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Full-Text Articles in Education

Vignettes In Qualitative Educational Research: Investigating Greek School Principals’ Values, Pelagia A. Stravakou, Evangelia Ch. Lozgka May 2018

Vignettes In Qualitative Educational Research: Investigating Greek School Principals’ Values, Pelagia A. Stravakou, Evangelia Ch. Lozgka

The Qualitative Report

Vignettes are hypothetical scenarios of many forms that are presented to interviewees in qualitative studies to elicit participants’ answers on diverse topics. Although there are few scholars having discussed the application of vignettes in qualitative studies, there is no article assessing the implementation of vignettes in the field of educational administration. Therefore, our article discusses the vignette technique as a data collection tool within the qualitative methodological paradigm with a focus on the aforementioned field. More specifically, in the first section we outline the design of hypothetical scenarios and their advantages and disadvantages as a data gathering tool, according to …


Qualitative Research For Educational Science Researchers: A Review Of An Introduction To Qualitative Research, Ali Kılıçoglu Apr 2018

Qualitative Research For Educational Science Researchers: A Review Of An Introduction To Qualitative Research, Ali Kılıçoglu

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative research is a type of scientific research which includes document analysis, observation or interview. Qualitative research process describes the events in the natural environment realistically and holistically. Although quantitative research methods are mostly used in educational sciences, qualitative research methods are also used by the educational science researchers. An Introduction to Qualitative Research by Uwe Flick (2014) is an ideal guide for educational science researchers in regard to qualitative research methods and techniques.


Breaking The “Fourth Wall” In Qualitative Research: Participant-Led Digital Data Construction, Nettie Boivin, Anna Cohenmiller Mar 2018

Breaking The “Fourth Wall” In Qualitative Research: Participant-Led Digital Data Construction, Nettie Boivin, Anna Cohenmiller

The Qualitative Report

This article reconstructs the typical researcher-participant focus - where the participants are doing for us - instead we followed the participants’ lead in the construction of research. Using a qualitative literacy event case study as an example, we describe how participants unexpectedly co-constructed knowledge through a participant-led digital data collection. In this theoretical article, we provide an explanation of the original study, which used observations, semi-structured interviews, and home visits as a collective qualitative case study on parental participation in social literacy practices. The original investigation led to the important shift that occurred in participant-researcher roles. In this article, using …


Prioritising Doctoral Students’ Wellbeing In Qualitative Research, Stefania Velardo, Sam Elliott Feb 2018

Prioritising Doctoral Students’ Wellbeing In Qualitative Research, Stefania Velardo, Sam Elliott

The Qualitative Report

As novice researchers, doctoral students undertaking qualitative research become well-versed in strategies that should be adopted to minimise risk to participants. But what happens when a researcher is confronted with the complex, emotional account of a participant? Despite the consistent emphasis on participant safety, many doctoral students are not explicitly prompted to consider how they will negotiate their own emotional wellbeing throughout the research process. This is particularly important when conducting qualitative research with vulnerable populations. In these situations, sensitive and difficult topics are often discussed, with numerous risks to participants and researchers alike. However, concern for researcher wellbeing is …


Listening To Juvenile Corrections School Teachers: A Step-By-Step Process For Interview Studies Guided By Hermeneutics, Kristin M. Murphy Jan 2018

Listening To Juvenile Corrections School Teachers: A Step-By-Step Process For Interview Studies Guided By Hermeneutics, Kristin M. Murphy

The Qualitative Report

The act of interviewing is a complex endeavor, and there are many pathways a researcher can take when designing their interview study. This becomes particularly critical when embarking on a study that will require participants to talk about subjects that may be sensitive in nature. In this paper, I share how I utilized a hermeneutic perspective to guide my interview study with teachers from juvenile corrections schools. I explicitly define and walk through why I selected hermeneutics. Then, I provide detailed step by step descriptions of how my data collection and analysis process was informed by the hermeneutic circle. The …


