Qualitative Research Paper
Qualitative Research Paper
Shirley P. Davis
EDD/581
July 14, 2014
Professor Elizabeth Ashley
When researchers use qualitative methodologies, they are motivated to design their research on the basis of one of six research traditions: participatory action research (PAR), phenomenology, ethnography, grounded theory, narratology, and consensual qualitative research (Hays & Wood, 2011). For the purpose of my action research project, I chose the PAR design primarily because the process requires participation from those who are directly affected. As triangulating data sources increases the study’s reliability, the data collection strategies will include surveys, reflective journals, and a collection of records such as quarterly grade data and system-wide benchmark data to provide baseline data.
Inquiry-based data in the form of surveys will be collected before determining professional development sessions for content-area teachers and again after the implementation of strategies from the professional development sessions. The use of surveys “provide a comprehensive, opinions, or behavior patterns of the population” (Stoica, 2008). The surveys will include ten to fifteen subjective questions and distributed to all content-area teachers in grades six to eight. Items such as system-wide benchmark tests, teacher grade books, unit tests and quizzes, make available a method for determining the effectiveness of the use of reading strategies. My action research statement attempts to answer why seventh-grade students lacked the ability to apply reading comprehension skills when responding to expository texts which caused them to perform below the school system’s benchmark tests. A variety of artifacts that align with my research goals can offer valuable comparison information on this issue.
Finally, reflective journals from content-area teachers that were used throughout the study offers deeper understanding and ongoing reflective analysis and evaluation. Before
Shirley P. Davis
EDD/581
July 14, 2014
Professor Elizabeth Ashley
When researchers use qualitative methodologies, they are motivated to design their research on the basis of one of six research traditions: participatory action research (PAR), phenomenology, ethnography, grounded theory, narratology, and consensual qualitative research (Hays & Wood, 2011). For the purpose of my action research project, I chose the PAR design primarily because the process requires participation from those who are directly affected. As triangulating data sources increases the study’s reliability, the data collection strategies will include surveys, reflective journals, and a collection of records such as quarterly grade data and system-wide benchmark data to provide baseline data.
Inquiry-based data in the form of surveys will be collected before determining professional development sessions for content-area teachers and again after the implementation of strategies from the professional development sessions. The use of surveys “provide a comprehensive, opinions, or behavior patterns of the population” (Stoica, 2008). The surveys will include ten to fifteen subjective questions and distributed to all content-area teachers in grades six to eight. Items such as system-wide benchmark tests, teacher grade books, unit tests and quizzes, make available a method for determining the effectiveness of the use of reading strategies. My action research statement attempts to answer why seventh-grade students lacked the ability to apply reading comprehension skills when responding to expository texts which caused them to perform below the school system’s benchmark tests. A variety of artifacts that align with my research goals can offer valuable comparison information on this issue.
Finally, reflective journals from content-area teachers that were used throughout the study offers deeper understanding and ongoing reflective analysis and evaluation. Before
References: Hays, D. & Wood, C. (2011). Infusing qualitative traditions in counseling research designs. Journal of Counseling & Development, 89, 288-295. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Hendricks, Cher. (2009) Improving schools through action research: a comprehensive guide for educators Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson, Stoica, I. (2008). Survey research in education. Research Starters Education. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.