The tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth sessions

The key points we learned in the very last sessions are as following:

If the numbers are below ten, we should write them in words and if the numbers are above ten, we should write them in numbers.

If I have 1000 students and then I hold a test in which 500 students only fit the intermediate level and then I choose all those 500 students, my sampling will be purposive, but if among all those 500 students, I choose 100 of them randomly, then I will have a real random sampling.

If I only have girls students and I have to only work with that group, this is called limitation of my study. But if I myself want to only work with female students, not male students in my study, then it will be delimitation.

In a study we can have two pre- tests. One that is supposed to homogenize the participants. For example, I hold the PET test and I only choose intermediate students. Then I can have another pre- test related to the purpose of my study. For example, If my study is about vocabulary, I hold a pre- test to measure my students' vocabulary knowledge at the begiing of the study. A word of caution, if the scores of the second pre- test are controlled we can use SPANOVA to analyse the data and if the pre- test results are not controlled, we should use ANCOVA.

Using t-test, we should notice that data must be interval. If we have frequency type data, then we should use chi- square.

What is informed consent? participants should be aware of the purpose of the study to some extent and agree to take part in the study.

Key terms should be operationalized. If we can find a figure for that operationalize definition, it is much better. If we do not have this difinition, we should provide it ourselves.

writing a method, we should precisely talk about our sampling, instrument and the procedure of the class at least for one session.

We should mention that the analysis method that we are using is going to address which of our reserch questions.

Abstract

Abstract must be very concise and informative. In abstract we talk about the purpose of the study and method and implications in general.

In a paper, abstract is almost about one paragraph while in dissertation, the abstract should not be more than a page.

Citations in the abstract are differnt from that in the text.

When we talk about the implications of our study in the abstract it must be very detailed. Claiming that the study would be beneficial to teachers, text book designers and so on is not a good implication.