Thesis Seminar Week 9: Method IV | Thesis Seminar Week 11: Method VI

https://youtu.be/9UrjMFrv0dA

Things to consider

1. Your last day to collect data is April 16, 2025.
2. At this point, your participants and instruments and procedure sections should be completed.
3. Develop your data analysis section while on break, due May 5, 2025.
4. Remember to complete your reflection for week 11 on April 9, 2025.
5. Remember to make sure you are collecting data from documents (content), recorded interviews, and recorded classroom observations.

Data sources

As we enter the fifth of six weeks to collect data consider the following:

• Triangulate different data sources to fully answer your research questions. Consider the possible data sources as you collect data each day:
  • Questionnaires from teachers, students, administrators, parents, etc. – four possible data sources
  • Interviews with teachers, students, administrators, parents, etc. – four possible data sources
  • Classroom observations
  • Collecting text, audio, and video from planning (e.g., lesson plans, etc.) and any didactic materials and technologies used in class – each a possible data source
  • Collecting text, audio, and video from student homework, projects, etc. – each a possible data source
  • Etc.
• Only data obtained from recorded interviews and classroom observations should be used to analyze data related to your study. Avoid using any data from casual conversations where no instrument was used and which were not recorded.
• Avoid intervening unless absolutely necessary. See me if you feel you must do an intervention.
• Each time you collect data, analyze it to determine how it answers your research questions and then plan on what additional data you still need.
• Make sure you have received an informed consent form from each teacher (participant). Determine whether you need an informed consent form of students and obtain one if necessary.

Participants (one paragraph between 150-175 words)

• Who are your participants?
  • Avoid using their names but what are their titles, responsibilities, and/or rank? State you’ll use pseudonyms to protect the confidentiality of your participants.
  • What demographic information relates to your study (i.e., answering your research questions, purpose, problem, etc.)?
    • Age
    • Experience working at the school and/or overall years of experience
    • Gender
    • Groups currently teaching and/or groups taught? Ages of the students, levels of the students, group sizes, etc.
    • School information: public or provide, general location (city), size, mission and vision, etc.
    • Socioeconomic information
• Why did you choose your participants?
  • Explain the rationale for choosing participants
• What permissions did you get to collect your data from your participants
  • Informed consent form
  • Any other special permissions