Changes in the Educational System - Essay Example

1. XYZ Middle School is located on AB Road and is a campus of buildings constructed in the early 1970s. Currently there are two buildings that housethe school. These two buildings are linked together by a bridge and there is a lot of greenery around. The original building was a small one which started with just two levels. This building too since inception has been renovated and expanded. No major changes or additions have taken place to the school campus for long. Increase in student population demands an increase and expansion of facilities. Technology needs to be incorporated and facilities for students as well as the faculty need to be enhanced. Additional faculty would be required to cope with the changes and new curriculum would be added in Chinese language. The school has applied for grant from the state and is hopeful of receiving it. In the meantime the administrators would like a report incorporating the evaluation of the expansion process. The main expansion would be in the area of incorporating technology which would enhance the education system. Apart from this, the sports facilities and the gymnasium area were considered inadequate as the number of students has gone up. The question of expansion arose because it has been felt that students need to balance between studies and sports. To enhance the quality of the students, to make them capable of competing with others schools in the region, to improve the efficiency of the staff, to enhance teaching facilities for the faculty, expansion has been considered necessary. 2. Any decision is based on a body of knowledge. This body of knowledge is produced through research. By applying the appropriate methodologies and the research method, the body of knowledge can be established and advanced with confidence. Any research is valuable because research adds to the existing knowledge. Research helps to take decisions; research synthesizes information. Research methodology is the procedural framework within which the research is conducted. The methodology depends upon the topic to be researched and the specific research questions are the primary drivers. The research would attempt to find how the faculty and staff respond to the changes as a result of expansion. Any change brings resistance from the employees. Employees in an academic institution comprise of the teaching and non-teaching staff. The change could affect the educational system or the administration of the school. It is essential to evaluate the implications of change because it affects the smooth functioning of the any school. Once their response to change is ascertained, the board of directors could take the necessary steps to make the transition smooth. 3. Research philosophy highlights two different schools of thought on the how to conduct research. Arguments should be evaluated in different ways because primarily arguments have different roles and purposes and people assess according to the purpose in their mind. Arguments can be evaluated in two qualitatively different ways – in terms of their deductive correctness or in terms of inductive strength (Rips, 2001). For this research the qualitative method (interpretive or inductive) of research has been used. Qualitative research is conducted through an intense and/or prolonged contact with the field of study. Qualitative data has the potential to reveal complexity. Qualitative study is suitable for this topic and is easier to operate. Qualitative research has an inherent flexibility because data collection times and methods can change as the research proceeds and the situation evolves. This implies that qualitative method is more operational and more controllable. For this research qualitative data would be collected. 4. The research population would comprise of the non-teaching staff, which includes the administrative staff, the library staff, those in charge of the sports facilities. It would also include the faculty from all departments. Opinions of two members from the governing body or the board of directors would also be taken into account. Those that have initiated the expansion of the school are vital for this research as they would be able to justify the expansion. 5. Knowledge about the staff and the faculty would be collected in advance. Each level of the staff would be represented proportionally. The reactions and observations of different level of people would differ as perception at each level differs. The junior staff at the school would be engaged in different level of work and they may not be able to perceive the benefits derived through expansion. They would concentrate on immediate difficulties that they would face. The board of directors has foresightedness and their planning is always long-term. At the same time, it is quite possible that the senior management has overlooked some important aspect in expansion and hence it is advisable to take the reactions of the juniors as well. Hence cluster sampling would be used where large groups would be broken up into smaller workable models (NUR, 1997). This implies at random a group of people would be sent out questionnaires and then from each group, two or three would be invited for in-depth interview. Emphasis would be given to select those for interview who have been with the school for longest. This would bring out a perception of the problems faced and the need for expansion. This is cost and time effective method of sampling. 