Education Commons^™

Informal Learning About Teaching Among Novice University Professors, Laia Encinar-Prat, Joaquín Gairín Sallán

The Qualitative Report

In this article, we present results of a study on informal learning about teaching among novice university professors at one university in Spain. The study identified teaching competencies developed through informal learning, strategies of informal learning used, and organizational factors that might foster or hinder the acquisition of teaching competencies. We gathered data through 18 individual interviews with novice university faculty, two focus groups with university professors, a document analysis and a focus group of experts. We conducted content analysis of the transcripts of the interviews and focus groups, as well as the documents obtained. The results showed that the …

Sponsored Research Indirect Costs: A Single-Site Case Study Of Public Research University Stem Faculty Members’ Perspectives, Susan Gossman

The Qualitative Report

This explanatory case study investigated the phenomenon of one institution’s public research university STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) faculty members’ perspectives on indirect cost recovery from research grant funding. The explanatory scheme incorporated organizational culture, faculty socialization, and political bargaining models in the conceptual framework. The analysis indicated that faculty socialization and organizational culture were the most dominant themes; political bargaining emerged as significantly less prominent. Public research university STEM faculty are most concerned about the survival of their research programs and the discovery facilitated by their research programs; they resort to conjecture regarding the utility of indirect cost …

An Autoethnographic Narrative Of The Relation Between Sexuality And University In Post-Revolutionary Iran, Nassereddinali Taghavian

The Qualitative Report

The main question that is addressed in this presentation is how we can interpret the situation of sexual relations in the context of higher education in Iran. The article is formed as an autoethnography, focusing on the relationship between sexuality and university in post-revolutionary Iran. Data are gathered from my own lived experiences at university both as a student and as a lecturer during about 25 years of academic life and interpreted by the technique of systematic introspection. I explore specific problems regarding sexuality at Iranian universities, such as sexual harassment and the relationship between male university professors and their …

The Capstone Journey: Exploring Design, Delivery And Evaluation In An Undergraduate Management Discipline Context, Heather Stewart Dr, Luke Houghton, Clare Burns

The Qualitative Report

The focus of this paper is the development of a capstone management course and the application of educational action research through continual learning. In this article, we use the continual learning frame of plan, do, study, and act to underpin an educational action research design on the development of a capstone management course. As part of an Active Learning Trial, the development of the capstone experience has been captured in the embodiment of that experience. Our aim is to guide other academics in developing their own capstone course, particularly, within management with extension into other disciplines. Through continual improvement, we …

Frenemies In The Academy: Relational Aggression Among African American Women Academicians, Wendi S. Williams, Catherine Lynne Packer-Williams

The Qualitative Report

Black women academicians represent a highly educated group that at times hold positional power within institutions of higher education. In this paper, the authors utilize a critical race feminist frame to explore their experiences with relational aggressive dynamics within higher education work settings. Using auto-narrative qualitative methodology, they collected data through scholarly personal narratives in the form of journals. The entries were analyzed by utilizing an intersectional lens with a focus on coping. Data analysis yielded four themes framed as coping with frenemy dynamics between individuals and contexts. The authors consider the contribution of individual, institutional and structural elements.

Exploring Critical Events In An Inaugural Arts-Based Research Class Through Ethnographic Mapping And Poetry-Enriched Narrative Sketches, Janet Richards, Steve Haberlin

The Qualitative Report

Arts-based research (ABR) employs the arts to explore the “experiences of researchers and the people they involve in their studies” (McNiff, 2008, p. 29). Acknowledgement of ABRs’ potential for enhancing social science inquiry has gained momentum along with the development of new ABR methods courses. However, there is a lack of published studies that investigate what goes on in ABR classes (Cahnmann-Taylor & Siegesmund, 2008; Leavy, 2015; Personal communication, The Qualitative Report 2018 Conference). In this inquiry we (Janet, course designer and instructor, and Steve, student and class assistant), employed ethnographic techniques to explore unexpected critical events that occurred in …

The Lived Experiences Of Chinese International Students Preparing For The University-To-Work Transition: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Ian M. Lertora, Jeffrey Sullivan

The Qualitative Report

Chinese international students have been the largest growing number of international students on U.S. college and university campuses for the last ten years. However, there is minimal research literature that pertains to Chinese international students’ experiences on U.S. campuses and currently no research literature that reflects the entirety of their experience studying in the U.S. The purpose of thisphenomenological qualitative study was to give a voice to Chinese international students who are preparing for the university-to-work transition to better understand their experiences as international students in the United States, specifically the types of transitional stressors they experienced and how they …

Implementing Narrative-Pedagogical Approaches In A Teacher Education Classroom, Pauline Swee Choo Goh

The Qualitative Report

Preservice teachers can no longer be prepared using conventional teaching approaches as these are inadequate to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills they require to perform the tasks of teaching effectively. Teacher educators need to use new pedagogies, and narrative pedagogy is seen as a teaching method which can better prepare preservice teachers for the challenging classrooms of today. My study explored nine preservice teachers’ experiences after the enactment of a narrative pedagogical approach in one of their courses within their teacher education program. I used Ricoeur’s framework of the prefigured and configured arena of education to analyse …

