This thorough, step-by-step text provides a comprehensive introduction to educational research. Here is complete coverage of each step of the research process and thorough coverage of the most widely-used research methodologies. Step-by-step analysis of real research articles is included. End-of-chapter worksheets, comprehensive coverage of data analysis, and how to prepare research proposals and reports make it appropriate both for courses that focus on doing research and for those that stress how to read and understand research. To keep students engaged, the authors' writing is simple and direct. The presentations have been enhanced with clarifying examples, summarizing charts, tables and diagrams, and a friendly two-color design. This is the only copiously illustrated text about educational research available. In the new fourth edition a new chapter on single-subject research has been added. Much new information has been added to the discussion of Qualitative Research which has doubled in size to two chapters. New examples of unethical practices have been added to Chapter 3. New sections have been developed for chaos theory, statistical power, and latent variable structural modeling. The reviewing literature chapter (Chapter 5) now emphasizes computer and Internet rather than manual searches. There are all new examples of each methodology with critiques of these new examples. One hundred new illustrations have been added throughout the text. Other changes for the fourth edition include: calculations from Chapter 10 on Descriptive Statistics have been relocated to the Appendix; new material on parametric techniques for categorical data has been added to Chapter 11, and new case studies have been added including, in Chapter 20-Pupil occupancy time in classroom settings across cultures. Free PowerPoint Electronic Slides are available for free download from the Fraenkel fourth edition Web site.