Problematic Autoethnographic Research: Researcher’S Failure In Positioning, Ji Young Shim Jan 2018

Problematic Autoethnographic Research: Researcher’S Failure In Positioning, Ji Young Shim

The Qualitative Report

This article problematizes and discusses the “auto”ethnographical approach, which has recently become pervasive in research-oriented writings, to “tell the story of self and subject” in order to analyze wider cultural and social conditions. This method can be found in the remarkable array of a variety of disciplines in which scholars have explicitly and implicitly highlighted identity-related issues. One problem with this approach is its failure to recognize the ideological generalization in identifying the researcher’s position, with the risk of eventually becoming a neutral “truth through the researcher’s reality.” This paper focuses on the crisis between history and memory in contextualizing …


Researcher Emotions As Data, A Tool And A Factor In Professional Development, Liora Nutov Dec 2017

Researcher Emotions As Data, A Tool And A Factor In Professional Development, Liora Nutov

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this paper is to explore and reflect on my own emotions while carrying out a research process and on their effect on the research and on myself as a researcher. After a brief literature review of the ways in which researcher emotions are perceived in qualitative research in the field of social sciences, I offer a reflective account of my own experience and suggest that researcher emotions can serve both as additional data and as an analyzing tool, as well as being a factor in the professional development of researchers.


Pre-Service Foreign Language Teachers’ Perceptions Of Research Skills: A Qualitative Study, Eda Elmas, Selami Aydin Dec 2017

Pre-Service Foreign Language Teachers’ Perceptions Of Research Skills: A Qualitative Study, Eda Elmas, Selami Aydin

The Qualitative Report

While research skills seem significant for effective and successful foreign language teaching and learning, few studies focused on how English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers perceive research skills in the EFL teaching and learning processes. Research also lacks how EFL teachers perceive research skills and to what extent they are aware of the role, teacher as researcher. Thus, this study aims to explore pre-service EFL teachers’ perceptions of research skills for a deeper understanding of how their perceptions of research skills affect or contribute to the teaching and learning processes. The sample group in the study consisted of 44 …


Enhanced Member Checks: Reflections And Insights From A Participant-Researcher Collaboration, Elizabeth Chase Oct 2017

Enhanced Member Checks: Reflections And Insights From A Participant-Researcher Collaboration, Elizabeth Chase

The Qualitative Report

This paper shares the process of an enhanced member check in a qualitative study about the schooling experiences of teenage mothers. The process of co-creating a participant narrative is presented as an alternative to traditional methods of member checking and data analysis. In the collaborative process presented in this article, the researcher and participant worked together to develop interpretations of interview data and to collaborate on a final narrative. The author developed a member checking process that included iterative rounds of collaboration in the liminal space between raw data and final narrative. This paper provides an example of evaluating and …


Decision Domains And Teacher Participation: A Qualitative Investigation Of Decision-Making In Egyptian Schools, Waheed Hammad Sep 2017

Decision Domains And Teacher Participation: A Qualitative Investigation Of Decision-Making In Egyptian Schools, Waheed Hammad

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this paper is to explore the gap between actual and desired decision domains as a potential factor affecting teacher participation in decision-making in Egyptian schools. In order to explore this gap, the study sets out to answer three questions: (1) what would a typology of school decisions look like in Egypt’s secondary schools? (2) How do Egyptian teachers perceive actual decisions made in their schools? (3) What decision domains are most desired by Egyptian teachers? The study employed a qualitative, descriptive research approach based on individual, semi-structured interviews with a sample of 85 school teachers and senior …


Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions Of Using Ipads With Students With Learning Disabilities, Daljit Kaur Sep 2017

Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions Of Using Ipads With Students With Learning Disabilities, Daljit Kaur

The Qualitative Report

Preservice teachers reflected on their experiences teaching mathematics to ten students using iPads. The students had learning disabilities and were tutored over 5 consecutive weeks. Teachers reflected weekly for 5 weeks then responded to an online open-ended survey regarding their overall teaching experience. Findings suggest that the experience allowed preservice teachers to gain helpful insight, knowledge, and ideas on how to use iPads as an instructional tool.


