C224 IN FOCUS: A+ PRECISION STUDY
SET FOR WGU’S RESEARCH
FOUNDATIONS – 2026–2027
an attempt to describe the characteristics of a phenomenon.
one of the most basic activities in research.
ex. observing a phenomenon and recording what one sees
descriptive research - THE CORRECT ANSWER-(type of research
objective)
provide an accurate description or picture of the status or
characteristics of a situation or phenomenon.
**focus is not specifically on searching out cause-and-effect
relationships, but rather on relating the variables that exist in a
given situation and any relevant relationships that exist among
them.
Steps in Descriptive Research - THE CORRECT ANSWER-1. randomly
select a sample from a defined population.
2. determine the sample characteristics
,3. infer the characteristics of the population based on the
sample
explanation - THE CORRECT ANSWER-(type of research objective)
how and why a phenomenon operates as it does
**the objective of the majority of educational research is
explanation**
How to determine if Explanation is the primary objective of a
research study - THE CORRECT ANSWER-ask yourself these questions:
1. Were the researchers trying to DEVELOP A THEORY about a
phenomenon to explain how and why it operates as it does?
2. Were the researchers trying to explain how phenomena
operate by IDENTIFYING CAUSE-AND-EFFECT
relationships?
explanatory research - THE CORRECT ANSWER-testing hypotheses and
theories that explain the functions of a phenomenon in detail
**researcher is focused on establishing clear and defensible
evidence for cause-and-effect relationships.
,***experimental research is the strongest form of explanatory
research for providing evidence of cause and effect.
prediction - THE CORRECT ANSWER-(type of research objective)
forecast a phenomenon, wherein there is an association made
between two points in time.
**when researchers determine cause-and-effect operations,
they can use this information to form predictions
predictive research - THE CORRECT ANSWER-predict the future of one
or more dependent (or criterion) variables on the basis of one
or more independent (or predictor) variables.
**is most applicable when researchers want to see how well
they can predict a certain outcome based on one or more
independent or predictor variables.
influence (motivation) - THE CORRECT ANSWER-(type of research
objective)
attempting to apply research to make certain outcomes occur
**application of research knowledge to control various aspects
of the world
, How to determine if influence is the primary objective of a
research study - THE CORRECT ANSWER-ask yourself these questions:
1. Were the researchers applying research knowledge to MAKE
SOMETHING USEFUL HAPPEN in the world?
2. Were the researchers checking a "DEMONSTRATION
PROGRAM" to see if it works in practice?
Integration Perspective - THE CORRECT ANSWER-(type of research
objective)
Two key perspectives: Emic and Etic
consolidating insights from multiple investigators,
theories/perspectives, sets of data, and methods in order to
understand a given entity of study, such as a school, or a
classroom or population.
Emic Perspective (when seeking integration objective) - THE
CORRECT ANSWER-- provides insider's perspective
- gives meaning and views of people being studied
- gets inside the heads of groups members
- includes local languages, forms of expression, and
jargon/slang
SET FOR WGU’S RESEARCH
FOUNDATIONS – 2026–2027
an attempt to describe the characteristics of a phenomenon.
one of the most basic activities in research.
ex. observing a phenomenon and recording what one sees
descriptive research - THE CORRECT ANSWER-(type of research
objective)
provide an accurate description or picture of the status or
characteristics of a situation or phenomenon.
**focus is not specifically on searching out cause-and-effect
relationships, but rather on relating the variables that exist in a
given situation and any relevant relationships that exist among
them.
Steps in Descriptive Research - THE CORRECT ANSWER-1. randomly
select a sample from a defined population.
2. determine the sample characteristics
,3. infer the characteristics of the population based on the
sample
explanation - THE CORRECT ANSWER-(type of research objective)
how and why a phenomenon operates as it does
**the objective of the majority of educational research is
explanation**
How to determine if Explanation is the primary objective of a
research study - THE CORRECT ANSWER-ask yourself these questions:
1. Were the researchers trying to DEVELOP A THEORY about a
phenomenon to explain how and why it operates as it does?
2. Were the researchers trying to explain how phenomena
operate by IDENTIFYING CAUSE-AND-EFFECT
relationships?
explanatory research - THE CORRECT ANSWER-testing hypotheses and
theories that explain the functions of a phenomenon in detail
**researcher is focused on establishing clear and defensible
evidence for cause-and-effect relationships.
,***experimental research is the strongest form of explanatory
research for providing evidence of cause and effect.
prediction - THE CORRECT ANSWER-(type of research objective)
forecast a phenomenon, wherein there is an association made
between two points in time.
**when researchers determine cause-and-effect operations,
they can use this information to form predictions
predictive research - THE CORRECT ANSWER-predict the future of one
or more dependent (or criterion) variables on the basis of one
or more independent (or predictor) variables.
**is most applicable when researchers want to see how well
they can predict a certain outcome based on one or more
independent or predictor variables.
influence (motivation) - THE CORRECT ANSWER-(type of research
objective)
attempting to apply research to make certain outcomes occur
**application of research knowledge to control various aspects
of the world
, How to determine if influence is the primary objective of a
research study - THE CORRECT ANSWER-ask yourself these questions:
1. Were the researchers applying research knowledge to MAKE
SOMETHING USEFUL HAPPEN in the world?
2. Were the researchers checking a "DEMONSTRATION
PROGRAM" to see if it works in practice?
Integration Perspective - THE CORRECT ANSWER-(type of research
objective)
Two key perspectives: Emic and Etic
consolidating insights from multiple investigators,
theories/perspectives, sets of data, and methods in order to
understand a given entity of study, such as a school, or a
classroom or population.
Emic Perspective (when seeking integration objective) - THE
CORRECT ANSWER-- provides insider's perspective
- gives meaning and views of people being studied
- gets inside the heads of groups members
- includes local languages, forms of expression, and
jargon/slang
