Educational Enquiry - Report Example

Insert Educational Enquiry Mr. Brent Dickinson Introduction Marginalized and young children especially those with learning difficulties most often tend to be left out when it comes to conducting research. It happens that despite them participating in any research processes, they are given passive roles that most at time tend to be of less signifance to them. The report tends to examine what would be the implication of these students being given active roles in research and how teachers would work with them to ensure that they are actively involved in research. The European Journal of Special Education The journal looks into the impact of having these children involved in the research process and in areas in which these students are involved is it in a genuine motive. The paper focuses and gives value to the research conducted by these women felt fed up of taking passive roles all the time. At the same time, this approach of marginalizing these groups during research was the fact that historically research is based on an adult’s view which is usually a manifestation of his experiences. Hence, at any time, children with difficulty have to rely on adult support during research. The journal illustrates this through the Mencap project, an establishment for persons with disabilities that mainly aims at providing empowerment to disabled persons. (K Mary 2010 pg.7) Working with Teachers to Promote Children’s Participation Through Pupil‐Led Research The authors here seek to look into how the teachers can help these students with difficulties overcome their difficulties and take up active roles in research. It looks into working by children as opposed to working on /working with children in research. The research appreciates teachers’ role in providing students with the required skills to conduct research. It focuses on developing initiatives to help pupils raise their issues adequately and have them included in the research reports. At the same time, the research with special consideration to the Young People’s Charter of Participation (Children’s Society 2001 pg. 39) appreciates that though children may not always have the final decision, the need to incorporate their contribution in the report is what is most important. The research formulates a procedure with which to conduct the research. (B Debbie 2010, pg.18) Rationale for the Research In both researches, the authors have players have used different methods of research. The methods chosen were based on how applicable and understandable they were with regards to the research. Factors such as the age of the group members, the time to be taken in the research, the complexity of the research methodology, among others were considered. The European Journal of Special Education The Mencap project, the research methodology mainly focused around observation, interview, role play and fun to enable them develop their observation and interviewing skills. The research methods were suggested by the children. The methods were congruent with the research such that for instance, the children needed to be engaged in role play and fun groups to be able to develop their research skills. At the same time, the methods could not be applied by the students independently, in that they needed guides to assist them with the recording of the data as leaving it to them would make them leave out on so much crucial data. The Mencap project employed research methods that were best suited for the disabled children collect data just like any other human being with no difficulty. (K Mary 2010 pg.12) Working with Teachers to Promote Children’s Participation Through Pupil‐Led Research In this case, the research was conducted in two schools and the children were given the opportunity to choose a project that best suited them. The methodology was such that their teachers would only assist the children in choosing the research project to work with and be independent of the research process. The research process involved questionnaires and observation skills. The research methodology was in fact a success as it was particularly used and its recommendations applied by respective governors in the schools. For instance in one school, the management from the recommendations refurbished a playground. Alternative Design In place of the used methods, the researchers could have applied other methods of research and data collection. The alternative design here would be specifically aimed at data production as this is the most integral part of the research process. Less focus would be directed towards preparation of the research process. The alternative research design chosen will primarily focus on making the data collected accurate in generalisation.Random sampling would be used in place of the methods applied in both research processes. The process will involve the study of only a sample of cases of study in a larger population. For instance, the Mencap project could have looked into a larger number of children and avoided concentrating on only one group of children facing the same conditions and environment. They should have engaged children in other organizations and institution to increase their size of population. At the same time, in the other research where teachers came in as aids, the researchers should have focused on more schools as opposed to limiting themselves to only 3 schools in the same neighborhood of West Borough. Advantages of Using the Alternative Design-Random Sampling The research will give unbiased statistics: This is because the sample size used in the studies is too small and as would not be a reflection of the true value of the nature of the population. The alternative design would take into consideration such technicality. The alternative design considers a large population for instance looks at different areas and picks samples with similar characteristics. Our present studies are concentrated in one area, West Borough and the samples are faced with similar conditions and as a result they would not be a true reflection of the position of the selected population. The units will all have a chance of being selected and thereby it is easy to make statistical inferences and generalisations from the sample to the population. It’s simple and easy to apply: The process can even be applied manually. Alternative decisions The procedures applied could have been replaced by alternative decisions that could have made the outcomes much more different and easier. Foremost, I would increase the areas of research. This is because the research focused on people with learning difficulties from the same region. This position failed to appreciate that disability cuts across the world and thereby including different zones would be appropriate as such children are faced with various diverse conditions depending on their environments and as