Greek University Students And The Smoke-Free Law: Learning About Rights And Duties In A Community Of Practice, Luciana Benincasa

The Qualitative Report

This paper is about Greek university students’ violation of the smoking law in public venues and their understanding of rights, duties and responsibilities. Thirty-one students (21 smokers) were interviewed and asked to describe and discuss their own and other students’ behaviour in relation to smoking in closed public places in terms of rights and duties. Additional material from the printed and electronic press has been used to provide a context to the students’ statements. Participant-smokers’ systematic violations of the smoke-free law spring from a peculiar view of rights, duties and responsibilities. Both behaviour and its theoretical underpinnings are reinforced in …

A Model For Developing Interdisciplinary Research Theoretical Frameworks, A. S. Cohenmiller, Elizabeth Pate

The Qualitative Report

Embedded in interdisciplinary research, just as in disciplinary research, are statements of purpose, theoretical frameworks, research questions, reviews of literature, methodology, findings, recommendations, and more However, one of the least understood aspects of interdisciplinary research is the interdisciplinary research (IDR) theoretical framework. This article is intended to serve as a platform for dialogue within and across disciplines about interdisciplinary research and interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks. In addition, it provides a model for developing an IDR theoretical framework through an illustrative example of how an IDR theoretical framework was created and used within a dissertation study. We conclude the article noting critical …

Designing Socially-Mediated Reflection In Online Discussions, Martha M. Snyder

FDLA Journal

Reflection helps students understand the value of their learning experience. Reflection can be an individual activity, for example through journals, one-on-one discussions, and papers and it also can be socially-mediated, where students reflect together in social spaces either face-to-face or in online learning environments. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the value of reflection and the literature that supports it and share how socially-mediated reflection was designed and assessed in a Web-enhanced experiential learning course on water and sustainability. First, a review of the literature related to instructional design and learning theories that support reflection, reflection as a …

A Co/Autoethnography Of Peer Support And Phds: Being, Doing, And Sharing In Academia, Karen Mcphail-Bell, Michelle Louise Redman-Maclaren Dr

The Qualitative Report

As doctoral students, we were well aware of the social, cultural, and economic isolation experienced by many students working towards a PhD. In this paper, we provide an account of an informal peer support model that assisted us to successfully complete our PhDs. We used co/autoethnography to write into each other’s story, seeking to improve our research practice through creative reflection. Data included over 215 emails generated through our “weekly check-ins” during our PhDs, for a period of over 18 months. Following the iterative nature of co/autoethnography, we generated further data through collaborative analysis and reflexive, creative writing. Analysis involved …

In Search Of Themes – Keys To Teaching Qualitative Analysis In Higher Education, Petra K. Boström

The Qualitative Report

Teaching research methods in psychology involves communicating a number of methods stemming from diverse philosophical traditions. The process of searching for themes is a central part of various qualitative methods of analysis and involves the transformation of coded raw data into a thematic structure. This process has often been briefly described which can create a problem for students who encounter qualitative analysis for the first time. The aim of the present paper is to explore how the process of transforming codes into a thematic structure can be described and communicated through higher education teaching. Literature on research methods and related …

Using Cognitive Apprenticeship To Enculturate New Students Into A Qualitative Research, Marisa E. Exter, Iryna Ashby

The Qualitative Report

Acquiring and mastering research skills is essential for doctoral students preparing for a future in academia or research-focused positions. However, they are among the most difficult to teach, and significant practice and enculturation is necessary to attain proficiency. The subjective nature of qualitative analysis often leads students to doubt their own abilities. This paper describes how cognitive apprenticeship was paired with Lincoln and Guba’s Constant Comparative Method for Naturalistic Inquiry, using a hands-on, physical card sort approach to mentor a novice qualitative researcher. Steps followed are discussed in detail, and voices of both the mentor and mentee are shared.

Transfer Of Learning From Collegiate Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Graduates To Their Employment Outcome: An Exploratory Study, Mark J. Myers, Kota Takayama

JADARA

This exploratory study of learning transfer from collegiate education to employment outcomes investigated the work experiences among deaf and hard of hearing adult college graduates. The significance of the study was incorporated in a quantitative method design targeting 19 of 64 participants in a single employment outcome. The participants received the highest ratings in teamwork and communication skills. Although gender was not originally a factor in this study, an independent test uncovered that female and male participants had significant differences in the transfer of learning competencies in the areas of communication and teamwork. A recommendation for the future is to …

Pedagogical Perspectives On Counselor Education: An Autoethnographic Experience Of Doctoral Student Development, Anna Elliott, Beronica M. Salazar, Brittany L. Dennis, Lynn Bohecker, Tiffany Nielson, Kirsten Lamantia, David M. Kleist

The Qualitative Report

There is minimal literature related to understanding what training factors contribute to the development of qualified counselor educators. Specifically, we wondered if counselor education doctoral students are effectively prepared for their roles as instructors. We chose an autoethnographic phenomenology method as a means for exploring the experiences of doctoral students’ pedagogical development in a doctoral instructional theory course. We sought to understand the essence of our experience through written reflection, photography, and group reflective processes. Analysis revealed the value we all obtained through the instructional theory course, experiential learning, and self-reflection, which contributed to increased self-efficacy as emerging counselor educators. …

Transparency And Coherence In A Doctoral Study Case Analysis: Reflecting On The Use Of Nvivo Within A 'Framework' Approach, Marjorie Bonello, Ben Meehan B.M.

