Gender difference in reading - Research Paper Example

Gender difference in readingHuman beings experiences different forms of developments with increase in age. One of such developments is with respect to cognitive ability that is indicated by factors such as memory potential, arithmetic ability, and reading potential. Research initiatives into existing statistics can be used to investigate factors that affect such abilities. This paper, adopting the role of a researcher to help a school in addressing some of its questions, responds to research based questions on gender difference in reading.

HypothesisThe selected research question for consideration is, ‘how much do reading scores change from the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year?’ Based on the research question, the most suitable set of hypothesis that relates to gender difference in reading would compare reading potential, by gender, at the beginning of the year and reading potential at the end of the year. The null hypothesis for the study would be,H0: There is no significant difference in the average change in reading ability between males and femalesThe alternative hypothesis would beH1: There is a significant difference in the average change in reading ability between males and femalesThe answer to the question would be that the change in reading scores between males and females from the beginning of the school year to the end of the school year would be significantly large.

This response is prompted by developed theories that there exist a number of differences in cognitive abilities between males and females (Denmark and Paludi, 2008).Selected research methods and their applicabilityOne of the applicable research methods is survey, a quantitative approach towards observation of data over the research subject. It involves a number of techniques for identification and a final observation of data for recording. Surveys will help in answering the research question because of its applicability in quantitative research to identify characteristics of data and make inferences to larger populations.

It would be applied by subjecting students to reading tests at the beginning of academic year and at the end of the academic year and observing the average change by gender towards analysis. One of the advantages of surveys is its reliability and validity due to the researcher’s ability to control the research participants. It also allows for generalization of observations. It major disadvantage is however its lack of ability to explain the observed results (Connaway and Powell, 2010).Another applicable research method is case study research.

The explorative approach would be used by identifying and developing an understanding of reading abilityof a group of males and females at the beginning and end of academic year. It would be applied because of its ability to understand factors that affect relationships in observations. Its major advantage is its ability to develop an understanding over existing relationship in a subject such as reading potentials among males and females. It however lacks generalization ability (Connaway and Powell, 2010).

Applicable ethical issuesThe research initiative would involve a number of ethical issues, one of which is the informed and voluntary consent of the participants in the research. This would involve informing the students who are to participate in the research of their involvement and seek their consent before involvement. Confidentiality of the participants and beneficence of the research process are other ethical issues that are applicable in the research (Connaway and Powell, 2010). ReferencesConnaway, L.

and Powell, R. (2010). Basic research methods for librarians. Santa Barbra, CA: ABC-CLIO. Denmark, F. and Paludi, M. (2008). Psychology of women: A handbook of issues and theories. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.