What are the
most appropriate methods to answer your research question?
presentation by Jack Dougherty for
Educ 400: Senior Research Seminar
Trinity College, Hartford CT
Last updated September 2017
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The Value of a Good Research Question
Focuses what you want to answer
Serves as an anchor in stormy seas
You can change your RQ up to the last week
Research Question 1
How do the social dynamics of children with autism change as they transition throughout the day from general ed to special ed settings in a Hartford public school?
-- Christina Raiti ‘16 senior project
What kind of research methods and sources are needed to answer this question?
Research Question 1
How do the social dynamics of children with autism change as they transition throughout the day from general ed to special ed settings in a Hartford public school?
-- Christina Raiti ‘16 senior project
Method: Observed with field notes and coded patterns.
Combination of direct interaction and selective verbatim
For direct interaction, focused on people and their actions
X, Y, Z =students w autism; T=teacher; S1=general student
V=verbal and P=physical communication; + (pos) or - (neg) Tallied totals in each setting and calculated percentages
Research Question 1
How do the social dynamics of children with autism change as they transition throughout the day from general ed to special ed settings in a Hartford public school?
-- Christina Raiti ‘16 senior project
Method example:
Research Question 1
How do the social dynamics of children with autism change as they transition throughout the day from general ed to special ed settings in a Hartford public school?
-- Christina Raiti ‘16 senior project
Sample claim from observational calculations:
“Based on twenty-eight hours of classroom observation, children with autism have a higher percentage of positive verbal and physical interactions in structured settings…”
Research Question 1
Sample claim from selective verbatim field notes:
In structured environments, such as work time with intense teacher supervision and presence of the paraprofessional, Yari was able to stay on task with the helpful reminder of the teacher every now and then. Yari would occasionally become distracted with tying, untying, and retying his shoe but with an adult to keep him on task, the positive interactions outnumbered the few negative physical interactions. Students at the table would tap Yari on the shoulder and ask if he needed help. On one occasion, Ms. A extended herself to Student 1, a general education student, and asked her if she had any advice for Yari. This immediately sparked a positive verbal interaction between the girl and Yari. She tapped Yari on the shoulder and said, “Remember Yari, you have to write down the notes in the right column and draw picture in the left. It’s okay we all do it wrong sometimes.” Yari replied, “Thank you,” and proceeded with the assignment. -- Christina Raiti ‘16
Research Question 2
How do experiences of race and social class vary among sophomores at Trinity College? -- Color & Money FYSM
What kind of research methods and sources are needed to answer this question?
Research Question 2
Research Question 2
Research Question 2
How do experiences of race and social class vary among sophomores at Trinity College? -- Color & Money FYSM
Email invitation sent to stratified random sample of sophomores (white/non-white; financial aid/non-financial aid) from list generated by Institutional Research
Subject line: [First name], may my FY student interview you?
Dear [Firstname],
Are you willing to be interviewed by one of my First-Year seminar students? Our seminar is conducting a study of the Class of 2018 to learn more about your perceptions of race and social class at Trinity College. Your name was selected as part of a random sample. The interview will take about 20 minutes, and you can schedule it anytime over the next ten days.
If you agree, please email me your phone number and I will assign one of my students to contact you to schedule a mutually convenient time and place.
Research Question 2
How do experiences of race and social class vary among sophomores at Trinity College? -- Color & Money FYSM
Interview
sample
Research Question 2
How do experiences of race and social class vary among sophomores at Trinity College? -- Color & Money FYSM
Interview sample
Research Question 2
How do experiences of race and social class vary among sophomores at Trinity College? -- Color & Money FYSM
Interview
transcripts:
Research Question 2
How do experiences of race and social class vary among sophomores at Trinity College? -- Color & Money FYSM
Thematic
analysis