Statistical Data Analysis of Teacher Training Practices in Qatar - Statistics Project Example

The second stage constitutes the design and implementation of an interventionist INSET program while the third stage involves reflection and analysis of the intervention. A needs analysis survey in the first stage has been employed to collect data about issues in language teaching INSET in Qatar. It is important to emphasize that the use of this survey is for needs analysis and is not based on any predetermined hypotheses.

Using a survey in an early stage of my research project was intended to maximize the number of perspectives (Denscombe, 1998: 169), and due to the versatile nature of surveys. Surveys can tap into attitudes that respondents are not completely aware of, and increase the consistency and reliability of the results by reducing the bias of interviewer effects (Dörnyei & Taguchi, 2010:6).

The survey was administered online through a survey website (Surveymonkey.com). Online surveys are increasingly popular for data collection and are preferred over traditional mail surveys in many ways (Pan, 2010:121-122). They provide a lower-cost option (Sheehan, 1999:47), convenience in answering the survey (Evans & Mathur, 2005:198) and respondents are also more likely to respond to sensitive and private questions (Ritter, et al, 2004).

The survey consisted of 70 items distributed under 7 categories in addition to a final open-ended question for respondents’ final comments. The table below shows the distribution of the survey items.

The design of the survey was based on my initial literature review of the study and guided by the main aim of the survey which is to provide directions for the intervention design. As discussed in the first-panel report, for INSET programs to be successful, teachers’ voices should be heard and taken into consideration (Locke, 2006). As a result, most of the items of the survey are intended to capture teachers’ voices and concerns. Items 4-40 elicit data on preferences of delivery methods, training themes, and assessment tools.