Good Morning Everybody.

01/24/2010 08:31 AM

Good Morning,

Are you up and running already?

I have one question for clarification about our so-called homework. Well, you have learning materials that will help you with your real homework:

1. Article Critique, and

2. Writing an Original (empirical) Research Plan

The rest we will do in class. If in class we can not do everything, I will suggest to you to keep working and learning in home. If you are confused, we need to keep working in class.

      I am designing activities to help you with identification of empirical article and critical review of this article. Use this table with steps in the process of research to evaluate your ABSTRACT.

 Table 1. The steps in the process of research

(1)  For each of your 3 ABSTRACTS, number each sentence and fill the table.

 (2) For each of your 3 ABSTRACTS, identify the population, the independent variable (s), and  dependent variables - P, IV, DV. Use the examples provided in class.
 

(3) Read the first 6 chapters again to learn more about empirical research. We will continue working in class with all supportive "homework assignments."
 

If you have any trouble, we will do this in class.

Try to find a full-text article for your critique.

_____________________ Plan for Wednesday, January 27 _______________________

It is time for us to get ready for two topics, Survey and Action Research Design for this Wednesday class. Presenters, please keep the smile no matter what and how ... :=)

Chapter 7   Survey Research

·    Objective 7.1: Define survey research.

·    Objective 7.1.2 Differentiate between sample surveys and census surveys

·    Objective 7.1.3 Differentiate between cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys.

·    Objective 7.2: Describe the procedures involved in constructing a questionnaire.

·    Objective 7.3: Describe the procedures involved in administering a questionnaire.

Let’s play:

******* In class, we will study how to critique an article at the end of Chapter 7.

Marlow, D., Inman, D., & Shwery, C., 2005). To what extent are literacy initiatives being supported: Important questions for administrators, 179–186.Read the article by Marlow, Inman, and Shwery (2005), if you have time.

In summary: A county intermediate school district (a consortium of the 13 school districts in a county) is interested in tracking the satisfaction with career training, postgraduate employment and education information. Specifically, they are interested in the following concepts:

• Satisfaction with career guidance counseling
• Satisfaction with vocational and technical training
• Importance of different educational activities in high school
• Educational and career opportunities explored upon graduation

1.   Construct two survey items to measure each of the constructs shown above. Pay attention to the guidelines for survey-item writing that are outlined in the text.

2.   Construct a cover letter for a questionnaire designed to obtain parents’ opinions about mandatory drug testing in schools. ***********

Literature Review********

Use the article at the end of chapter 7 (Marlow, D., Inman, D., & Shwery, C., 2005). To what extent are literacy initiatives being supported: Important questions for administrators, 179–186.Read the article by Marlow, Inman, and Shwery (2005).  (page 189 in your textbook)

                                         i.    Identify the section (s) of the article where the authors initially describe the problem under study.

                                         ii.    Identify the section (s) of the article where the authors describe the procedures used to collect data.

                                      iii.    Identify instruments used to measure the important constructs.

                                      iv.    Identify the method of analysis. Note that they do not specify it directly, but you can identify the method of analysis by looking at the type of statistics presented in the results.

                                       v.    When evaluating a survey study, a reader should ask, “Was the survey used in this study adequate?” In this study, however, the authors do not provide a copy of the survey. How can the reader evaluate the survey?

                                      vi.    Was the percentage of returns adequate? How could the authors have increased the rate of return?

                                    vii.    Consider the various sampling factors that affect generalizability, both positively and negatively. How generalizable are the results of this study?

Chapter 20   Action Research

Chapter Objectives

·    Objective 20.1: State a definition and describe the purpose and key characteristics of action research.

·    Objective 20.2: Identify two types of action research and three levels at which it can be conducted.

·    Objective 20.3: Identify the steps and common techniques used to carry out action research in schools.

Juenemann, P. (2004). “Let’s talk”: Discussions in a biology classroom, an action research project. Read the article by Juenemann (2004) included after Chapter 20, page 497 of your textbook:.

1.   What is the problem addressed in this article?

2.   What type of data would you suggest? Why?

3.   What insights did the author gain through the research process? Provide evidence from the article to support your claims.

4.   Do data provide strong evidence in support of her conclusions?

Works Cited

 Marlow, D., Inman, D., & Shwery, C. (3005). To what extent te literacy initiatives being supported:

Important questions for administrators. Reading Improvement, 42 ( 3) , 192.

Michael Brody (Ed.). (2009).  AR Expeditions. Retrieved 11 25, 2009, from Action Research Journal:

http://arexpeditions.montana.edu/

I wish you all a great weekend.

Please, don't forget to bring the smile to class - the smile is the most important part of your so called "homework". I know that the class is difficult; so what?

Tem