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Single Sex Research: Beyond Anecdotal Records. SETTING UP A RESEARCH DESIGN Margaret M. Ferrara, PhD University of Nevada Reno Editor - Advances in Gender/Education Peter J. Ferrara, EdD Consultant, Statistician MPAT LLC. Shopping?. Finding the research question. ?????????????.
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Single Sex Research: Beyond Anecdotal Records SETTING UP A RESEARCH DESIGN Margaret M. Ferrara, PhD University of Nevada Reno Editor - Advances in Gender/Education Peter J. Ferrara, EdD Consultant, Statistician MPAT LLC
Finding the research question ?????????????
Identifying the Questions • Is Single-Sex Education the Answer? • Does Single-Sex Teaching Enhance Academic Achievement of: • Boys? • Girls?
Stereotypes • Does Single-Sex Teaching Challenge the Stereotypes Associated with Females and Males?
Exposure • Does Single-Sex Education Make Students Different from the Student Mainstream?
Preconditions • What are the Preconditions That Need to be in Place for Single-Sex Classes to be Implemented Effectively?
Unanswered Questions • Future Research
Other Research • “Quick Strategies” and Books of Strategies • Just OK • Consider Them Only in Light of the Research that Supports Them
The Research Paradigm • Mixed Method Design is the Strongest Choice for Single-Sex Research Quantitative Qualitative
Tools to Avoid • Report Card Grades • Formative Test Scores
Must Have • Need data for more than one year • Avoid the Pygmalion Effect • Need follow-up data and contact with same groups of students • Need follow-up contact with teachers who started in the program
Structuring the Research Design • Need schools with a commitment to single-sex learning • Need to set up design to answer research questions
Data Tools • Semi-structured interviews with teachers and students • Focus groups with students (two/three in each group) • Classroom observations • Note taking for each event for anecdotal records • PLC agenda and minutes
Data Tools • Qualitative discourse analysis • Thought units • Quantitative analysis of frequency counts: • Attendance (students and teachers) • Discipline incidents • Off-task behaviors
Important Points to Keep in Mind • Who has been left out of the study? • Typically parents • Who are the “Outliers” in the study? • Students out of the Mainstream • Gifted • English Language Learners • Students with Special Needs
Important Question!! • How vigilant will you be to keep personal (and others’) bias out of the written report? • How willing are you to tell the whole story – the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly?
Final Notes • Data tools you might want to consider using are on your CD
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