Research Design

Qualitative Research

Due April 2, 2003 (not exactly April Fools, eh?)

The assignment wants us to describe our research project in terms of either the Funnel or Modified Analytic Induction Approach. I choose the Funnel Approach, because it would seem that by becoming more specific, the research would narrow down a very applicable topic and go in-depth toward that topic.

My Research Postulate from last week was:

Teachers who are given the opportunity to select their computer platform of choice will integrate technology into their lesson plans more than teachers who are given no such choice.

Funnel Design:

General Questions

• How does Choice of Computing Platform affect integration of technology into lesson plans?
• How does Choice of Computing Platform affect Teacher attitudes toward:

o Local School Administration?

o District Office Administration?

o Other Teachers?

o District Technology Staff?

o Computers (general)?

• What skills are necessary for teachers to integrate technology into everyday teaching tasks and plans?

Possible Sites and Subjects

• Compare both local High Schools
• Both local Middle Schools
• Two fairly representative Elementary Schools

Possible Sources of Data

• CTAP Online
• Surveys of Teachers
• Surveys of Students (to find level of Technology integrated into various classes)
• Interview and/or Survey of Administration (school and/or district)
• Information from previous (historical) studies

Potential Data Collection Strategies

• Interviews with Teachers/Students/Administrators
• CTAP Online Reports
• Surveys of Teachers/Students/Administrators
• Analysis of training taken by teachers (theory: more technology use = more likely to get additional training)

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Placing this into the Funnel, we get to:

More Focused Questions

(theoretical, of course, since the actual questions will come with data analysis)

• Do students note that teachers are using Technology more in the classroom
• Do teachers feel more empowered when given the choice of technology platform
• Do teachers participate in more training activities if given choice of platform

Increased Focus: Narrower Data Collection

• Interview Teachers at site(s) chosen
• Interview Students at site(s) chosen
• Observe Teachers at site(s) to determine Technology use
• Interview DO administrators

Come to conclusions and write report.