The Construction Of “Discomfort Psychological”: An Exploration Of Italians Teachers' Reports, Antonio Iudici, Matteo Fabbri Aug 2017

The Construction Of “Discomfort Psychological”: An Exploration Of Italians Teachers' Reports, Antonio Iudici, Matteo Fabbri

The Qualitative Report

Although there are several studies on youth problems in school, there are few studies on how teachers report psychological discomfort of the students and on what criteria does their procedure. Considering that schools increasingly make such reports to social or neuropsychiatry services, we wanted to find out whether it is flawless (bias, etc.) and how it can affect a student's career. This research presents an investigation on how the practice of signaling "psychological discomfort" at school is set up. Objects of the survey are the procedures used by the teachers to submit the psychological problems. The research subjects were Secondary …


The Learning Experience Of Graduate Nursing Students: Content Analysis, Parand Pourghane, Maryam Rajab Pour Nikfam, Fazlollah Ahmadi Jul 2017

The Learning Experience Of Graduate Nursing Students: Content Analysis, Parand Pourghane, Maryam Rajab Pour Nikfam, Fazlollah Ahmadi

The Qualitative Report

Learning is also considered as an important which can create changes in individuals’ knowledge, attitude, values, and feelings. As learning requires a new conceptual framework where one can take decisions in which change and innovation manifests, it is evident that this conceptual realization is only possible through a qualitative research. The present study aims to explore and justify graduate nursing students’ learning experience.The present study is a conventional qualitative content analysis research which was conducted in 27 graduate nursing students studying in Guilan university of Medical sciences in Iran. The study population was selected through purposive sampling, and the data …


School Principals’ Views On Administration Work, Their “Frequent Turnover” And Its Effects On Their Work, Aydin Balyer May 2017

School Principals’ Views On Administration Work, Their “Frequent Turnover” And Its Effects On Their Work, Aydin Balyer

The Qualitative Report

School administrators’ “frequent turnover” has been discussed intensively in the Turkish Educational System recently. Currently, principals are selected for 4 years after an interview conducted by a committee of directors of national education. After that period, they either go back to their classes or are chosen for another 4 years for the last time. This frequent turnover can be disruptive for schools. This study was conducted to determine school principals’ views on administration work and this frequent turnover. The study employed a qualitative research design. The participants were 20 principals chosen with maximum sampling method. The data were analyzed with …


Ideas: A Qualitative Inquiry Into Project-Based Learning, James G. Laprad, Andrea M. Hyde Feb 2017

Ideas: A Qualitative Inquiry Into Project-Based Learning, James G. Laprad, Andrea M. Hyde

The Qualitative Report

As waves of the Global Educational Reform Movement, what Sahlberg (2015) identifies as GERM, still ripple around the world pushing for competition, standardization, the focus on the core subjects, and test-based accountability some schools like IDEAS choose what Hargreaves and Shirley (2012) call The Forth Way towards inspiration and innovation with their project-based learning pedagogy. IDEAS is a small public high school in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and a member of Ted Sizer’s Coalition of Essential Schools (CES). Our qualitative inquiry explores the implications of project-based learning on IDEAS’ students, teachers, academic program and school community. Data came from direct observation, interviews, …


Experiential Learning In Action: A Collaborative Inquiry, Alexios Brailas, Stella-Maria Avani, Christina Gkini, Maria-Afroditi Deilogkou, Konstantinos Koskinas, Georgios Alexias Jan 2017

Experiential Learning In Action: A Collaborative Inquiry, Alexios Brailas, Stella-Maria Avani, Christina Gkini, Maria-Afroditi Deilogkou, Konstantinos Koskinas, Georgios Alexias