6. For qualitative research various instruments can be employed. For the purpose of this research questionnaires and interviews have been considered important. While interviews would be conducted of the key personnel and a few representatives from each department, the rest of the staff and faculty would be sent out self-completion questionnaires. Data would be collected through self-completion questionnaires as this method of data collection allows the ability for unambiguous quantitative data to be collected (Redmond & Griffith 2003). This questionnaire would be developed specifically for this study and sent out through email. The format will be kept relatively simple and straightforward as there is little control over the respondents’ interpretation of questions. A large group of people can be covered at a relatively low cost in sending questionnaires through email but there is no control over the external influences and the verification of who actually completes the questionnaires. Apart from sending out questionnaires, interviews would be conducted as it is a highly flexible method, can be used almost anywhere and has the potential to produce data of great depth. Interviewing is a mode of inquiry aimed at understanding an experience and meaning that person make of that experience (Seidman, 1998 cited by Eggenberger & Nelms, 2006). Interviews are more than a data gathering technique. It is a social encounter where knowledge is constructed. The individual in-depth interview allows the interviewer to delve deeply into social and personal matters (DiCicco-Bloom & Crabtree, 2006) and it unveils a person’s emotions, beliefs, problems, experience and actions (Eggenberger & Nelms). This is considered necessary in the context of expansion and it is important to ascertain how each individual perceives it. Interviews can capture some of the subtle complexities underlying the decision-making process that can be missed by large-scale statistical analyses (Herod, 1993). Qualitative interviews can be structured, semi-structured or unstructured. Structured interviews produce quantitative data while unstructured interviews produce data collected through participant observation (DiCicco-Bloom & Crabtree, 2006). Our research problem consists of finding out how the employees react or adapt to the integration right from the buying process. Hence semi-structured interviews are deemed the right approach where the interviews would be scheduled in advance at a designated time and location outside of daily events. 7. Questionnaire items: a. How long have you been associated with this school? b. What sort of problems do you face with the current situation of the school? c. What do you foresee the problems of the future? d. To what extent do you think the existing problems could be solved through expansion? e. Would expansion or the process of expansion inconvenience you in anyway? f. Will you be willing to cooperate in the process of expansion? g. Do you believe expansion of the school would lead to better results for the students? h. Do you think the pressure on the faculty would ease with expansion? Interview protocol: Before starting the interview, the interviewee would be given an opportunity to ask any questions. They would be assured of confidentiality of their responses, and the project would be summarized before starting the interview. Every piece of research has a Central Research Question (CRQ) (Spickard, n.d.). It could be a very general question like “How do you perceive the expansion of the school would benefit the students?” or it could be practical question such as “How can the school carry on without the expansion?” in either case the CRQ identifies what the researcher wants to know. The researcher would have done some basic ground work before starting on any research. The problems that the school faces would have been studied; a comparison with the existing facilities in the schools in the region would have been made in advance. The interview will not be a series of questions but as the responses come, the questions may change or may lead to another question. Interviews must be able to engage the informant rather than just asking long questions. Leading questions may be asked of how the interview personally faced any problem at any point and how he thinks expansion of the school would help to overcome this issue. The interviewer would have to ensure that the responses come after reflection and not just two word answers to every question. 8. A list would be taken from the school in advance of all their teaching and non-teaching staff. They would be segregated into different groups depending on their years of service with the school, their experience in the academic line, the stage at which they are in their profession and age. The questionnaires would initially be sent out to each individual but the questions would differ, again depending on their level of experience and their field of expertise. Once the responses are received, they would be segregated based on cluster sampling. Those to be interviewed would be informed in advance of the date and time of the interview. The interviews would be conducted on the school campus itself so that the informants are comfortable, within their own office or area of work. It would also help if they wanted to demonstrate any facility at the school. 9. Data analysis consists of data reduction (this starts early in the analysis), data display and conclusion drawing and verification (Miles & Huberman 1994 cited by Weerd-Nederhof, 2001). Data reduction refers to selecting, focusing, simplifying, abstracting, and transforming raw data collected during interviews. Data display is a visual format that would display the data systematically so that the user can draw valid conclusions and take appropriate decisions. Better displays lead to qualitative analysis. Display should have the sequence of building the format, entering data, drawing conclusions, writing analytical text, and cycling onward to revised or new displays. Data would be reduced as interviews are conducted and then for drawing conclusions patterns have to be formed, contrasts would have to be looked into, which would clarify perceptions and make the understanding coherent. Once the constructs are measured and relationships verified hypotheses can be shaped. To be useful, such primary data needs to be analysed. Sphinx software which is personal computer based analysis software will be useful to establish relationship between variables. The data would be analysed by the use of scales like scales and Semantic differential scales (Amaratunga et al. 2002). These will permit to measure the attitude of the caregivers. 