Doing
research in special education requires a special skill set, attitude
and set of dispositions. Please share a list of 10 Best Practices when
doing qualitative research in special education. Comment on at least 3
of these practices and how you intend you utilize them in your own
research project.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Blog #1: Best Practices in Research in Special Education
Doing
research in special education requires a special skill set, attitude
and set of dispositions. Please share a list of 10 Best Practices when
doing qualitative research in special education. Comment on at least 3
of these practices and how you intend you utilize them in your own
research project.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1.Interview
ReplyDelete2.Observation
3. Refer to existing documents
4.Use data programs
5.Data method- It is important to decide which methods you will be using to collect and analyze your data. Be sure you are using the correct method to collect your data. I used this when collecting my data because I realized that using a spreadsheet and check list was the best way to gather my data.
6.Keep your research objective in mind - It is common to find researchers that have veered from their topic. This is important because it will communicate the reason for the study. I have to remind myself of the kind of information I am looking for. It is easy to get sidetracked with the overwhelming amount of information the internet provides us.
7. Note taking- This extremely important when gathering your data. This helps you organize your ideas and summarize your information quickly. Once the data was collected, on the day, I would have the teacher briefly write down what the class looked like, the kinds of activities they were doing, and how the child was acting. This provided me with a great deal of information that I can use in my paper.
8. Use multiple different resources to gather your data.
9. Be prepared for change
10.Conduct focus groups to help gather data
1. The use of surveys. My study uses Likert scales as a pre and post check of student views on growth mindset. It is the fundamental tool I use to collect my data. Each question can then be compared across students or as individuals comparing the pre and post survey.
ReplyDelete2. Field studies.
3. Note -taking. While the primary data source I am using is a survey, I also had a notebook for taking notes regarding our discussions. I worked with a small group and tried to write out information that was discussed, as well as perceived attitudes or behaviors the students showed during the discussion part of the study.
4. Using interpretive research.
5. Using existing theories to create research. The idea of growth mindset was instrumental in my planned project. Knowing the current theory and how it had previously been applied made the design of my project much easier. It was interesting to see how my students' responses aligned with what the existing theory is.
6. Researchers are considered the primary instrument of data collection.
7. Using more than one research method.
8. Making sure studies are transparent.
9. Case studies.
10. Ethnography.
1. Interview
ReplyDelete2. Observation
3. Existing Documents
4. Always keep notes- keeping notes is important and goes along with our coding. I would jot notes down on how the kids were performing that day and when I was finding research articles I would take notes and code relevant items.
5. Define your data collection methods- I had a specific way on how I was collecting data and using data sheets on my students. I was also mindful on how I set up my data collection sheets.
6.Keep your research objective in mind
7. Schedule qualitative data collection
8.Review your data collection tools
9.Use multiple sources- By using multiple sources I'm looking up different research articles that pertain to progress monitoring and CVC words and pulling information from there to help support my thesis paper and literature review.
10. Embrace change
1. Survey/Interview: for my research I had a variety of people complete a survey based on motivators i a self-contained classroom. All people that completed the survey either have worked in a classroom or are school related personnel.
ReplyDelete2. Observation: I observed a lot in my study. I was able to observe my students and their reactions to certain types of motivators in the classroom.
3.Case Study: My research was based off of a case study with a diverse group of students with special needs. The case study involved; interviews, observation, data, documents, etc.
4. Ethnography
5. Narrative
6. Focus Groups
7. Text Analysis
8. Phenomenology
9. Data charting
10. Note taking
1. Interviews
ReplyDelete2. Observe--Observation allows for examination of subjects in their natural setting. Im my research I intend to use observation in order to take accurate data based on the behaviors of the students in the study group.
3. High tolerance for ambiguity
4. Use multiple sources--Collecting information from many sources allows for different ideas, views, and information. I intend to use different sources to gain background on my topic as well as supportive information on my topic.
5. Data recording
6. Keep your research objective in mind
7. Take accurate notes
8. Comfort in writing
9. Flexibility--Qualitative research findings can change based on the subjects and their surroundings. This is especially true when studying young children. There are so many variables that can effect the results or outcome of the results so an open mind and flexibility is something that I will have and have had during the data taking for my research.
10. Make sure study is transparent
1. Be a careful observer
ReplyDelete2. Be flexible
3. Keep accurate data/notes
• This is very important when conducting research. Data and notes need to be accurate and organized so they can be referred to throughout the research process. For my project, I have numerous pages of grades that had to be gone through, and disabilities that needed to be looked at. I was able to create charts to keep my data in order.
4. Keep research objective in mind
5. Ask good questions
6. Be comfortable with writing
7. Use natural settings
• This needs to be done so the participants are behaving in the most realistic way possible. Although I did not observe participants for my study, I am analyzing their grades, and I know these grades are valid because they were produced throughout the school year in the student’s natural setting (classroom).
8. Be able to identify themes, patterns, and relationships
• This is important to do while collecting research. Not only does this need to take place with data collection, but I am also using it for my literally review. There is a ton of research already out there, and as I read my articles, I need to continue to identify themes, patterns, and relationships and apply them to by study.
9. Be able to pick and use different methods for data collection
10. Be coherent when articulating results