The Qualitative Report

In this paper, we describe a case study of an undergraduate course on research methodology, in which lecture was reduced to a minimum and replaced with experiential learning activities. The course design was project-based and spiraled through four phases: a mini-lecture on a given research method, an “early practice” activity, and “reflection on practice” tutor-guided small group collaborations which led to deeper understanding of the given research method. This particular course design constitutes a paradigm shift in comparison to the predominant in Greek higher education didactic pedagogical model. How this paradigm shift was received and experienced by the participating students? …


Assessing Readiness For Clinical Practice: Students’ Perspectives Of Their Veterinary Curriculum, L. Chris Sanchez, Alison Kwiatkowski, Jeff Abbott, Dana N. Zimmel, Linda S. Behar-Horenstein Dec 2016

Assessing Readiness For Clinical Practice: Students’ Perspectives Of Their Veterinary Curriculum, L. Chris Sanchez, Alison Kwiatkowski, Jeff Abbott, Dana N. Zimmel, Linda S. Behar-Horenstein

The Qualitative Report

Studies describing the effectiveness of a veterinary curriculum from the student perspective are currently sparse. The overall purpose of this investigation was to describe students’ perceived preparedness for clinical practice. Three focus group meetings with fourth year veterinary students were conducted. Data were open-coded and categorized to identify themes. Four main themes emerged: Challenging communications, Un/appreciating curricular experiences, Documenting demands impede case involvement, and Hungering for timely, effective feedback. Overall students felt comfortable talking to clients about medicine but less comfortable discussing euthanasia or money; they appreciated the split clinical curriculum but questioned the value of the 1st/2nd year courses; …


Encouraging Reflective Practices In Doctoral Students Through Research Journals, Amy Orange Dec 2016

Encouraging Reflective Practices In Doctoral Students Through Research Journals, Amy Orange

The Qualitative Report

This study developed after I read numerous research journals created by my doctoral students. At times, students included considerable amounts of detail, reflecting on their research processes and their roles as researchers. At other times, the journals appeared to be a mere afterthought, seemingly completed in an evening to satisfy the requirement and get a grade. And, as with many things in the introductory qualitative research course, students expressed a need for more structured guidelines for their journals. In response, I developed a set of guidelines and prompts students could use to guide their journal entries. With this study, I …


Transitioning From High School To College: Examining The Sources And Influences Of Social Capital For A First-Generation Latina Student, Randall F. Clemens Nov 2016

Transitioning From High School To College: Examining The Sources And Influences Of Social Capital For A First-Generation Latina Student, Randall F. Clemens

The Qualitative Report

This paper uses the life history method to narrate the experiences of Camilla, a 19-year-old, first-year student at a four-year university. Camilla emigrated with her mother from El Salvador to the United States during her freshman year of high school. Based on two years of data collection, the author presents Camilla’s experiences at different stages, including her childhood in El Salvador, first and last year in high school, and her first year in college. The paper explores the sources and influences of social capital for a low-income, first-generation student and highlights its dynamic and contextual nature. The author argues that …


Humanization Through Action Research As Methodology, Jeffrey D. Radloff, Cole Joslyn, Brenda Capobianco Oct 2016

Humanization Through Action Research As Methodology, Jeffrey D. Radloff, Cole Joslyn, Brenda Capobianco

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this action research study was to critically examine the use of action research as a mechanism to enhance graduate students’ development as emerging qualitative researchers. Although action research has been recognized as an effective means of transforming teaching practices, studies examining its use among graduate students learning to become qualitative researchers are lacking. Participants profiled in this study include two graduate students and one teacher educator. The context of the study was a graduate level course on action research where all three participants identified starting points, employed distinct action strategies, engaged in sustained, critical reflection, and developed …


Exploring The Influence Of Teacher Language On Fourth Grade Students’ Mindsets: A Multi-Case Study, Abby Rau Sep 2016

