Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Correlation Ideas
Classroom Management
Benefits
Limitations Benefits
Original Data
Beginning Ideas
Flipped Instruction
Data Collection
In search of a dissertation topic
Archival Data
Types of Dissertations
Limitations
Qualitative Analysis
Quantitative Analysis
Final Idea
Manageable Topic
References
Benefits
Benefits
Limitations
Limitations
Data Source
Format of Study
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Ideas Continued
During my research there were two overwhelming suggestions. The first suggestion is to select a dissertation topic you find interesting (Antioch University, n.d.; Goldsmith, Komlos, & Schine, 2001; Jain, The Graduate Division, 1988; Writing Tutorial Services, n.d.). I began this process with three ideas I have a passion for: flipped instruction, gifted and talented education, and school discipline. However, these topics did not meet the second recommendation I found in the research. Again, Antioch University (n.d.), Goldsmith et al (2001), Jain, The Graduate Division (1988), and Writing Tutorial Services (n.d.) recommend that the selected dissertation topic be manageable. A personal communication with Dr. Jason Bullock (January 30, 2014), Assistant Superintendent of Magnolia ISD, put manageability into perspective. Dr. Bullock stated, Get finished not famous. Prior to this conversation I had been searching for topics that would allow me to revolutionize education.
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Ideas Continued
This branch of the interactive thinking map will focus on using these two recommendations to analyze the viability of my initial topics.
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Flipped Instruction
When I began my doctoral studies in the Fall of 2012 my school was toying with the concept of flipped instruction and I became the leader of this exploration. We wanted to explore ways to integrate the flipped instruction model into all aspects of our school. This would include staff meetings, professional development, and classroom instruction. However, my situation changed and I had to step away from my studies for a little while. During my time away from my doctoral work I moved to a new school and my interest in flipped instruction has diminished. Currently I would classify this topic as my lowest interest.
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Gifted Continued
Prior to searching through the Lamar Library databases I was concerned that this topic is too broad and unmanageable. A search of ERIC for gifted education confirmed this suspicion as this search returned four thousand five hundred results.
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Gifted Continued
Due to questionable motivation and an overwhelming amount of literature I did not select gifted and talented education as a topic to pursue further.
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Currently I am an assistant principal at a high school and the majority of my work is handling student discipline. On my campus I have seen a need for improved classroom management in order to improve student discipline. Classroom management is something that I have always been passionate about. I have been fortunate to learn about several different campus wide classroom management programs. I have worked in a school that implemented concepts from Capturing Kids Hearts, my sons school uses C.H.A.M.P.S., and my last school was working to become a No Excuses University Campus. As a result of my past experiences I am interested in studying the effectiveness of a positive behavior intervention program such as these.
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Discipline Continued
A database search for classroom management produced four thousand six hundred results. Clearly the topic has to be narrowed significantly. Searching the same database for positive behavior support returned five hundred fourteen results. I know that all these articles are not directly related to the concept I plan on studying, but the number of results indicates that this topic will be much more manageable than my other possible topics.
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Correlation Ideas
Everyone I talked to about my selected topic seemed to ask the same question: how do you plan on measuring effectiveness? Dr. Bullock (personal communication, January 30, 2014) suggested looking through Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) reports or Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR) to find reporting categories that could be correlated to behavior intervention programs. After reviewing both AEIS and TAPR data the one reporting category that stands out is students with disciplinary placements. This is the number of students assigned to disciplinary alternative education programs (DAEP).
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Qualitative Analysis
According the Dr. Ben-Elyahu (2013) qualitative analysis of a topic attempts to create an in depth comprehensive description of the topic. Ben-Elyahu (2013) goes on to explain that this method is generally conducted using interviews, discussion groups, or open-ended questions, and typically uses a small number of participants.
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Quantitative Analysis
The description of the quantitative approach given by Ben-Elyahu made me immediately think this was the method I needed to use for my dissertation. Ben-Elyahu (2013) explained that quantitative research is used to gather information from large population groups, develop a statistical analysis of that data, and look for patterns or relationships in the data. Ben-Elyahu (2013) also described how qualitative research methods can be used to develop two different groups, control group and experimental group, and compare the results between the two groups. The development of two groups further solidifies that my dissertation should head in a quantitative direction.
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Dr. Ben-Elyahu (2013) did describe a couple items that need to be considered prior to selecting a quantitative approach. The first limitation described by Ben-Elyahu (2013) is that the quantitative approach is limited in its ability to recognize unfamiliar phenomena. Ben-Elyahus (2013) second drawback to quantitative research is that a control group needs to be used in order to develop comparisons. The type of dissertation I have decided to pursue will involve using a control group and it will attempt to make generalizations between established phenomena. Therefore, I plan to develop a quantitative dissertation.
