How School and Home Collaborative Working can be improved to more Effectively Support Student Learning and Achievement

By

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY1

RESEARCH APPROACH1

a.Quantitative Approach1

b.Qualitative Approach1

c.Pragmatic or Mixed Methods Approach1

INSTRUMENTS4

Questionnaires4

Interview protocol5

Unstructured Interviews with Parents and Teachers5

Teacher Participants6

Parent Participants6

Data Collection and Processing Procedures7

Procedure8

DATA ANALYSIS9

Intervention program11

Timetable for Implementation13

Training for participating teachers and facilitators14

Training for parent liaisons: Action intervention14

Instruments and Data Sources15

QUALITY AND VERIFICATION17

RELIABILITY/DEPENDABILITY17

VALIDITY19

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS21

REFERENCES23

APPENDIX A25

Notes for Interviewer25

Interview Methodology:25

Semi Structured Question Design.25

Components of Interview26

Explain Purpose of Interview26

Ask permission to record interview27

APPENDIX B28

Parent Interview Schedule28

Parent Questionnaire29

Interview schedule for teachers30

Teacher Questionnaire31

APPENDIX C34

Pre-Intervention Parent Survey34

Parent Involvement in Education Post-Intervention Survey36

Teacher Interview Questions39

Parent Interview Questions40

Student Interview Questions40

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

Research Approach

Research approaches are methods that are adopted to conduct a report. These approaches could be further classified into four categories, which are described below. The review of these various types of research approaches would help in making an understanding as to what would be the best-suited approach for the author study.

a.Quantitative Approach

The quantitative research approach comprise of the collection and conversion of the available information in empirical form, which would ultimately result in the production of statistical hard data regarding the study (Vanderstoep and Jhonston, 2009).

b.Qualitative Approach

The qualitative research approach focuses on the understanding of human behaviour. It includes recording, analysis and an attempt to determine the insight reasons and significance of temperaments, contradictory viewpoints, sentiments as well as actions. Therefore the qualitative studies focus on the why and how and generally produce information on specific research areas (Cooper & Schindler, 2006, 11).

c.Pragmatic or Mixed Methods Approach

In pragmatic or mixed methods approach, researchers use a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research measures and techniques to conduct their research. Such research is highly integrated to make best use of both methods to maximise research quality (Sue Greener, 2008).

The author will adopt a pragmatic or mixed methods approach to carry out his research. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches will be used to enhance the reliability and validity of the results obtained. That will provide a more detailed and clear picture of how school and home collaborative working can be improved to more effectively support student learning and achievement. The researcher will also examine and analyze the data to determine the relationships and perceptions of teachers and parents regarding the level of collaboration, collegiality, teacher efficacy, and parent engagement in Milton Keynes school district. The achievement and performance category levels of Meets Goals, Progressing, and Needs Assistance, as measured by the Commonwealth Assessment Test of Skills (CATS) accountability indices will be determined from the data collection. Descriptive statistics (MANOVA and ANOVA), multiple regressions, percentages, and mean scores will be used to represent the data. Data will be used to determine the correlation of student achievement KCCT accountability indices and performance levels in school to school culture and parent engagement characteristics.

In each of these districts, a short explanation of the research and request for participants will be sent via email to the schools' middle school and high school faculty. Interested teachers volunteered to participate in the study ...