1. Literature analysis.
Many educational management works regard literature analysis as one of the most basic methods of educational management research. Indeed, in addition to the first-hand materials directly from practice, many studies must be carried out through the collection, collation and analysis of documents. As far as its formal origin is concerned, this method mainly comes from historical research, with the analysis of a large number of detailed historical materials as the basic research means. Literature survey method has low research cost and can study events that researchers can't directly participate in. However, this method also has its shortcomings, mainly in the difficulty in grasping the accuracy, credibility and representativeness of the literature; Some information is not easy to query due to conditions; Some original materials are mixed with personal factors such as the political attitude and personal preferences of the parties, rather than objective and neutral event reports, so researchers are required to have a strong knowledge base and judgment ability.
2. Questionnaire survey.
Questionnaires are widely used in the study of educational management, especially after the rise of behavioral science in the 1950s, and this method is widely used to analyze various educational management problems. The general process of questionnaire survey method is: determining research topics → compiling questionnaire items → selecting samples → making small-scale predictions → conducting surveys → counting survey data → discussing and analyzing → making suggestions. Proper use of these methods has obvious significance for improving the scientific nature of educational management research. The difficulties of questionnaire survey are: it is not easy to design a questionnaire with strong reliability and validity; High research cost; It takes a long time; Researchers must have some statistical knowledge.
3. Interview survey.
Interview survey is to obtain the required information through the dialogue between visitors and interviewees. This method is of great value in the study of educational management, especially in the study of educational policy and school management. The advantage of interview survey method lies in its wide adaptability and can be used in almost any research topic; Through this method, we can also understand some deep-seated problems that are difficult to reflect in the questionnaire survey. The limitation of interview investigation is that it takes a lot of time, and the subjective tendency of researchers is strong, sometimes it is inevitable to be mixed with personal subjective prejudice, which affects the objectivity and impartiality of research.
4. Experimental research.
The characteristics of this method are: (1) has at least one variable, and this variable can be controlled and changed by researchers; (2) It is mainly used to reveal the causal relationship between variables; (3) In research, it is usually necessary to compare the controlled facts and objects with the uncontrolled facts and objects; (4) The experimental process requires hypothesis and verification, strict operating procedures and scientific measurement methods; (5) The experimental results can be repeated, that is, anyone can repeat the experiment as long as the conditions are the same.
Compared with other research methods, the experimental research in the field of education management is more difficult, which may be related to the complex and changeable factors involved in education management, difficult to control and high policy orientation. However, it is not without successful examples. For example, K.Lewin, an American management psychologist, conducted a study on the types of school leadership styles in the late 1930s. Through research, he came to the conclusion that different leadership styles will have different effects on group behavior and group efficiency, which has a far-reaching impact on the development of post-war leadership science. Experimental research is more suitable for small-scale and single-goal situations, such as class management and teacher-student interaction in schools.
5. Ethnographic research.
This method evolved from anthropological research, and it especially emphasizes observation, description and qualitative judgment in the natural state, ignoring assumptions or solid theoretical basis, which is somewhat similar to what we usually call natural observation. This method can be used to study the teaching and management of a private school, the administrative decision-making process of a middle school principal and the current situation of educational system reform in a region. However, some graduate students majoring in education management try to write their graduation thesis in this way, which is a very gratifying phenomenon, reflecting that the research methods of education management in China are becoming more and more abundant and perfect.
6. Comparative research
Comparative method is an important way for people to understand objective things, which is often used in educational management research. Many people like to compare and study educational policies, educational management systems and teaching management forms. There are many forms of comparison, including vertical comparison, horizontal comparison, inter-school comparison, regional and even national comparison. As far as its significance is concerned, comparative study can broaden researchers' horizons and deepen their understanding of the problems to be studied; Cross-national and cross-cultural comparative study can also enhance the understanding of the future development trend of education management.
7. Action research methods
Action research belongs to applied research in essence, because its research direction is very clear, which is to help grassroots people solve practical problems. This method is characterized by its strong practicability, regardless of the universal significance of the research results, so the requirements for research conditions are not so harsh and the theoretical basis is not very mature. Action research is usually small in scale and mostly carried out in the form of collective cooperation. In the research, special attention is paid to the timely evaluation and revision of the original plan.
In the field of education management, action research method can be used in school resource management, curriculum management, moral education management and school efficiency improvement. If this method is used well, it can not only solve practical problems, promote the combination of theory and practice, but also improve teachers' professional quality and scientific research ability, so some scholars think it is also an excellent method to cultivate teachers' scientific research ability.
④ There are various teaching modes of educational management.