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Young People’s Perceptions and Experiences of Leaving High School Early. An Exploration . Linda Guillory Walden University.
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Young People’s Perceptions and Experiences of Leaving High School Early An Exploration Linda Guillory Walden University Lee, T., & Breen, L. (2007). Young people’s perceptions of leaving high school early: An exploration. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 17, 329-346. doi: 10.1002/casp.887
Overview Qualitative design Problem statement Purpose Research questions Sample Technique Sample participants Collection technique Data analysis Validity Ethics Summary References
Qualitative Design Grounded Theory Research that uses the inductive approach with the purpose of building theory that is ‘grounded’ in the data.
Problem Statement There is little research that provides insight from student’s own perspective on how their sense of belonging or not, may have impacted their decision to leave school early.
Purpose To explore the perceptions and experiences of the school context held by young people who left school early.
Research Questions What was the experience of school for young people who left school early? How did the school content impact their wellbeing? How has their decision to leave school early impacted on their wellbeing?
Sample Technique Participants were recruited by snowball sampling through the primary author’s network.
Collection Technique The interview is the major source of data collection tool in qualitative research. Lee and Breen (2007) used a non-judgmental, non-intrusive style of interviewing to give voice to students and to balance power.
Data Analysis Overall researchers used the constant comparative method, reviewing data while being collected. This involves comparing each segment of data with subsequent data looking for similarities and differences to identify patterns.
Data Analysis (phase 1) Phase 1-Open Coding Using the first two interviews for comparison, significant concepts and statements were identified. These provided data for comparison with the next interview and subsequently with each interview, constantly comparing.
Data Analysis (phase 2) Phase 2-Axial Coding This phase involves identifying categories and themes, which researchers refined systematically by using a matrix to reduce the data and provide a visual display.
Data Analysis (phase 3) Phase 3-Selective Coding This phase involves identifying core categories and propositions. Lee and Breen (2007) used Corbin’s six C’s (cited in Lee & Breen, 2007) to facilitate conceptual order of themes and categories identified in the data.
Findings Researchers found the experience of leaving school early occurred in three phases: School exclusion Transition (from school to work) Present or now These findings answered the three research questions proposed by the researchers.
Validity Researchers used two methods of triangulation to establish validity: Investigator Multiple sources Member checks were used for internal validity. Thick description was used as the method to promote extrapolation to other similar settings.
Ethics Researchers used the following ethical practices: Rigorous methods to establish validity. Briefed participants on the study. Informed consent of participants and parents if applicable. Provided boundaries by giving options of non-participation in interviews or study.
Summary The Lee and Breen (2007) study provided a comprehensive example of grounded theory research. The problem identified was appropriate for the qualitative approach. The authors took a rigorous approach to data collection and analysis using several systematic methods. Multiple perspectives could be seen from the themes and categories while representing these from student voices.
References Lee, T., & Breen, L. (2007). Young people’s perceptions of leaving high school early: An exploration. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 17, 329-346. doi: 10.1002/casp.887 Lodico, M., Spaulding, D., & Voegtle, K. (2010). Methods in educational research: From theory to practice. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Merriam, S. (2009). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.