A controlled experiment is a way of teasing out the details of just which aspects of your innovation are influencing the outcomes you are considering and bringing about the changes you observe. The essence of an ethnographic approach is 'in situ' observation. The events being observed should be as little disturbed and as authentic as possible. Focus groups are moderated meetings of 'involved' people discussing their experience of an educational intervention. Nominal group technique An interesting method which can yield surprising results.
Advantages are that the views of everyone are considered, and the time for all stages is low.
It is a group in name only as the views of all participants are collected separately. Questionnaires A collection of open or closed questions which can be paper-based or online. Resource questionnaires However good a CAL package is, it will have no positive effect on student learning if it isn't used. Resource questionnaires seek to identify which resources students are using. Split screen video Involves video recording the student and the software in use.