Research Question/Topic: Developing teacher-parent communication

practices that enhance our ability to address challenging issues when

they arise
Data
Source

Profession
al
Literature

Interviews

Observatio
ns

Data Collection Plan

Timeline/Plan for
Intended
Collection
Learning/Purpose
I will begin my
literature in
September and go
through to
November.
Ongoing search for
and use of
professional
literature to inform
my work throughout
the semester.

Through the literature, I

intend to learn about my
topic, and whats current
in the field. I also plan to
learn from other
researchers approaches
to data collection and to
see how their findings
may be similar to or
different than the
findings from my study.
Sub-topics for my
literature include:
communication
strategies,
communication topics,
parent/teacher
partnerships

Interviews will take

place once with
various families of
different
backgrounds

To discuss
communication with
parents and their
experiences regarding
communication within
the Goddard Preschool.

I will watch
interactions
between parents
and teachers,
directors and
parents and possibly
sit in on meetings
ex: IEP.

To watch learn
communication
strategies between
teaches and parents

Adaptations/Changes
made during Data
Collection Period
Search for more
scholarly articles using
the online library
through west chester
university. Also look
through past textbooks
that may have
communication topcis in
ECE

I allowed parents to
interview me as well. I
tried this idea to get
input from parents on
them interviewing the
teacher. Allows them to
get to know the teacher
as well

I began to narrow down

observations as I
reviewed my Data.

Surveys

Handed out to
participants at the
end of September.
Handout to teachers
in October.

Surveys will ask various

questions regarding
communication and it
how it is progressing.

I used literature to
analyize my data
collected within my
surveys. As I began to
locate my theme, I
geared my surveys
toward those findings.

I. Data Source Descriptions

Professional Literature: The literature I will search for will consist of
styles of communication in education. I will also research PYSCH and how
that relates to college.
Observations: I will observe three different families in different cultures as
they communicate with teachers. I will also make sure each family and
teacher I observe are also from different age groups and classrooms.
Interviews: I will interview the parents twice during my research process. I
would like to interview them earlier in my research process and after my
research is over.
Surveys: I will create a survey regarding communications that parents can
fill out during my research process.