Exploring The Influence Of Teacher Language On Fourth Grade Students’ Mindsets: A Multi-Case Study, Abby Rau

The Qualitative Report

With a shift in education today toward increased student talk, collaboration, and ownership of learning, the words that teachers choose to weave throughout their instruction and interactions with students are even more crucial. The purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to explore the shift in students’ mindsets within an environment thick with process-oriented language with a focus on the inevitability of problems while learning. Research questions focused on the impact of specific teacher language, student reactions to challenging situations, and shifts in student language and perceptions of themselves as learners (mindset). The participants, two male and one female, attended …


Using Graphic Elicitation To Explore Community College Transfer Student Identity, Development, And Engagement, Sheri K. Rodriguez, Monica Reid Kerrigan Jun 2016

Using Graphic Elicitation To Explore Community College Transfer Student Identity, Development, And Engagement, Sheri K. Rodriguez, Monica Reid Kerrigan

The Qualitative Report

The focus of this paper is to illustrate the use of graphic elicitation, in the form of a relational map, to explore community college transfer student (CCTS) identity, development, and engagement at four-year institutions. Using graphic elicitation illuminated aspects of CCTSs that they may not have been able to otherwise verbalize, and was used in combination with interview questions designed to capture participants' development and engagement, investigating how they made meaning of their institutional experiences. A constructivist grounded theory approach was applied, given the lack of available literature pertaining to CCTSs in these areas. This paper draws upon and contributes …


Whose Reality? A Meta-Analysis Of Qualitative Research In International And Comparative Education, Romina B. Da Costa, Stephanie M. Hall, Anne Spear Apr 2016

Whose Reality? A Meta-Analysis Of Qualitative Research In International And Comparative Education, Romina B. Da Costa, Stephanie M. Hall, Anne Spear

The Qualitative Report

This meta-analysis seeks to critically examine the qualitative research being published in influential journals in the field of international and comparative education in order to determine whether qualitative research has remained true to the constructivist paradigm and its theoretical and philosophical underpinnings. Decades after the heated paradigmatic debates within the field of education in the 1980’s, we seek to examine whether predictions that the constructivist paradigm would be pushed out by the call for post-positivist, quantifiable, data-driven research have come to fruition. Based on a review of all qualitative research published in the past three volumes of five influential journals …


Womanism And Snowball Sampling: Engaging Marginalized Populations In Holistic Research, Xeturah M. Woodley, Megan Lockard Feb 2016

Womanism And Snowball Sampling: Engaging Marginalized Populations In Holistic Research, Xeturah M. Woodley, Megan Lockard

The Qualitative Report

Womanist and feminist qualitative researchers continue to identify research methods and techniques that harness the power of social networking and personal connections while engaging with marginalized populations. Many have found that the use of snowball sampling allows increased access to individuals and groups that may otherwise remain inaccessible. The purpose of this article is to discuss the use of snowball sampling techniques within womanist and feminist research. The authors offer critical reflections of the use of this sampling technique as a tool that allows researchers access to “hidden” and marginalized populations. An example of the use of snowball sampling in …


Reflexively Conducting Research With Ethnically Diverse Children With Disabilities, Amanda Ajodhia-Andrews Feb 2016

Reflexively Conducting Research With Ethnically Diverse Children With Disabilities, Amanda Ajodhia-Andrews

The Qualitative Report

This reflexive paper explores the process of engaging ethnically diverse children with disabilities within participatory and narrative research concerning their school life via a multi-method qualitative approach. It contemplates the use of participatory research methods, involving children with disabilities as co-researchers, establishing relaxed research environments, and maintaining qualitative rigour while supporting children’s voice and agency. This paper addresses possibilities of qualitative research to access and amplify voices and differing social experiences of children with disabilities, whilst underscoring their capacity and right to contribute to research regarding their lives. The author advocates re-envisioning ways to conduct ethical research with children with …