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 (3^rd ed). Sage Publishing.

Capella University

Dissertation Topic Worksheet

Justification

It is very important to survey parent perceptions of virtual schools. Ultimately, I think that I want to look at why parents choose virtual schools over brick and mortar schools. As a virtual teacher, I would like to know what brings parents to virtual schools and what makes them want to pull their children out of brick and mortar. There is not a large amount of research on online learning for k-8, which is why I feel that this study is warranted.

Topic: (3-5 words)

Parent Perceptions of Virtual Schools

Headline:

Learning without Walls

Learning without Walls: A Study of Parent Perceptions of Virtual Schools

Problem:

Virtual schools are not meeting the needs of the parents. The parents are the customers.

Problem Statement:

Research is needed regarding how parents define and perceive an effective virtual education.

There is a gap in the literature regarding how parents influence virtual education.

Purpose Statement:

The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze parent perceptions of effective virtual schools.

Focusing Your Problem

Take the components and rewrite your problem statement using a component of “A” and a component of “B”. Refine the problem statement.

Sample:      A= NCLB              B=Educational Quality

It is not known how and to what extent curricular changes (component of NCLB) impacts faculty morale (component of B).

Refined Statement

There is a gap in the literature regarding how and to what extent parents influence virtual education.

There is a gap in the literature regarding how and to what extent the home environment impacts academic achievement.

Research Methods

• Categorized Survey
• Focus Groups

It is not known how parents’ perceptions impact their selection of the virtual learning environment for their children. (Dr. Ward suggested this)