individuals to Knowledge – be inclusive.
(based on Biddix, 2009.)

8. Examples of research
Research question:
How do staff and students access, and interpret digital
information creating their own understandings, using Web 2.0
strategies? (Hegarty & Penman et al, 2010.)
•Collaborative with 42 participants (staff and students) at four
organisations in NZ.
•Action research methodology used to develop case studies.
•Significant shifts were made in developing digital information
literacy.
•Elements of the approach continue to be used in my practice
(e.g., action learning.)

10. Doctorate in Education research
Research question: How do educational practitioners reflect
when writing about their experiences?
•Qualitative case study methodology using an intervention –
Three-Step Reflective framework.
•Seven Masters of Education students in a multimedia design
course.
Outcome: the RF supported reflective practice.
Application: I use this framework all the time in my teaching
approach – blogs and ePortfolios .
Now I need to do some evidence-based research to check the
effectiveness of the Reflective Framework in my teaching.

11. Steps in Evidence-Based Research
1. Research Question - Planning
What do you want to find out?
2. Literature Review – Planning and Conducting
Review the literature.
3. Research Design - Planning
Specify the purpose, participants and methodology –
qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods.
4. Gathering data, Results and Discussion – Conducting
Collect data, and analyse and interpret
5. Publish findings - Reporting
Prepare a report and disseminate this for evaluation and
discussion in the educational community.

12. Summary
• Evidence-based research in education enables
you to confirm that your approach to learning
and teaching (your practice) is supported by
empirical research.

13. References
• Biddix, P. (2009). What is Educational Research? Research Rundowns. Retrieved from
http://researchrundowns.wordpress.com/intro/whatisedresearch/
• Hegarty, B. (2011). A Framework to Guide Professional Learning and Reflective Practice.
Doctor of Education thesis. Faculty of Education, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
Retrieved from http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/3720
• Hegarty, B., Penman, M., Kelly, O., Jeffrey, L., Coburn, D. and McDonald, J. (2010) Digital
Information Literacy: Supported Development of Capability in Tertiary Environments. Final
report. Ministry of Education, Wellington. ISBN 978-0-478-34214-7 (web)
http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/tertiary_education/80624

14. Resources
• Ako Aotearoa National Register of Research and Implementation Projects. http://
akoaotearoa.ac.nz/research-register - Search keywords - teaching, learning. Lots of examples
of projects about practical teaching.
• Australasian Journal of Educational Technology. http://
www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/submission/index.php/AJET/index
• IRRODL - The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning. At:
http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl Audio, pdf and epub papers.
• Scope. Contemporary research topics.
http://www.thescopes.org/flexiblelearning/submissions.php