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Research Group Matthew Nzegwu Diana Flores Fallon Hollis Cynthia Santiago Anthony Henderson Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade. Research Focus: Physical and Social Ecology. Introduction. Research Goals. Enact a bottom up critical research methodology
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Research Group Matthew Nzegwu Diana Flores Fallon Hollis Cynthia Santiago Anthony Henderson Dr. Jeff Duncan-Andrade Research Focus: Physical and Social Ecology Introduction
Research Goals Enact a bottom up critical research methodology WHY?To give voice to traditionally under-represented groups Examine the physical and social ecology of urban schools WHY?Collect and analyze data on areas that need improvement
Significance to the Field of Educational Research • Challenges the existing standards for research on schools • Provides a model for collecting more accurate data on the needs of key stakeholders in schools.(students, parents, and community members)
Roads to Triangulated Data • Surveys • Focus Groups • Critical Researchers’ Observations • Interviews
Ways of Recording Data • Note Taking • Field Notes • Tape Recording • Video Taping
Modifying Our Methods • Group Discussions • To evaluate the process and the results from our research in the field • Question Modification • Defining terms used in our questions • Reworking questions to get more detailed responses
Reporting Our Findings Locations for Data Collection • 3 Los Angeles Area Schools • 3 Malls • Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza • Fox Hills • Montebello Plaza • A.C.L.U (American Civil Liberties Union) • Salvation Army Youth Center
Physical Ecology Buildings Access to Adequate Physical Space Positioning of School in Community Social Ecology School Climate Parent Relationship with School Community Sections for Data Analysis:Scope of Work
Physical Ecology at a Los Angeles High School Positioning of School in the Community • Does the physical location of the school matter? • One area high school is located next to a recycling plant • The students complain of the smells and claim the plant to be “a disgusting sight.”
Physical Ecology at a Los Angeles High School Positioning of School in the Community • What is the community perception of the school? Q: How do people perceive your school? A: “Some people make your school look worse because you live in Watts, they are scared.” Q: How does that make you feel? A: “It makes me wanna be somebody.” (Interview, high school student, 7/16/02 Watts)
Social Ecology at a Los Angeles High School School Climate • Student to teacher relationships • “ Teachers need to push us. I bet you anything that if the teachers pushed us half the school would go to college.” (Student focus group, 7/16/02, Watts)
Analysis of the Process • Impact on the Individual Researcher • The Process of Critical Research
Understanding the Importance of the Individual Researcher • Removing ourselves from our comfort zones • Being different than what we see in society and schools • Praxis: a combination of practice and action and then the reflection upon that process (Freire,1970)
Analyzing the Process of Data Collection Logistics • Technical devices, seating arrangements, positioning of leads Line of Questioning • Types of questions, follow-ups, word choice X factors • Adults in room, impromptu interviews, our research group dynamics
Importance of Reflection on the Process Improvement happens over time Responsibility to those who are traditionally disempowered
Official Spaces:What Does Our Work Contribute to These Spaces? • SARC (School Accountability Report Cards) • ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) • State Department of Education
Unofficial Spaces:Accessing the Political Agenda Community Based Organizations Student Groups Internet Sites
Keeping Up With Us: Web site: www.TeachingToChangeLA.org Future conferences: IDEA Youth Summit (December 2002, Los Angeles) AERA (April 2003, Chicago)