Week 7: Evaluating Research Methods

In Research Class we have studied several research methods, including quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, action research, and secondary data analysis.

The research methods I have studied are in the four scenarios. My Objectives are too...

• Identify the type of research method that would best be used to answer the question.


• Provide a rationale for why you selected that particular method

Scenario 1: Ten students are available for in-depth interviews. Participants will be selected based on their involvement with the peer mediation program. They will be observed over three weeks. Analysis will attempt to determine issues concerning peer mediation.

• The best research method that is used to answer this question would be Qualitative Method. The qualitative method would be best because of the face to face interactions and the number of students being observed is a small, manageable group. The results will not be numeric or concerned with any sort of percentages or ratios.
• McMilan & Schumacher, 2008 state that "Qualitative research refers to an in depth study using face-to-face techniques to collect data from people in natural settings" (p. 183)

Scenario 2: Two classrooms of students are selected. There are 30 students in each class; each group will have similar demographics—age, sex, race, socio-economic background, etc. Classes will be randomly divided into two groups of 15 students. Of these two groups, one randomly selected group will get training on peer mediation and the other group will not. Thus in each classroom there will be one group that is trained in peer mediation and one that is not. Analysis will occur on which groups have the fewest office referrals.

• The best research method used for this scenario would be quantitative. The number of students divided randomly refers to what I understand about quantitative research.
• McMilan & Schumacher, 2008 refer to quantitative research "qualitative designs are just as systematic as quantitative designs but they emphasize gathering data on naturally occurring phenomena" (p. 26).

Scenario 3: A school counselor is interested in knowing how student attitudes affect the value of peer mediation to decrease the number of office referrals that are being filed for inappropriate interactions.

• I would gear this scenario towards action research due to the fact that the counselor will be interacting with students and attitudes which is hard to collect numeric data on.
• From what I understand about action research based on the writing of McMilan & Schumacher, 2008, " studies undertaken by practitioners in schools that address an actual problem or issue in the school or classroom" (p. 181).
• This scenario can also be under qualitative and quantitative research or mixed research.
• McMilan & Schumacher, 2008, "mixed method research designs, which combine quantitative and qualitative methods is becoming increasingly popular because many situations are best investigated using a variety of methods" (p. 27).

Scenario 4: Peer mediation has become widely used in many schools. The feelings of those involved in the process are little known—either from those doing the mediation or those receiving it. The ZASK-R Acceptance Preference Survey will be given as pre- and post-tests to 40 students participating in mediation. Follow-up interviews will be conducted on a bi-monthly basis

• This scenario also fits into the mixed method. The researchers continually look at data on a bi-monthly basis through face to face interviews. The pre and post tests fit into the quantitative design.
• Mixed Method Research according to McMilan & Schumacher, 2008, is "a study that combines qualitative and quantitative techniques and/or data analysis within different phases of the research process" (p.27).

"The times we live in are truly amazing in terms of possibilities for educational research! Powerful tools have been afforded us through the variety of technology and research methods that have been refined throughout the last half century These tools and methods allow us to address challenging questions and to have greater confidence that our results are valid and useful" (McMilan & Schumacher, p. 3)

McMillan, J. H., & Schumacher, S. (2008). Research in education: Evidence-based inquiry (Laureate custom edition). Boston: Pearson