8113 Week 7 Discussion

8113 Week 7 Colleagues Response

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH EVALUATION 2

Assignment Task Part 2

Return to the Discussion, and review your colleagues’ posts. Respond to at least two classmates with a substantive, positive comment that is supported from literature or the class readings. Provide at least 2 substantive paragraphs for each response. Use In-text citations and cite references…..

Renee Morris 

RE: Discussion - Week 7

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Theories pertaining to research serve one of four purposes.  Burkholder, Cox, and  Crawford (2016) explain that theories are “to explain, predict, and understand phenomena and, in many cases, to challenge and extend existing knowledge within the limits of critical bounding assumptions.” The theoretical framework is the blueprint to the research.  Burkholder, Cox, and  Crawford (2016), states that theory is a set of concepts and relational statements that organize scientific knowledge in a focused way. The theory provides the researcher with a purpose and better understanding of how or what information needs to be collected.  Butin( 2010) describes three stances that educational research follows: positivism, interpretivism and critical theory.

Ayers( 2011) conducted research that is aligned to the rubric and checklist. According to the checklist and rubric standards, a dissertation should state a problem, provide evidence that the problem is relevant and address gaps within practice. .Ayers (2011) explained that “there exists a problem with cultural diversity in AP enrollment in a moderate sized school district in southwest Florida as there is a limited number of racial minority students in high school AP classes in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades across this district.” Ayers (2011), cited evidence from relative sources dated from 2004-2009. Ayers (2011) shared that a “study was conducted by Ndura, Robinson, and Ochs (2003) that found inequity exists in AP enrollment of racial minority students, and Hispanic student participation was significantly lower than European American students in the district of this study.” Utilizing the resource older than the  recommended five years, allowed readers to see that this problem has existed for years. This particular reference helped strengthen and justify the need for Ayers research. Ayers (2011) shared that the significance of the problem was an effect on advanced courses and social mobility when it pertained to minorities.

Ayers (2011) utilized a progressive logic model, ensuring that all stakeholders have the same understanding about the objectives and goals of the evaluated program ahead of the start of the research. Ayers (2011)  explained that this conceptual framework ensures that “the goals and objectives are identified, the problem is stated, and then the evaluation provides formative feedback based on the outcomes of the study.” The conceptual framework was reasonable for this study.  Ayers (20211) was looking to answer  the guiding question of” whether or not the implementation of SpringBoard has achieved results in raising the level of academic rigor to prepare students in this district to be successful in college."  Additionally Ayer (2011), shared "that the study sought to examine if there has been an increase in diversity enrollment within AP classes in this district.” 

Ayers (2011) successfully defined a problem using local information and professional literature.  The researcher provided a purpose for  conducting this research. Ayers (2011) provided the significance of the problem. The problem was supported with a guiding question as a focal point. The conceptual framework was appropriate for the theory outlined by Ayers.  Ayers (2011) described that “the research design was a quantitative summative-based program evaluation of the curriculum objectives.” The components were aligned and led to a justified and grounded study. 

References

Ayres, K. D. (2011). A summative program evaluation of a systemic intervention on student 

achievement and AP participation  (Doctoral dissertation, pp. 18–21). Retrieved from 

http://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1018&context=dilley

Burkholder, G., Cox, K., & Crawford, L. (2016). The scholar-practitioner’s guide to research design. 

 [Ebook] (1st ed.). Baltimore, Maryland: Laureate Publishing. Retrieved from 

https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781624580314/epubcfi/6/2[;vnd.vst.idref=html-cover-page]!/4/2/4@0:0.00

Butin, D. W. (2010). The education dissertation: A guide for practitioner scholars. 

Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

Jacqueline Beale 

RE: Discussion - Week 7

COLLAPSE

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The conceptual or theoretical framework provides assumptions based on a person’s worldview, which explains a phenomenon. The theoretical framework tests the theories associated with the occurrence typically aligned with quantitative research (Laureate Education, 2016). Butin (2010) purported that looking at an academic issue is deemed a theoretical framework to drive the goals and analysis.

I believe Ayers (2011) conducted a theoretical study and met the Rubric standards and checklist.  Ayers (2011) stated a problem with diversity in AP enrollment in moderately sized school districts in Florida resulting from a limited number of minority students in high school AP classes.  Ayers (2011) was concise in stating that the research design was quantitative. Random sampling was used across four subgroups for the population, and statistical data encompassing raw reading scores, FCAT results, and performances scores over seven years was leveraged (Ayers, 2011).  The research questions guided his inquiry to what extent AP scores and participation increased amongst minority students. Her conclusion indicated that the study was the first evaluation. Future research is necessary and the study impacts social change through validating programs developed to increase achievement and participation among minority students and supports teacher professional development (Ayers, 2011).

Interestingly, Ayers (2011) has a conceptual framework listed in the table of contents, which confused me. Her research design and data collection seem to indicate a theoretical framework, given that the variables she used are numerical.  I look forward to feedback as I may have gotten this one wrong.

References

Ayres, K. D. (2011). A summative program evaluation of a systemic intervention on student achievement and AP participation. Walden University ScholarWorks.  https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1018&context=dilley

Butin, D. W. (2010). The education dissertation: A guide for practitioner scholars. Corwin.

Laureate Education (2016). Theoretical/conceptual framework. Author.

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