the qualitative approach to research in and evaluation of virtual schools* kathryn kennedy, ph.d....

The Qualitative Approach to Research in and Evaluation of Virtual Schools*

Kathryn Kennedy, Ph.D. candidateSchool of Teaching & Learning University of Florida

*Prepared for preconference workshopResearch and Evaluation in K12 Online LearningTom Clark & Cathy CavanaughVSS 2009, Austin, TX

Agenda• Defining qualitative research

• Examples of qualitative studies in virtual schooling

• Why use qualitative research in virtual schooling?

Defining qualitative research

• situated activity locating observer in the world

• consisting of interpretive practices making world visible

• turns the world into a series of representations:

- Field notes - Interviews- Conversations - Photographs- Recordings - Memos

(Denzin & Lincoln, 2000)

Defining qualitative research (cont.)

• Understanding, defining, describing

• Inductive

• Researcher as data collection tool

• Natural settings, wholeness and complexity

• Emergent design

Example: Inductive analysisTitle Roles of Mentors in Virtual Schools

RQ What do administrators perceive as the roles mentors play in the VS teacher induction process?

Beliefs (ontology, epistemology, theoretical framework)

Hermeneutics, Constructionism

Example: Inductive analysis (cont.)Setting Six virtual schools in the U.S.

Sample Six virtual school administrators who oversee their virtual schools’ mentoring programs

Data collection Semi-structured interviews

Data analysis Inductive analysis (Hatch, 2002; Grbich, 2007) Open code, identify frames of analysis, identify overarching roles, overarching subliminal roles

Data validity Member check, feedback, audit trail

Example: Grounded TheoryTitle Qualities of virtual school teacher applicants

RQ What qualities do virtual school teachers look for in virtual school teacher candidates?

Beliefs (ontology, epistemology, theoretical framework)

Relativism, Constructivism

Example: Grounded Theory (cont.)Setting Large virtual school in the Southeast U.S.

Sample 9 virtual school teachers (4 recently hired, 5 experienced)

Data collection Semi-structured interviews

Data analysis Constructive grounded theory (Charmaz, 2006)

Theoretical sensitivity; theoretical sampling; open, focused and selective coding; constant comparative method; memoing; theory development

Data validity Member check, feedback, audit trail

Example: PhenomenologyTitle Essence of the virtual school practicum

RQ How do pre-service teachers experience a practicum in a virtual school?

Beliefs (ontology, epistemology, theoretical framework)

Idealism, Phenomenology

Example: Phenomenology (cont.)Setting Large virtual school in Southeast U.S. and large

research-intensive teacher education program in the Southeast U.S.

Sample 3 pre-service teachers (criterion sampling)

Data collection Phenomenological interviews

Data analysis Phenomenological analysis (Moustakas, 1994) Phenomenological reduction, textural description, structural description, composite description (per participant, then overall)

Data validity Member check, feedback, audit trail

Why use QR in VS?• Individuality in researching

• Richness of data

• Flexibility in research design.

ResourcesCharmaz, Kathy. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory.

Grbich, Carol. (2007). Qualitative Data Analysis: An Introduction.

Hatch, J. Amos. (2002). Doing Qualitative Research in Education Settings.

Moustakas, Clark. (1994). Phenomenological Research Methods.

Any questions?

Kathryn Kennedykkennedy78@gmail.com