Implementing Qualitative Approaches to the Dissertation - Research Paper Example

Research Protocol Template Problem: What is the problem and why is it a problem? The problem that needs to be addressed is the poor performance in intermediate algebra. The situation is a significant concern because it undermines the ability of the United States to compete with other countries in an increasingly competitive global environment. Algebra is an essential part of all the major undergraduate courses. For example, subjects such as computer science are important in producing students that can make a positive contribution in the modern economy. As a result, the failure to understand the subject would affect their ability to excel in academic and personal lives. The problem is aggravated by lack of concern among members of the society and relevant stakeholders. History: What is the background of the problem? Algebra is an essential part of mathematics. Learning mathematics is considered a basic feature of all education systems around the world (Hyde & Mertz, 2009). The importance associated with the subject can be linked to its ability to develop individuals with strong analytical and problem solving abilities. As a result, it is an important requirement for a workforce that can solve the challenges of the modern economy. In particular, algebra teaches individuals critical thinking. However, it is unfourtunate that the American society does not seem to be worried about the poor performance in intermediate algebra. In addition, an internet search revealed that few people have focused on the poor performance in intermediate algebra. Instead, the existing studies appear to have focused on basic mathematics or other stages of learning algebra. Understanding the causes will enable all the stakeholders to solve the problem in an effort to enhance the quality of the education system. Objectives: What are your objectives for this research? What do you want to accomplish? The primary objective of this study is to establish the level of poor performance in algebra in the United States. The research will set the stage for comprehensively understanding the problem by evaluating the underlying causes. The focus on the causes of this worrying trend is influenced by the belief that the formulation of effective intervention measures depends on having a strong garsp of the challenges facing the instruction and learning of intermediate algebra. The secondary objective is formulating appropriate measures to deal with the problem. The last objective is to contribute towards the existing literature on the issue so that policy makers have a large body of work to use in creating policy measures. Design: What is the design model of your research? Why is this model most appropriate for your problem? The qualitative nature of the study will influence the design that will be adopted (Englander, 2012). For instance, the process will rely on interviews and surveys. The surveys provide an effective method for evaluating the similarities and differencies between different groups (Jamshed, 2014). In addition, phenomenology and field research will also be used in the study. The approach involves observing the selected subjects as they go through their normal routine. Furthermore, individual participants will be asked to participate in an interview in an effort to understand their views on the subject (Englander, 2012). The use of interviews provides an opportunity for the researcher and the participants to interact with each other (Englander, 2012). However, the process requires time. The interviewer can also provide dishonest information in an effort to influence the outcome of the study. The interaction results in the development of trust which enables the researcher to receive more honest feedback. The study will also involve the use of personal observations by the researcher. The approach will enable the researcher to identify behavioral factors such as the attitude of the students and teachers towards intermediate college algebra and their on the performance of students (Hyde & Mertz, 2012). Participants: Who will be the participants in your research? Participation in this study will be limited to college students who are taking intermediate college algebra. The students will be drawn from both small and big classes (Hyde & Mertz, 2012). Smaller learning groups provide an enabling environment for more effective instruction than bigger classes. In addition, the Emporium Model will be used in this study. Two versions of the Emporium Model have been used in the past with significant success. Both versions involve a mandatory attendance by students for a minimum of three weeks. The approach ensures that students spend enough time on selected tasks. Furthermore, it enables them to receive help when needed. They also involve the use of mandatory group meetings. The group activities provide an opportunity for the teacher to focus on areas where testing has indicated a problem, give positive reinforcement to well-performing students and emphasize key areas in the subject. In addition, the group activities create a sense of community and team work among the students and teachers. Participant protocol: Ethical considerations Human subject considerations How many participants will be used? (justify this number) Rationale for choosing participants How participants will be solicited A deliberate attempt will be made to conduct the research process in an ethical manner that not only reflects commitment to respect the dignity and humanity of the participants but also appreciates the responsibilities of a researcher. Firstly, the researcher will obtain permission from all the relevant stakeholders. For example, the administrator of the community college where the study will be conducted will be informed about the purpose of the study. The researcher will give the participants the information needed in order to make an informed decision without giving them the opportunity to manipulate the findings of the study (Bergold & Thomas, 2012). One hundred participants will be involved in the study. The selection of students will be random while the teachers who will be involved will be drawn from schools that register poor performance in the subject. According to According to Bergold and Thomas (2012), the selection of the participants influences the outcome of a research process. Research location: Issues of confidentiality Interview room details Observation details Will consents be needed for the observation locations? The research process will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the highest ethical standards. All the participants will be assured that their identities will be protected (Bergold & Thomas, 2012). Furthermore, the interview room will be only accessible to the researcher and the person being interviewed at a specific time. The participants will be asked to sign a consent form at the location of the interview. In addition, the scope of observation will be limited to the factors that have a material impact on the research process. Consent will be sought before using the interview locations.and observations sanctioned