Student Achievement Gap based on Social Economic Status
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CPooleweek7ResearchMethodologyPresentation.pptxResearch Methodology Presentation
Student Achievement Gap based on Social Economic Status
Charles Poole
Liberty University
Students achievement gap based off of socioeconomic status is the area of proposed research.
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Introduction
Social Economic Status (SES) represents economic index obtained through component analysis comprised of occupational status, parents’ level of education and family wealth and family culture at home (Mirowsky, 2017). SES has to do with income, educational attainment, financial security and social class perception at large.
Education achievement has measurement parameters such as set test achievement, completion of the years of schooling set and the school’s SEC.
Educational achievement and its relationship with socioeconomic status (SES) remains relevant in the academic research. The area has not received a conclusive agreement making it remain open for further investigations.
Schools have lost focus on the other key factors that would shift a student’s academic progress due to the assumption that SES contributes a bigger percentage on the gap yet the truth remains unearthed (Mirowsky, 2017).
SES is a reality that no one can deny. No country can claim to have achieved a balance in this area due to diversity in every factor that contribute to the variation in the social status. It should be noted that SES is a component that contributes to many differences in the lives of people which then creates and assumption that the same applies to academic achievements leading to ignorance on the other contributing factors.
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Introduction
The reality however remains that it is ubiquitous to apply SES as a key variable in such a research.
The proposal for further research is therefore relevant due to the diversity in the conclusions made in this area.
Furthermore, there has been a misguide when it comes to governmental decisions that are aimed at improving the academic achievement in schools (Mirowsky, 2017).
Key factors such as class equipping, teachers, resources available and the students’ willingness and ability to learn have indeed been ignored (Mirowsky, 2017).
This is therefore a proposed research to address student achievement gap based on SES.
Literature Review
This area will highlight review articles that touch on SES and academic achievement as provided in different academic journals.
The findings of the articles chosen will be compared in an effort to bring out the diversity that already exists in the various conclusions reached by the researchers in this topic.
Consideration will be given to both the authors in support of the topic and those who given an opposite view point. This is key in making sure that varied perspective on the top are well represented with little bias.
The review will be focused on both the past and recent research in a period of around 30 years. The importance of this is making sure that different conclusions are obtained over the years which helps in establishing the common trend in the study (Bolderston, 2008).
Factors that are important contributors to academic achievement will also be reviewed in this area. The intension is to make sure that the study narrows down to only the key areas thus avoiding repetition on areas initially covered conclusively on the topic.
Literature review provides a discussion on the published information in the particular subject areas such as this.
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Literature Review
Analysis done by relevant agencies such as US Department of Education (Lee & Burkam, 2002) and other relevant institution will also be included to make sure that all the necessary statistics required are obtained and presented accurately.
A critical analysis of the various literatures available on the topic will be relevant to make sure that the gaps in those studies are highlighted in order to bring out the relevance and the need for the proposed study on achievement gaps based on SES (Bolderston, 2008).
Proposed Research Design
Refers to a set of methods and procedures that will be applied in the collection and analysis of the information required in an effort to come up with relevant conclusion (Gregor & Hevner, 2013).
Correlational approach will be given to the design to make sure that the key variables i.e. students’ achievement gap and SES are clearly given focus as relevant areas in the research given (Curtis, Comiskey & Dempsey, 2016).
All the components that are key in obtaining the required information to make the study conclusive will be explored.
The strength of the relationship between SES and students’ achievement will be determined on the outcome of the analysis on the various data obtained, this is to avoid bias.
Proposed Research Design
The design applied will also be useful in opening up a further research especially in the areas that will not be explored.
The target population will be students, parents, teachers and the various stakeholders in the education sector. The input from those participating will be relevant and crucial for final decisions.
Proper use of the data and incorporation of statistics through exploration of all types of schools will be completed for credibility purposes.
Proposed Sampling Strategy
Cluster sampling method will be applied now that the target population is large, diverse and distributed.
A random sample will be taken from the various schools mapped in manner that makes sure all the institutions are well represented regardless of the level of economic empowerment, public or private (Acharya et al, 2013).