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Data Collection
During my conversation with Dr. Bullock (personal communication, January 30, 2014), Dr. Bullock mentioned attempting to use public data instead of developing my own surveys for my dissertation study. Dr. Bullock (personal communication, January 30, 2014) went on to explain that data collection procedures need to be vetted and collected data must be validated. This caused me to begin exploring the different types of data used during dissertation research. According the Thesis and Dissertation (n.d.) there are two general classifications of data sources: primary sources and secondary sources. Thesis and Dissertation (n.d.) explained that primary sources are raw data gathered by the researcher or student, and secondary sources are data analysis reports that have already been completed. Based on the goals for my dissertation, I will look at using primary sources to gather my data.
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Original Data
Based on the information provided by Community Tool Box (n.d.) original data is data that is gathered by the researcher. Thesis and Dissertation (n.d.) indicates that original data is often gathered using surveys or interviews.
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When I discussed the use of surveys with Dr. Bullock (personal communication, January 30, 2014) he cautioned me against using original surveys due to the time required to develop the survey, have the survey vetted, and administer the surveys. Winerman (2005) stated that collecting data is a time consuming process. Winerman (2005) advises researchers to double the amount of time you expect the research to take. Winerman (2005) also warned about the cost of collecting original data. The cost discussed by Winerman (2005) was tied to compensating participants and purchasing testing/survey materials.
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Archival Data
Community Tool Box (n.d.) described archival data as information collected and retained by another person or organization. Community Tool Box (n.d.) went on to explain that archival data is generally collected by an organization for its own means, but is often made available to researchers who lack the time or resources to gather the data themselves.
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Manageable topic
Due to a continuing passion for student discipline, the availability of literature, and available data I have selected the impact of positive behavior intervention programs on disciplinary placements of high school students as my dissertation topic.
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Data source
After considering the pros and cons of both original data and archival data I have found that my dissertation will be much more manageable if I can work my research around available archival data. When it comes to Texas schools we have a wealth of available data in AEIS reports and the newly formed TAPR. I will use both these data reporting systems to gather data about students with disciplinary placements.
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Format Continued
I will begin my research by identifying a population of schools, at least twenty, that have implemented the behavior program and have used the program for three or more years. These twenty high school campuses will be my experimental group. I will access AEIS or TAPR data for each of these campuses to determine the number of students with disciplinary placements.
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Format Continued
AEIS and TAPR generate campus group data for each school. Campus groups are schools with similar population compositions. Therefore, campus groups allow for comparison of data from one school to another. For each campus in my experimental group I plan on selecting a school from its campus group that has not implemented the behavior intervention program. This process will build a group of at least twenty schools that will be used as my control group. I will access AEIS or TAPR data for each control campus to determine the number of students with disciplinary placements.
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Format Continued
Using the data from both groups of high schools I will be able to conduct a statistical analysis to determine if the implementation of the behavior intervention program has had any effect on the number of students with disciplinary placements.
References:
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Antioch University. (n.d.). Choosing a dissertation topic. Retrieved from http://www.antioch.edu/vwc/writing-resources/common-academic-writingtasks/choosing-a-dissertation-topic/ Ben-Eliyahu, A. (2013, February 05). On methods: What's the difference between qualitative and quantitative approaches?. The Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring, Retrieved from http://chronicle.umbmentoring.org/on-methods-whats-the-difference-between-qualitative-and-quantitative-approaches/ Community tool box section 7: Collecting and using archival data. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2014, from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/evaluate/evaluatecommunity-interventions/archival-data/main Goldsmith, J., Komlos, J., & Schine, P. (2001). The Chicago guide to your academic career: A portable mentor for scholars from graduate school through tenure. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press. Retrieved from http://www.stanford.edu/dept/CTL/Tomprof/postings/352.html Gundling, E., Hogan, T., & Cvitkovich, K. (2011). What is global leadership?: 10 key behaviors that define global leaders. Boston, MA: Nicholas Brealey Publishing. Holt, K., & Kyoko, S. (2012). Global leadership begins with learning professionals. T+D, 32-37. Jain, R. [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://completeyourdissertation.com/blog/471/choosing-your-dissertation-topic-5-mistakes-you-might-be-making/ The Graduate Division. (1988). Choosing your thesis or dissertation topic. The Graduate, 4(2). Thesis and dissertation: What is the difference? (n.d.). Retrieved February 5, 2014, from https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/soph/postgrad/bhsc_hons/_docs/Thesis_Dissertationwhatisdifference.pdf Winerman, L. (2005). Ready, set--collect! experts offer advice on how to make your irb approval, participant recruitment and data collection go smoothly.gradPSYCH Magazine, Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2005/09/collect.aspx Writing Tutorial Services. (n.d.). Doctoral dissertations and proposals: Social sciences and humanities. Retrieved from http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/dissertations.shtml