by the relevant authorities. Researcher issues: How bias will be minimized Participants’ perceptions of you (any gender, race, age, dress, or body language issues) and how these will be addressed A deliberate attempt will be made to reduce bias in the study. An outside researcher will be asked to go through the design of the study. The activity will enable them to identify areas where the potential for bias is high and suggest appropriate measures that should be taken. The participants will be students in a community college intermediate algebra class. The Emporium Model will be used in all the classes in order to enhance the consistency of the study. The credibility of the participants will be evaluated through a thorough background check before they are asked to contribute in this study. In addition, considering demographic issues will not result in any discrimination. Instead, the researcher will only limit himself to determining the relationship between demographic factors and the ability of a student to perform well in intermediate algebra. Instrumentation: Researcher Interview questions: what will be asked, how it will be asked, and whether clarification questions will be asked Many instruments will be used in this study. In addition, all the questions will be pre-determined. However, the researcher will be allowed to ask any follow-up question during the interview process if they believe that it would lead to a better understanding of the problem. The scope of the questions will be limited to the following areas; the academic ability of the student, the availability of adequate resources and the size of the classroom. Furthermore, the study will attempt to develop correlation between demographic factors and performance in the subject. One of the important demographic factors that can result in poor performance in school is poverty (Hanson, Hair, Shen, Shi, Gilmore, Wolfe et al., 2013). Pilot study: Who will participate What the participants will be asked to do Whether the participants will be given the same questions or will only comment on the questions Whether any statistical analysis of the pilot results will be conducted for interrater reliability or validity The pilot study would involve the use of one randomly selected class. The identified class will use the Emporium Type Model while the others will be allowed to continue with their normal activities. The collected results from both sets of class will be analyzed. In addition, the participants in each study will be asked to make comments on the questions. The activity will enable the researcher to develop questions that would be effective in generating the most appropriate answers to the problem. Statistical analysis of the results collected during the pilot study will be conducted in order to establish their reliability. Data collection: Length of time needed Information given to participants Informed consent What data is being collected? A clear description of what data will be collected and how The amount of time that will be used to collect the data is one college session. Consent will be sought from each student after giving a class presentation about the study. In addition, all the participants will be assured that the scope of the study will be limited to the factors that have a direct impact on the performance of students in intermediate algebra. Furthermore, the collection of data will be limited to the performance of each participant in the subject. The process will ensure that the study is not biased by highlighting additional information about the student that may have no material impact on their academic performance. Furthermore, the study will highlight the attitudes of the teachers and students. In addition, it will highlight the level of awareness about this significant problem. Limitations: Research design Data-collection methods Sample Location Imposed by the researcher Each research activity faces its own challenges. Some of these challenges can be linked to the nature of qualitative research while others depend on other factors. In this study, a small sample size was used. It is noted that qualitative research often involves the use of a small sample size (Hyett, Kenny & Dickson-Swift, 2014). The use of a small sample size was necessitated by the need to finish the data gathering process within one semester. Consequently, the information that was collected does not provide a complete reflection of the situation in the country. A more effective approach would have involved the use of a larger sample drawn from different parts of the country. The use of one location undermined the ability of the study to cover more demographic categories. Validation: How findings will be validated Triangulation of data Internal validity External validity The validation of this study will involve several steps. Firstly, the data that has been collected in this research process will be compared with the existing information about the subject. Secondly, surveys of students in normal colleges will also be conducted. Thirdly, any important element that would have a direct relationship between the ability of the students to learn intermediate algebra such as online learning would be evaluated. In addition, an Emporium model will be used as an evaluation tool. The approach is similar to the Rapid to Intervention (RTI) that is used in community colleges. Conclusion The modern economy is characterized by competition. The United States has managed to be a leading economic player because it adopted important education policies that enabled it to produce a skilled workforce. However, this competitive advantage has been eliminated as other countries have adopted similar progressive policies in education. The country has failed to notice the declining performance in intermediate algebra. The observation highlights a significant problem in how the country is approaching its education sector and its effectiveness in meeting the challenges of the modern economy. Consequently, the study will empower the stakeholders to appreciate the gavity of the problem, its causes and possible solutions. References Bergold, J. & Thomas, S. (2012). Participatory Research Methods: A Methodological Approach in Motion. Forum for qualitative research 13 (1). Englander, M. (2012). The Interview: Data Collection in Descriptive Phenomenological Human Scientific Research. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology 43, 13-35. Hanson, J., Hair, N., Shen, D., Shi, F., Gilmore, J., Wolfe, B., et al. (2013) Family Poverty Affects the Rate of Human Infant Brain Growth. PLoS ONE 8(12), e80954. Retrieved from doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0080954 Hyett, N., Kenny, A & Dickson-Swift, V. (2014). Methodology or method? A critical review of qualitative case study methods. International Journal of Qualitative studies on health and well-being 9 (2306), 1-12 Hyde, J. & Mertz, J.E. (2009). Gender, culture and mathematics performance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 106(22), 8801-8807. Jamshed, S. (2014).Qualitative research method-interviewing and observation. Journal of Basic Clinical Pharmacy 5 (4), 87-88. Read More