Rich and poor families will be studied through comparison of their children in the various schools to see whether the achievement gaps are indeed based on their social status.
Qualification for participation will therefore be based on the parameters such as performance, parenthood and schools.
Proposed Sampling Strategy
Snowball sampling is also suggested as a way of reducing the time requirement for the study (Acharya et al, 2013). Teachers and parents will be allowed to recommend other participants they feel can offer relevant source of data for the research.
The snowball strategy might be relevant in giving a good picture now that reaching out to certain families and schools might become challenging.
The groupings will be based on the social economic status, types of schools, location of the schools and the various categories of learners.
Samples ought to be obtained from the groups making sure that no bias is placed on any category. Sample size is to have a ratio that is proportional to the category size.
Proposed Data Gathering Methods
Questionnaires with short form questions where students, parents and teachers can fill it in is necessary. The design of the questionnaire is based on the categories represented to make sure relevance is assured (Krosnick, 2018).
Respondents will fill the questionnaire without a knowledge that the research aims to compare their social status and academic performance for students and the perception on the same for parents and teachers.
Answers to the various questions will be led in nature allowing for accuracy and detection of erroneous attempts.
Surveys will also be applied due to their ability to give us a chance for personal contact with the various stakeholders. The importance lies in getting a perception of whether the information being given is truthful or not.
Proposed Data Gathering Methods
Surveys will be applied to students mostly now that they stand a high chance giving contradictory data. Face to face interviews conducted at various institutions will facilitate proper judgment on the information provided.
Assessment on thoughts and feelings is assured through the survey in the different categories of institutions (Krosnick, 2018).
Observation of the various data available in the institutions will be key. For instance, academic reports and the abilities of students which will offer an incite on the SES and academic achievement in a more realistic nature.
Proposed Data Analysis
. The reviews provide an understanding on the areas in the topic that require further analysis to come up with relevant conclusions.
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Analysis is to begin from the various literature reviews provided This is important now that not much research is available in this area apart from the misconception that has long been in existence.
Quantitative approach will be given to the data obtained with an aim to determine the number of parents and students whose SES has a direct bearing on the academic performance of the child.
Analysis software such as R programming and SES will be applied to make sure accuracy of the data is improved through eliminating the human errors.
The findings of the research will undergo personal analysis to make sure that the intended research is either approved or disapproved without taking any side. This is to ensure conclusions are drawn out of the research without emotional influences (Pavelek, 2013).
Proposed Data Analysis
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Similarity on the results obtained will be a key leading point to the various discussions. This is to determine whether the results have a variation from the previous studies done.
The software used are to provide a source of analytic discussions since they are configured to give thresholds that define certain scenarios in the research (Pavelek, 2013).
The analysis will not ignore the limitations that are expected during the study. They will all be highlighted as they come up especially during data collection process.
Therefore conclusions will be drawn while having in mind the challenges faced during the study which might definitely influence the outcome expected.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the research on the student achievement gap based off of SES has a potential in clearing the errors that have been in existence due to the misconceptions developed as a result of research initially done on the topic.
Proper approach on the research by following all the necessary steps has a high probability in offering a conclusion that would develop a platform for government planning in the education sector.
References
Lee, V. E., & Burkam, D. T. (2002). Inequality at the starting gate: Social background differences in achievement as children begin school. Economic Policy Institute, 1660 L Street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20036.
Bolderston, A. (2008). Writing an effective literature review. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 39(2), 86-92.
Gregor, S., & Hevner, A. R. (2013). Positioning and presenting design science research for maximum impact. MIS quarterly, 337-355.
Curtis, E. A., Comiskey, C., & Dempsey, O. (2016). Importance and use of correlational research. Nurse researcher, 23(6).
Acharya, A. S., Prakash, A., Saxena, P., & Nigam, A. (2013). Sampling: Why and how of it. Indian Journal of Medical Specialties, 4(2), 330-333.
Mirowsky, J. (2017). Education, social status, and health. Routledge.
Krosnick, J. A. (2018). Questionnaire design. In The Palgrave Handbook of Survey Research (pp. 439-455). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Pavelek, L. (2013). Approaches for selecting the correct research strategy. In Proceedings in Scientific Conference (No. 1).
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