Data Collection
Data Collection Strategy
Research Question:
1) What characteristics/elements do parents consider when choosing a distance learning/virtual schooling option for their middle school student(s)?
My research question could imply qualitative or quantitative, in that I could use a survey much like Likert or I could use focus groups and interviews. A mixed method approach would include this research question plus one that I have deleted from my brain.
2) What criteria do parents use to evaluate the perceived success of such an educational environment at the middle grades level?
Now, that I am looking at both questions they could go either way. However, I am officially sticking with qualitative. However, if I use both of these questions then I can create a mixed methods approach. This approach would allow me to give a narrative and include the numbers that would help to support the narrative from a statistical point of view.
Data Collection:
After sitting through numerous workshops at the Denver colloquium, I realized that I should use qualitative methods for my data collection. It is clear that in order to find out what parent perceptions are of virtual schools that I will have to talk to them and interview them. However, I was approached with numerous ideas on how to actually gather the data:
- Case Study
- Narrative
I am still confused as to which one I want to actually do. From what I understand, case studies take longer and they are harder to get approved. I remember at the Atlanta Colloquium one of the presenters stated that no one was interested in case studies because they were harder to complete. One of the common saying at the colloquiums have been “get it done” and I definitely want to do that without having too many problems with getting the proposal approved and so forth.
Data Instruments:
- Open-ended questionnaire
- Focus Groups (coding responses)
- Individual interviews
One problem that was brought to my attention is the fact that some parents may be reluctant to talk in the focus groups, which is why I will pull them out individually. However, I want to increase my response rate to ensure that I can make the necessary generalizations.
Internet surveys are also a good way to get information, but I know that I will have to follow up on the emails sent to the parents. Many parents have junk mail folders and my surveys can get lost. I will have to have some type of pre-interaction with them and plus sending them a contact letter or email asking for them to participate.
Reference:
Creswell, J.W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed). Sage Publishing.
