Week 2-How is Qualitative research a good lens through which to view classroom research?
How is Qualitative research a good lens through which to view
classroom research?
According to an article published
by the Qualitative Research Consultants Association, “qualitative research is
designed to reveal a target audiences range of behaviors and persecution that
drives it with reference topics or issues” (2017). This type of research is
useful for classroom research because it focuses on corporation to build off
each others comments and ideas. Participants are able to contribute to the
discussion in a more active manor, which allows for more effective learning
experience.
Qualitative
research lets the meaning emerge from the participants, this means it is more flexible
and can be adjusted to meet the specific setting. The “concepts, data
collection tools, and data collection methods can be adjusted as the researches
progresses” (Data Collection Strategies). This type of research strives to get
a better understanding of a topic through first hand experience, truthful reporting,
and engaging in actual conversation.
These
attributes are key when it relates to classroom research. Teachers need to adapt
their lessons to meet each students needs, and a helpful way to achieve this is
by helping students experience first hand what they may be struggling with.
Each teacher can use colleague’s ideas to help effectively use technology in
the classroom. They also must use the information their gain by conducting qualitative
research in a truthful way to help each student learn to the best of their
potential.
As a
teacher it is important to remember to not mix up quantitative and qualitative
research. There are some key differences between the two.
|
Qualitative
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Quantitative
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Focused on groups, interviews, and documents on themes
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Surveys, structured interviews & observations, reviews
of records or documents
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Formulate theory or hypotheses
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Deductive process used to test pre-specified concepts,
constructs, and hypotheses that make up a theory
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Text based
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Number based
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Valid and reliable: depends on skill and rigor of
researcher
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Valid and reliable depends on measurement device or
instrument used
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No statistical tests
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Statistical tests used for analysis
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Retrieved from S, S. (2016, April 16). Difference between
Qualitative and Quantitative Research. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
What is Qualitative Research. (2017). Retrieved September
15, 2017, from http://www.qrca.org?page=whatisqualresearch
Data Collection Strategies II: Qualitative Research. (2016).
Retrieved September 15, 2017, from https://web.csulb.edu/~msaintg/ppa696/696quali.htm
After reading both Josie and Jule's blog response, and now reading yours, I think I know why I have a feeling of why it seems foreign to me. I am a math teacher and it seems very natural to view the world in a quantitative way. Feelings, motivations, and subjectivity are not part of my "tools" to teach, and grade math work. I jokingly tell my math students on a regular basis that I don't grade assignments like language arts teachers. I can't be subjective. Answers are either correct, incorrect, or partially correct. Subjectivity has no place, in my mind, in the math class. But I'm sure you can come up with plenty of research topics that deal with math class that suit qualitative methods. It just might take me a little while to come up with some. :-)
ReplyDeleteJust like Gerald commented above, I have been having a hard time on how qualitative research can be formulated into data that can be used. Your point that qualitative research is positive for seeking out ways to teach to all different types of students really wants me to seek out qualitative research for my own classroom. What this will look like, I'm not sure but I still trying to figure out how.
ReplyDeleteQualitative research has its place, especially in a social setting where control of variables is difficult. Teachers should know how it is used in order to read its results and know its strengths and weaknesses.
ReplyDelete