The Life of an Elementary School | Qualitative Research
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Added on 2020-04-01
The Life of an Elementary School | Qualitative Research
Added on 2020-04-01
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Running head: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH 1QUALITATIVE RESEARCHStudent NameInstitution
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH 2A Year in the life of elementary schoolThis is a critique of a qualitative research article titled: A Year in the Life of an Elementary School: One School’s Experiences in Meeting New Mathematics Standards. It was written by Karen Dorgan in 2004. The main purpose of the study was to examine changes in the state's standards of learning and how it affected pedagogical decision making, teaching and learning, and methods of instruction and evaluation. Therefore, this critique is based on, my interpretation of the article as an example of a qualitative study. It will focus on the statement of interest, methods, research questions, findings, rigor, strengths, and weaknesses.Statement of interestThe study was directed at an elementary school in the state of Virginia and the efforts it was making adapting to the changes in standards for education learning in the state (Dorgan, 2004). The purpose was clearly indicated in the abstract section. She stated that the purpose of the research was to attempt to understand how, and to what extent their [the faculty and administration of this particular elementary school] decisions about instruction were influenced by the Standards of Learning and the state tests (Dorgan, 2004). Similarly, the focus of the studywas explicitly and clearly stated in the abstract. She stated that the primary focus of the study was on the Mathematics programme at the school and strategies the school applied in an attempt to raise students’ mathematics test scores.MethodsDorgan conducted a non-participatory case study from the school year 1999-2000. During this period, she used ethnographic analysis as a method of triangulating data. She used allthe three forms of qualitative data collection methods-interviewing, observation, and data
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH 3analysis. Various themes emerged during the process of data collection and she recorded all of them in the data results section in the report (Dorgan, 2004). In qualitative research, it is important to point out the themes that became clear to you while you were conducting your study(Lewis, 2015). Similarly, they also it also helps developing research hypothesis.RigorIndeed, Dorgan explained how rigor was assured in her research. The study is valid because Dorgan used of qualitative data collection methods. It was credible because of both data collection methods and excerpts from the report showed that the author maintained focus in her research. Further, the conformability of the study is ensured by the provision of excerpts from interviews (Dorgan, 2004). Lastly, transferability is ensured through the reference to literature in the literature review section.StrengthsThe report outlined findings and conclusions that were related to the research questions. For example, Dorgan found that the effects of political decisions on teaching and learning were generally negative in this case (Dorgan, 2004). This answered the research question on the effect of politics on pedagogy.WeaknessesAlthough I found this study satisfactory as a qualitative research, there were some elements that it lacked. For example, the author failed to provide an explanationof the data collection processes (Babbie, 2015). Similarly, the article lacked sufficient background literature.
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH 4Characteristics of good nursing care by Athlin and HedelinThis qualitative research was conducted in 2007 by Athlin Hedelin and Hov R. The two examined what constitutes quality care for ICU patients. In this paper, I analyze and critique the article using the elements of a qualitative research study as my basis. I will focus on the statement of interest, methods, findings, rigor, strengths, and weaknesses.Statement of interestThe purpose of the study was clearly and explicitly outlined in the abstract section. The statement was clear and unpresumptuous. Additionally, it was supported by data on an understanding of the features of good nursing care for patients in ICU (Hov, 2007). The statement of interest was further developed in the introduction section where the authors acknowledge the conflicts that had occurred regarding this topic because of lack of specialty in a particular field.MethodsIn this section, I will provide my critique of the research methodology. Specifically, I willprovide my analysis and interpretation of sampling and procedures used in data collection.The participants were chosen randomly from well-known nursing institutions in the region. They invited 37 nurses to participate (Hov, 2007). Similarly, they randomly chose 19 nurses as respondents. However, out of this, only 14 nurses participated.FindingsThe findings of the research are explicitly and clearly provided. The researchers mentioned findings of the study that support the aim and clarifies their interpretation of the topic
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