10. The first problems could be that response of questionnaires would be much less than expected. All may not cooperate for fear of being exposed. To combat this, the respondents would be assured of privacy and confidentiality. Measures would be taken that once the raw data is transferred, the questionnaires would be destroyed. Secondly, delayed responses may be there; some might just not respond within the given time. Hence responses would be awaited till a specified time and then generalizations drawn. Thirdly, during the interview, there may be some resistance to be honest or the respondents may not be willing to speak against the school authorities. Once again confidentiality would have to be insisted upon. 11. The findings would be compiled and before finalizing it, it would first be discussed in general with the school director. This would be generalized findings and it is essential to first discuss with the director. 12. Before a participant becomes a subject for the research, the aims and objectives of the research would be clearly stated. This would be stated in the mail that carries the questionnaire. It would also be clearly mentioned that the participant has the right to abstain from participation in the research. At the same time, the participant would be informed of the benefits that his or her responses could bring to the school and to the individual and how everyone concerned could benefit from the research. The identity of the participants would be kept secret. They would also be assured that on completion of the research their individual responses would be destroyed and only the important data for the study would be maintained without their identities. They would not be provided with strict deadlines and sufficient time would be given to them so that they answer at their own pace and convenience. The research questions would be framed in such a way so as not to disturb the caregivers psychologically. Verbal consent would be taken before mailing the questionnaires. Since the participants are mature adults, no other form of consent is necessary. The completion of the questionnaire would confirm the consent as no coercion would be used in collecting data. They would have the choice to withdraw at any time during the research. Even during interviews no coercion would be used to make them speak against the authorities but probing questions would be essential to get accurate findings as the purpose of the research is to extract the underlying causes and obstacles to any issue. The questions would all be concerning the school and no personal questions would be asked. 13. Literature review would be done on changes in the educational system the resistance to change that normally academic institutions face and on how these problems can be overcome. Secondary data like literature review permits a quick and easy collection of general information about the subject. A literature review provides the meaningful context of the project within the universe of already existing research (Obenzinger, 2005). A substantive, thorough, sophisticated literature review is a precondition for doing substantive, thorough, sophisticated research (Boote & Beile, 2005). A researcher needs to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the existing studies and what they might mean. Literature review sets the broad context of the study and demarcates what is and what is not within the scope of the investigation. This type of review enables to summarize as well as synthesize in a way that permits a new perspective. This information or knowledge gathered would support the primary data collected through questionnaires and interviews. Hence the methodology would include literature review as secondary data and qualitative interviews and questionnaires as primary data. References: Amaratunga, D., Baldry, D., Sarshar, M., & Newton, R., (2002), Quantitative and Qualitative Research in the built environment: application of mixed research approach, Work Study, Vol. 15 No. 1 2002, pp. 17-31 Boote, D. N., & Beile, P., (2005), Scholars Before Researchers: On the Centrality of the Dissertation Literature Review in Research Preparation, Educational Researcher, Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 3–15 DiCicco-Bloom, B., & Crabtree, B. F., (2006), The qualitative research interview, Medical Education 2006; 40: 314–321 EGGENBERGER S.K. & NELMS T.P. (2007) Family interviews as a method for family research, Journal of Advanced Nursing 58(3), 282–292 Heord, A., (1993), Gender Issues in the Use of Interviewing as a Research Method, Professional Geographer, 45(3) 1993, pages 305-3 17 NUR (1997), Lesson: Research Sampling, 14 Oct 2007 Obenzinger, H., (2005), What can a literature review do for me? 14 Oct 2007 Redmond, E & Griffith, C 2003 , A comparison and evaluation of research methods used in consumer food safety studies, International Journal of Consumer Studies, January 2003, pp17–33. Rips, L. J., (2001), Two Kinds of Reasoning, American Psychological Society, Vol. 12 No . 2 pp. 129-134 Spickard, J., (n.d.), HOW TO CONSTRUCT AN INTERVIEW PROTOCOL, 14 Oct 2007 Weerd-Nederhof, P., (2001), Qualitative Case Study Research: The case of a PhD Research Project on organising and managing new product development systems, Management Decision, 39/7 (2001) 513-538 Read More