Research Methodologies

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Question#1

Read the descriptions of research studies below. Indicate the type of qualitative study and provide a 2- to 3-sentence rationale for your selection. Choose from the following types of qualitative research:

 

  • Phenomenological study
  • Case study
  • Ethnographic study
  • Narrative analysis

 

Study A

 

A researcher decides to compare an early reading lesson in a public school that starts reading instruction in kindergarten with a reading lesson in a Waldorf school that begins reading instruction in second grade. She carefully notes her observations of each teacher’s methods and materials along with the students’ questions and learning.

 

Your Response

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Study B

A group of researchers observe play periods at a school as a way to address the concept of how teachers can balance the need to provide adult guidance with the need to allow child independence. The researchers initially set aside their own beliefs and attitudes about discipline, freedom, and play, and then collect data. They analyze the data from the points of views of both teachers and children and gradually cluster themes in order to identify the essential issues.

Your Response

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Study C

A researcher uncovers the autobiography of a kindergarten teacher from the early 20th century and analyzes this document in order to identify common themes related to the teacher’s professional concerns.

 

Your Response

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Study D

 

A researcher is studying the cultural attitudes of recent immigrant groups to the United States and how these attitudes affect female students in early childhood. The researcher focuses on immigrants from Romania and researches and analyzes their traditions, beliefs, and cultural practices in many areas as a lens through which to interpret parental attitudes toward, and children’s experiences of, American early childhood education.

 

Your response here

 

 

Question#2:

What is a grounded theory study? (1–2 paragraphs).

Your Response here:

 

 

Question #3:

Describe at least five characteristics of good qualitative research and explain why each characteristic is important. Your response should be 3–5 paragraphs in length.

Your Response here:

Enter Your Response Here

 

Question#4:

Which of the following is an example of a quasi-experimental study? Provide a rationale for your choice.

 

Study A: A researcher wants to study the effects of napping on preschooler behavior. The researcher has access to teachers at a number of preschools where most students take a daily nap, but students are allowed to opt out and play quietly during naptime if they wish. The researcher asks the students’ teachers to rate the students’ behavior after naptime on a number of scales to determine if those who nap have fewer behavior problems in the afternoon than those who do not nap.

 

Study B: A researcher hypothesizes that a particular behavioral management system will reduce the amount of time preschool teachers must spend dealing with student behavior problems. From the 32 preschools in a city, the researcher randomly selects three. Half of the teachers in the school are trained on how to use the new behavior management system and half are not. The researcher then quantifies the amount of time each group of teachers spends dealing with behavior problems and determines that the management system reduces time spent by 28%.

 

 

Study C: A researcher has access to a small group of preschoolers who have been identified as having mild to moderate anxiety disorders and whose parents and teachers are open to new methods to help these children cope with anxiety-producing situations. The researcher trains the teachers in the implementation of an intervention for reducing the students’ anxiety and then rates the students’ anxiety on a known scale after implementation has been underway in the classroom for 3 months.

Your response here-

 

 

Question#5:

Define the concepts of correlation and causation and explain how they are different. Explain the significance of these concepts within the context of research.

Your response here:

 

Question#6:

Identify at least five characteristics of good quantitative research and explain the importance of each. Your response should be 3–5 paragraphs in length.

 

Your response here:

 

Question #7:

Explain the differences among dependent, independent, and extraneous variables.

 

Your response here:

 

Question#8:

Define mixed methods research and explain its applications and benefits. Your response should be 1–3 paragraphs in length.

Your response here:

 

 

Resources need to come from only from here:

  • Mac Naughton, G., Rolfe, S. A., & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010). Doing early childhood research: International perspectives on theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
  • Mac Naughton, G., Rolfe, S. A., & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010). Doing early childhood research: International perspectives on
  • Overton, J. (2009). Early childhood teachers in contexts of power: Empowerment and a voice. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 34(2), 1–10. Retrieved from Walden Library.
  • Sauro, J. (2015, October 13). 5 types of qualitative methods [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://measuringu.com/qual-methods/
  • Merriam, S. B., & Grenier, R. S. (2019). Introduction to qualitative research. In S. B. Merriam & R. S. Grenier (Eds.), Qualitative research in practice: Example for discussion and analysis(pp. 3-18). San Francisco, Josey-Bass. Retrieved from https://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/23/11194520/1119452023-20.pdf

 

 

  • Roller M. R. (2013, July 31). 10 distinctive qualities of qualitative research [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://researchdesignreview.com/2013/07/31/10-distinctive-qualities-of-qualitative-research/
  • Mac Naughton, G., Rolfe, S. A., & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010). Doing early childhood research: International perspectives on theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

 

  • LeTourneau University. (2020). Quantitative research and analysis: Quantitative methods overview. Retrieved from https://lib-guides.letu.edu/quantresearch
  • Lepuschitz, J. K. (2011). Introduction to variables. Baltimore, MD: Walden University, LLC.
  • Lepuschitz, J. K. (2011). Quantitative designs: An overview. Baltimore, MD: Walden University, LLC.
  • Quigley, A. (2015). Causation and correlation in education. Retrieved from https://www.theconfidentteacher.com/2015/03/causation-and-correlation-in-education/

 

 

 

  • Johnson, R. B., Onwuegbuzie, A. J., & Turner, L. A. (2007). Toward a definition of mixed methods research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1(2), 112–133. Retrieved from Walden Library.
  • Johnson, R. B., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed methods research: A research paradigm whose time has come. Educational researcher, 33 (7),14-26.