If you were to ask most professionals in our field where they learned to do research, they would probably reply that they learned in graduate school. But, if you ask them where they really learned to do research that was publishable they will probably give a different answer. We would venture to guess that after a moment or two of reflection, they will tell you they learned on the job. Many would state that they found an experienced researcher who served as mentor and taught them the fine art of designing studies, collecting data, and preparing the results for presentation and publication.
As reviewers, program planners, and editors of ETR&D’s research section, we have had the opportunity to review several hundred proposals and manuscripts. And, as researchers in the field of instructional technology, we have prepared, presented, and published many research papers. This monograph is a summary of our ideas and experiences related to doing research in the field. Our goal is to motivate new professionals to start an active and productive research program, and to help experienced professionals to refine their research skills. Maybe in five years when a graduate student asks how you learned to do research the common answer will be, “I was helped quite a bit by paperback book!” Our intention is that “that book” will be this one.
The way we do our literature searches and make presentations have changed considerably since we prepared the first edition of this monograph. In this third edition, we have made significant revisions to several sections to more accurately reflect the tools and methods available to students and researchers today.