Descriptive, Correlational, Experimental & Action Studies

WHAT?
We learned about the different types studies that are done, especially among teachers. There are 4 different types:
1) Descriptive - which are studies done by observing what is going on. It is the most common research done among teachers. This type of research doesn't prove anything but it is the foundation for the other types of studies done.
2) Correlational - which are studies that explore the relationship between 2 variables. This type of study allows us to observe relationships and draw conclusions. The majority of studies done by teachers will be correlational studies. While correlational studies study the relationship between 2 variables, it does not determine cause and effect relationships.
3) Experimental - which are studies that include manipulating 1 aspect of the environment in order to yield a cause/effect relationship. These are the most difficult studies for teachers to do because of issues with ethics and the inability to control variables.
4) Action Research - which are studies done by a teacher in their own classroom or school.

SO WHAT?
Knowing the different types of studies is important to me as a future teacher because I want to be the best teacher I can be. In order to become the best teacher I can be, I need to be able to look at my students (who change and will be different year to year), my teaching strategies, and the responses, and be willing to change and adapt. Doing these types of studies will allow me to evaluate all of the above and decide what to change and manipulate in order to be the best and most effective teacher and meet the needs of my students to the best degree possible. In addition to that, it is also important to know that these different types of studies exist because articles and information out there can be deceiving. Knowing the types of studies will help me discern which information is accurate and reliable, and which information is lacking, deceptive, and incomplete.

NOW WHAT?
Now that I am aware that different types of studies are done to yield data, I will be more careful about what I take as fact as I read articles, especially those pertaining to education. Before now, I took headlines to be fact and assumed the information to be correct based on accurate studies, etc. Now I know the importance of evaluating such articles and headlines to determine the accuracy of the information presented.