PREFACE | |
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction | |
| What is Research? | |
| What Does the "e" in e-Research Mean? | |
| What Kinds of Educational Research Activities are Meant by "e-Research"? | |
| The Special Task of e-Research | |
| Scope of e-Research | |
| Research Attributes of e-Research | |
| The Qualities of the e-Researcher | |
| Perils of e-Research | |
| On Naming the Net | |
| Summary | |
| References | |
CHAPTER TWO: What is the Net? | |
| What is the Net? | |
| Finding Information on the Net: Search Engines and Subject Guides | |
| Tips for Finding Useful and Relevant Information | |
| Summary | |
| References | |
CHAPTER THREE: Designing e-Research | |
| Designing e-Research | |
| Asking the Answerable | |
| Choosing a Research Paradigm | |
| Matching the Language with the Method | |
| Tips for Writing Good Research Questions | |
| Summary | |
| References | |
CHAPTER FOUR: The Literature Review Process in e-Research | |
| Why do a Literature Review? | |
| Ensuring Quality of the Literature Reviewed | |
| Evaluating and Authenticating Net-based Information | |
| Finding Sources of Information for the Literature Review | |
| Tips for Finding Formal Research Literature | |
| Tips for Effective use of Email and Usenet Research Groups | |
| Plagiarism and Networked Sources | |
| Summary | |
| References | |
CHAPTER FIVE: Ethics and the e-Researcher | |
| How the Net Complicates Ethics | |
| Privacy, Confidentiality, Autonomy, and the Respect for Persons | |
| Obtaining Consent from Online Participants | |
| Obtaining Consent Electronically | |
| When is consent needed? The Public versus Private Dilemma | |
| Reducing the Potential to Harm | |
| Tips for Ethical e-Research | |
| Summary | |
| References | |
CHAPTER SIX: Collaborative e-Research | |
| Types of e-Research Collaboration | |
| Challenges of e-Research Collaboration | |
| Applications of Collaborative Software by E-Researchers | |
| Microsoft's Sharepoint™ Team Services | |
| CommunityZero™ | |
| Groove Networks™ - Peer-to-Peer Collaboration Software | |
| Time Tracking | |
| Applications of Collaborative Software by E-Researchers | |
| References | |
CHAPTER SEVEN: Semi-structured and Unstructured Interviews | |
| Unstructured versus Semi-structured Interviews: What's the Difference? | |
| Interviewing Skills | |
| Initiating the Process | |
| Asking the Questions | |
| Analyzing the Data | |
| Tips for Conducting Interviews | |
| Summary | |
| References | |
CHAPTER EIGHT: Focus Groups | |
| The Different Kinds of Net-based Focus Groups | |
| Advantages and Disadvantages of Face-to-Face versus Net-based Focus Groups | |
| The Process | |
| Group Size | |
| Advantages and Disadvantages of Text-based Synchronous versus Text-based Asynchronous Focus Groups | |
| Participant Characteristics | |
| Organization | |
| The Moderator | |
| Bringing Closure | |
| Analyzing the Data | |
| Tips for Facilitating a Successful Net-based Focus Group | |
| Summary | |
| References | |
CHAPTER NINE: Net-based Consensus Techniques | |
| Advantages of Consensus Techniques | |
| Types of Consensus Techniques | |
| Delphi Method | |
| Nominal Group Technique | |
| Consensus Conferences | |
| WIKI System | |
| Developing a Net-based Consensus Building Research Project | |
| Concerns with Consensus Research | |
| Tips for Net-based Consensus Research | |
| Summary | |
| References | |
CHAPTER TEN: Quantitative Data Gathering and Analysis on the Net | |
| The Big Picture: Quantitative Statistics on Internet Size, Usage, And Demographics | |
| Web Site Analytics or e-Metrics | |
| Who is Really Visiting my Site? Problems of Proxies and Anonymous Users | |
| Use of the Web for Observation of Net-Based Activities | |
| Summary | |
| References | |
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Surveys | |
| Why Use Surveys? | |
| Why Use e-Surveys? | |
| Disadvantages of e-Surveys | |
| Critical Issues in e-Survey Design and Administration | |
| Achieving a High Response Rate | |
| Creating Effective e-Survey Items | |
| Creating an Effective Cover Letter | |
| Sample Invitation to Participate Letter | |
| Insuring the Quality of e-Surveys | |
| Types of e-Surveys | |
| Email Survey | |
| Tips for Email Surveys | |
| Web-based Surveys | |
| Tips for Web-based Surveys | |
| Overcoming Sample Bias in Web-based Surveys | |
| Strategies for Attracting General Respondents to your Web-based Survey | |
| Commercial e-Survey Packages | |
| Features of Popular Survey Packages | |
| Lists of Commercial e-Survey Products | |
| Summary | |
| References | |
CHAPTER TWELVE: Content Analysis of Online Documents | |
| Types of Content to be Analyzed | |
| Identifying the Content of Interest | |
| Qualitative Content Analysis | |
| Quantitative Content Analysis | |
| The Coding Process | |
| Defining the Unit of Analysis | |
| Software Tools to Aide in Classification, Analysis, and Theory Building | |
| Tips for Content Analysis | |
| Summary | |
| References | |
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Net-based Dissemination of e-Research Results | |
| Why Publish Your Results? | |
| Creating Quality Content | |
| Where to Disseminate your Results | |
| Disseminating Through a Popular Press Article | |
| Disseminating through Email List or Usenet Groups | |
| Tips for Dissemination | |
| Summary | |
| References | |
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Web Site Construction | |
| Elements of Design | |
| Sketching a Mock-Up Site | |
| Creating Pages | |
| Forms and Interaction | |
| Obtaining Web Space | |
| Tips for Creating a Web Site | |
| Summary | |
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: The Future of e-Research | |
| Future of the Net: Volume, Velocity, Variety, and Value | |
| Education as it Relates to the Four Vs | |
| Conclusion | |
| References | |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | |
INDEX | |
