by
A research submitted to the Department of Professional and Continuing Education
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the course EDU455/487: Introduction to Educational Research
Department of Professional and Continuing Education
Montego Bay, Jamaica
February 16, 2009 Table of Contents Abstract………………………………………………………………………………….. ..4 Chapter 1…………………………………………………………………………………...5 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………….5 Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………………….5 Purpose and Research Questions ……………………………………………………6 Definition of Terms……………………………………………………….................6 Chapter 2…………………………………………………………………………………....7 Review of the Literature………………………………………………………..............7 Chapter 3……………………………………………………………………………………9 Procedures………………………………………………………………………………9 Study Design………………………………………………………………………...9 Research Site and Purposeful sampling……..……………………………………….9 Protocol………………………………………………………………………………9 Data Gathering Strategies…………………………………………………………....10 Data Analysis and Interpretation Approach...……………………………………….10 Researcher’s Role and Potential Ethical Considerations…………..………………..11 Methods of Validation……………………………………………………………….11 Timeline……………………………………………………..…………………….....12 Chapter 4…………………………………………………………………………………....13 Findings………………………………………………………………………………...13 Description of Site or Individuals…………………………………………………...13 Restorying and Analysis of Themes…………………………………………………13 Chapter 5……………………………………………………………………………………20 Discussion………………………………………………………………………………20 Major Findings……………………………………………………………………….20 Comparison of Findings with Existing