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General Information about the Web Site The web site for Jim McMIllan's Educational Research: Fundamental for the Consumer is organized around each of the thirteen chapters in the text. Within each chapter you'll find five components: 1) learning objectives, 2) outlines, 3) self assessment, multiple choice items, 4) application exercises, and 5) additional web sites. Each of these components is described below, and some suggestions for your effective use of them are offered. Learning Objectives The first of the components is a set of learning objectives focused on the content of each chapter. They indicate what you should know or be able to do if the concepts and principles of the chapter are mastered. While there is obviously some overlap with the objectives in the text, the learning objectives included on this web site are far more specific and detailed. These objectives help direct your learning, but they also create a system by which you can identify specific issues that are essential to your personal goals as well as those of your instructor. Some recommended uses of these objectives are discussed below. Outlines The second component is a detailed outline of the chapter. The content of each outline parallels that of the text. However, the outline provides an alternative organization of the material that can facilitate your understanding of the information by providing a "snapshot" of it and, perhaps more importantly, a concise look at the way in which the various concepts are related to one another. Within each outline I have identified each of the learning objectives mentioned above. Each objective is electronically linked to the section of the outline where you can find all of the information needed to master the objective. This feature allows you to focus on specific objectives and instantly access relevant information to it. More about this feature is mentioned in the self assessment component. Finally, the outline was used to develop the Power Point slide shows that have been made available to your instructor. Should he or she decide to use the slide shows, you can access more detailed information about any topic in the slide show by referring to the outline. I have taught an introductory educational research class for over fifteen (15) years. I have used chapter objectives and linked them to the content of outlines for several years, and my students continue to talk about how helpful these resources are. I hope you will find them equally as beneficial in your efforts. Self Assessment Quiz The third component is a set of multiple choice items written specifically to the learning objectives. Each learning objective is addressed by at least one (1) item, but many have several items addressing them. When you take a self assessment quiz, your responses will be scored, and a score will be computed. You can identify the objective for any item by accessing the "HINT" provided for that item. For those items you missed or found difficult, the objective can be used to identify the specific information in the chapter outline that addresses these objectives. The items written for the self assessment quiz closely parallel those provided to your instructor in the instructor's manual and CD for this text. You will find taking the items on the self assessment quiz good practice for the tests developed from the manual should your instructor choose to use them. This is a very, very powerful learning tool that I have used for several years in my classes, and my students find it quite helpful. It not only identifies the troublesome or difficult concepts for individual students, but it allows them instant access to information that can help clarify any misconceptions they have. Most instructors allow you to use the self-assessment quiz to evaluate your knowledge of the material. Most do not use them in calculating your grade, but you need to check with them on this matter. Application Exercises A set of application exercises comprise the fourth component. These include references to those questions at the end of each chapter, a set of short questions that identify many of the fundamental concepts presented in the chapter, and a series of questions and activities that promote an in-depth understanding of some of the more important issues addressed in the chapter. You are welcome to use this resource at any time. External Web Sites Numerous websites have been identified for each of the chapters. In some cases these sites present material similar to that in the text, while in other cases they provide a vehicle for expanding your knowledge of the ideas discussed in the text. The websites for each chapter have been organized around the key concepts presented in the chapter outline and Power Point presentation. Links to many of these sites are embedded in the chapter outlines so you can access them quite easily. One of the most useful websites for this textbook is Research Navigator™. This is a set of research related databases. The site is organized in four major sections. The first, and perhaps most useful, is the Understanding Research section. In a part of this section called Using the Internet for Research you will find excellent electronic resources for using the internet, tips for searching efficiently and effectively, evaluating internet sources, and choosing and evaluating search engines. A second part called Citing Your Sources provides access to tutorials for citing references in APA, MLA, CMS, and CBE styles. The second valuable aspect of the site is Content Select. This section provides access to thousands of academic journals and is easily searched by discipline and search terms relevant to the topics of interest. If you are going to have to read research articles other than those in the textbook, this is an excellent resource. The New York Times on the Web section of Research Navigator™ provides access to the New York Times database of articles. It is easily searched by discipline and search terms relevant to topics of interest, and it can be helpful when looking for general, non-empirical information. Finally, the Link Library section provides access to the thousands of editorially reviewed and credible web sites related to research. It is easily searched by discipline and alphabetical indices of topics within disciplines. Jeff Oescher, Ph.D. University of New Orleans August 2003
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