a result, how they conduct research would be in diverse ways. Hence, in order to generate a more comprehensive and homogenous report, the research should have been done in a larger population. (Hammersley M, 2007) Using teachers to promote learning difficulties Increasing the number of schools that were participating in the research process. This would make the results given much more accurate and appropriate in terms of accuracy as the larger the data, the higher the level of accuracy. Incorporation of research methodology units into the school curriculum of the pupils. This would help save the amount of time and cost used in the research. This is because, in research preparation, the pupils are taught the methods of data collection that consumes time for both the students and the researchers. At the same time, the quality of data produced would be more accurate as such data methods are already known to the students. While introducing such units into their curriculum, emphasis should be placed on ensuring that the units have two aspects; a theoretical one that would aim at equipping the students with the knowledge required for the research process and the practical one whereby the students can take up much smaller projects to familiarize themselves with the technicalities of research. The European Journal of Special Education Recording of data: One of the problems identified by the author while compiling the research is that the speakers talked very fast. Use of recorders will be necessary to ensure that all that happens has been put down by the researcher. At the same time, it keeps the researcher from uncalled for pressure as they try to record what fast speakers are saying. Prior preparation of the researchers on what to expect during their research process. For instance, in the findings, it was observed that people usually put off others during meetings, other speakers use big words, while others fail to use diagrams and illustrations. This will be necessary to ensure that the researchers do not panic in case they are dismissed or in case speakers use big words. This will help them keep them abreast throughout the research process. For instance, the researchers identified that in case of use of ambiguous words by the speakers, they could prepare traffic light cards that they could raise up during the research session to slow down the speakers into giving definitions of the words they use. This is not only useful for the research but also helps the students increase their vocabulary base. Use of electronic media. The researchers could use electronic media such as power point presentations, use of RAM CDs, hard disks, flash disks, etc. to save and back up their data. Use of power point presentations would enable them get much quality of their output especially if the recommendations that they come up with was to be implemented upon presentation. Undertaking more remote projects. The research findings identified that they had a problem since they had previously not undertaken such a project. It was something completely new for them. Hence, it would be necessary to engage the researchers more often in such similar but remote projects to ensure that they are better placed to understand what is expected of them. How to develop Random Sampling Approach In my Part 3, I identified Random Sampling Approach of Data Collection. A random sample approach is developed as follows: 1. Identify a population and for instance name it ‘P’ 2. The individuals in the sample are called units. For instance if our population ‘P’ has 1000 people, then it has 1000 units according to sampling rules. With our simple random sampling, each of the units would have an equal chance of probability of being included in the sample. 3. Then choose a sample size. The size of sample chosen depends on the resources and level of accuracy intended. For instance you could have a sample size of 300,name it ‘n’ 4. Assign numbers to the units chosen. The numbers should be assigned consecutively. If our population has 1000 units then you should assign them numbers 1-1000 5. Develop random numbers: This will involve choosing our 300 units or ‘n’.We could use random numbers tables or computers programs that generate random numbers. 6. Select the sample size; this will involve selecting which of the 1000 people will enter into the sample of 300 or’n’.This would involve selecting the sample through whatever criteria one opts. One could choose the 3rd unit, the 50th, etc. according to what one wills. 7. From there henceforth one can conduct the research that they intend with the representative portion of the entire population ‘n’. (dissertation ) Random Methods of data collection Sampling Random sampling is not adequate on its own. Other data collection methods are usually necessary to make it complete and a basis on which recommendations can be made and implemented. 1. Observation: Upon choosing a sample, a researcher would observe various aspects that he intends to get to know about his sample. For instance, a TV station that intends to determine how many people watch its programs would have to observe this aspect about the units in its sample. 2. Party Participation: The researcher may opt to engage in what the sample population is upto.For instance, if the sample has been put in a class to assess certain aspects about learning, it would be healthy to be engaged as a member in the group 3. Use of Questionnaires; The researcher could introduce questionnaires to the sample population in order to get whatever data he intends especially if the research is one that calls for confidentiality of the units in the sample. 4. Interviews; the interviews in this case would be in two categories. Either, the one on one kind of interview where the researcher does the research individually or one that involves a group of the interviewees, this kind of group interview would involve the units working as a team and the interviewer would assess them through questions or even observations and interactive sessions. (pathways education) Reference List B Debbie, S Margaret &W Kevin (2010), working with teachers to promote children’s Participation through pupil‐led research Open University downloaded on: 20 March 2012, At: 15:36 Data collection and sampling extracted from < http://www.pathways.cu.edu.eg >, pathways Education accessed on [4/3/2012 at 2040 hrs.] Hammersley, M. (2007), Methodological Paradigms in Educational Research, TLRP, available at: accessed on [December, 20, 2011] K Mary, Original Research Contributions by Young People With A Learning Disability: Allan A, Baines R, Clancy A, Jewiss‐Hayden L, R S Josh, (2010) Exploring the implications of young people with learning disabilities engaging in their own research. Simple random sampling extracted from < http://dissertation.laerd.com ,>dissertation laerd accessed on [28/02/2012] Read More