The Qualitative Report

This article describes and reflects on the analytical process undertaken on a qualitative case study analysis exploring the concept of interprofessional education (IPE) in Malta. The analysis which employed the ‘Framework’ approach executed by qualitative data analysis (QDAS) software, specifically NVivo, served to produce an audit trail eliciting how the data, findings, interpretations and subsequent conclusions were all tracked and grounded in the raw data. This paper offers a reflective account of my experience in using NVivo highlighting the potential of this software as facilitating a more rigorous and transparent approach to qualitative data analysis.

Musical Memos In Qualitative Inquiry: Creating Artful, Embodied And Salient Reflections, Dale Boyle, Lynn Butler-Kisber

The Qualitative Report

This article presents musical memoing as an arts-based reflective process and as a way to engage with and represent data in qualitative inquiry. Used in conjunction with more well-known approaches to data analysis (constant comparison and narrative analysis), musical memos serve to pull forth and highlight salient understandings emerging in the analyses. Moreover, musical memoing allows for the creation of concise yet holistic representations of the data, which can be performed in an embodied manner to enhance understanding of phenomena. The role of musical memoing is discussed within the context of a research study carried out at McGill University entitled, …

Poetry Across The Curriculum: New Methods Of Writing Intensive Pedagogy For U.S. Community College And Undergraduate Education: A Book Review, Rama Cousik

The Qualitative Report

This book review presents the basic premise of the book, which is use of poetry to teach undergraduate courses. The author of the review shares her own experiences with using poetry to teach college courses and highlights the beginning chapters. The editors of the book, Frank Jacobs, Shannon Kincaid and Amy. E. Traver, and other authors share their experiences from a workshop on the use of poetry in college. Empirical and anecdotal examples do well to underscore the need for more arts-based education and particularly poetry in teaching college courses.

Are We Ready?: A Review Of Getting College Ready: Latin@ Student Experiences Of Race, Access, And Belonging At Predominantly White Universities, Jung Eun Hong

The Qualitative Report

Getting College Ready: Latin@ Student Experiences of Race, Access, and Belonging at Predominantly White Universities by Julie Minikel-Lacocque describes the pre-college and college experiences of six Latin@ college students (four female and two male) at a specifically predominantly White flagship higher education institution in the Midwest United States. By delivering those six Latin@ students’ voices through the author’s interpretation based on the lens of Critical Race Theory, she presented their challenges applying to college, maintaining enrollment, and being successful at the college as underrepresented minority students, most of whom were first-generation college students. The author also discussed effective ways to …

Learning Experiences Of Pre-Service Teachers And The Lecturer’S Role In A Qualitative Research Methods Course, Liora Nutov

The Qualitative Report

Instructors involved in teacher education believe that the language and skills required for qualitative research methods (QRM) provide teachers with the expertise needed for lifelong learning. In this research, I explore the learning experiences of pre-service teachers in a QRM course and examine the role of the lecturer in designing these experiences. I chose the design research method (Kali, Levin-Peled, & Dori, 2009; Wang & Hannafin, 2005) and collected data from 71 students over three academic years. Data analysis uncovered three types of student experiences: motivation for learning, mediation of learning, and meaningful learning – all of which are supported …

An Investigation Of Entry Level Doctor Of Physical Therapy Student Perspectives Of Peer Evaluation, Dawn James, Natalie Weeks-O'Neal, Jennyfer Oh, Teressa Brown

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: To describe the perceptions of peer evaluation as an instructional method when used by entry-level doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students as preparation for practical examinations within a clinically oriented course.

Methods/Description: Forty first year, entry-level doctor of physical therapy students participated in structured peer-skills checks prior to practical exams as part a clinically based course. Each student was required to observe and provide critical feedback for at least four other students as they performed simulated patient care activities. Peer-evaluators rated the students on their level of competency with the skills using a Visual Analog Scale and …

Communication Sciences And Disorders Graduate Students' Strengths And Vulnerabilities Related To Resilience: A Survey Of Graduate Programs, Janet Tilstra, Megan Coffman, Teresa Gonia, Caroline Koziol, Ellen Liebe

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Burnout in health care professionals may pose a threat to the quality of care provided in any setting. The purpose of this project was to examine dimensions related to future resilience in CSD graduate students. METHODS: In this project, 146 master’s degree students from Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) programs in the Midwest completed an online survey regarding lifestyle stresses affecting resilience, and patterns in five areas correlated with resilience. RESULTS: Top lifestyle stresses affecting academics were general stress, maintaining mental health, and sleep difficulties. Notably, more than half of the participants reported feeling rested three or fewer days …