Sampling Designs in Qualitative Research: Making the Sampling Process More Public

The purpose of this paper is to provide a typology of sampling designs for qualitative researchers. We introduce the following sampling strategies: (a) parallel sampling designs, which represent a body of sampling strategies that facilitate credible comparisons of two or more different subgroups that are extracted from the same levels of study; (b) nested sampling designs, which are sampling strategies that facilitate credible comparisons of two or more members of the same subgroup, wherein one or more members of the subgroup represent a sub-sample of the full sample; and (c) multilevel sampling designs, which represent sampling strategies that facilitate credible comparisons of two or more subgroups that are extracted from different levels of study

Linking Research Questions to Mixed Methods Data Analysis Procedures 1

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the development of research questions in mixed methods studies. First, we discuss the ways that the goal of the study, the research objective(s), and the research purpose shape the formation of research questions. Second, we compare and contrast quantitative research questions and qualitative research questions. Third, we describe how to write mixed methods research questions, which we define as questions that embed quantitative and qualitative research questions. Finally, we provide a framework for linking research questions to mixed methods data analysis techniques. A major goal of our framework is to illustrate that the development of research questions and data analysis procedures in mixed method studies should occur logically and sequentially

Enhancing the Interpretation of Significant Findings: The Role of Mixed Methods Research

The present essay outlines how mixed methods research can be used to enhance the interpretation of significant findings. First, we define what we mean by significance in educational evaluation research. With regard to quantitative-based research, we define the four types of significance: statistical significance, practical significance, clinical significance, and economic significance. With respect to qualitative-based research, we define a significant finding as one that has meaning or representation. Second, we describe limitations of each of these types of significance. Finally, we illustrate how conducting mixed methods analyses can be used to enhance the interpretation of significant findings in both quantitative and qualitative educational evaluation and policy research. Consequently, mixed methods research represents the real gold standard for studying phenomena

Rural Teachers’ and Non-Rural Teachers’ Motivations to Teach: Differences and Similarities

The purpose of this study was to explore the motivations of teachers in a Midwestern state that has a mix of rural and non-rural geographic regions. Namely, this study set out to identify differences between educators working in rural areas and those working in non-rural (urban or suburban) regions by examining their motivations, perceptions, and reasons for teaching through administration of the Factors Influencing Teaching Choice (FIT-Choice) survey to a group of 616 Midwestern educators. Multiple group confirmatory factor analysis confirms that the collected data do fit the model as outlined by Watt and Richardson, and significant differences were found between 6 of 18 measured subfactors, including: fallback career, job transferability, time for family, salary, satisfaction teaching, and social contribution. As policy interacts with place, these findings suggest that a one-size-fits-all policy model may warrant reconsideration. Rural and non-rural teachers are not identical groups, and perhaps the differences run deeper than teachers simply needing more exposure to a rural setting

Pathways to Teaching: African American Male Teens Explore Teaching as a Career

The need for African American male teachers is clear ; however their pathway to teaching disrepair. This article shares research findings and a description of a pre-collegiate course designed to encourage high school students of color , including African American males explore teaching. More specifically, drawing from survey and interview data, the researchers examine factors that influence 11th and 12th grade African American males\u27 (N consideration of a teaching career and explore the impact of a pre-collegiate pathway to teaching program. The results of this mixed methods study expose the complexity of effective recruitment while also demonstrating how a successful program has the capacity to encourage young African American males to reframe their thinking and see themselves as potential future teachers

Pathways to Teaching: African American Male Teens Explore Teaching as a Career

The need for African American male teachers is clear ; however their pathway to teaching disrepair. This article shares research findings and a description of a pre-collegiate course designed to encourage high school students of color , including African American males explore teaching. More specifically, drawing from survey and interview data, the researchers examine factors that influence 11th and 12th grade African American males\u27 (N consideration of a teaching career and explore the impact of a pre-collegiate pathway to teaching program. The results of this mixed methods study expose the complexity of effective recruitment while also demonstrating how a successful program has the capacity to encourage young African American males to reframe their thinking and see themselves as potential future teachers

Two Sides to Every Story: Dual Experiences of Work-Family Integration while Remote Teaching during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The current study explores the experience of integrating work and family responsibilities while teaching remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Six hundred and sixty-one teachers with active teaching licenses responded to the survey about their experience of teaching remotely during the spring of 2020. Results indicate that there were two main experiences: while some teachers had a better balance between work and home life, others struggled more. Female teachers also reported lower quality of life and more negative experiences than male teachers. Additional supports are needed to help teachers balance home and work life, specifically related to managing childcare while teaching

Innovative Data Collection Strategies in Qualitative Research

This article provides an innovative meta-framework comprising strategies designed to guide qualitative data collection in the 21st century. We present a meta-framework comprising strategies for collecting data from interviews, focus groups, observations, and documents/material culture. We present a template for collecting nonverbal data during interviews and discuss the concept of debriefing the interviewer. We identify types of data that can be collected in focus groups in addition to the actual statements made by the participants and provide templates for categorizing these data. Also, we outline the role that social networking websites can play in focus group interviews. Further, we provide models for observations that include photographs and videos. Finally, we outline ways of accessing and collating documents/material culture that can be used for document analyses

Challenges of Remote Teaching for K-12 Teachers During COVID-19

During the Coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) remote learning presented many new challenges for K-12 teachers, and likely presented unique challenges for different content areas and grade levels. To investigate this problem, a survey-based quantitative study was conducted. A total of 831 teachers in a midwestern state completed a survey on the challenges of remote teaching. Results found (1) areas expected to present challenges that did not, (2) challenges that surfaced for teachers regardless of the grade level or content they taught, and (3) challenges that were experienced differently by teachers within educational levels and/or content areas. Continued exploration of how districts and other agencies can help teachers implement remote teaching will be helpful for the short term, and perhaps the long term, as benefits of remote teaching are documented

Why Teachers Remain Teaching in Rural Districts: Listening to the Voices from the Field

Retaining teachers is a problem in all districts but is especially difficult in rural areas. This survey research asked teachers in a western state to respond to open ended questions regarding their choice for teaching in a rural or urban area. Results indicate teachers work in a rural locale because they grew up in the area, already lived there as an adult, and/or had a spouse/partner with a job in the area. Both rural and non-rural teachers cited the importance of a positive school environment with supportive administrators and good working conditions. Teachers stated inadequate working conditions at school affected their decisions to leave the field. Based on results discussed here, key factors in making teaching a sustainable career and the predominant career challenges that teachers face are more similar across rural and non-rural settings than different, although there certainly are less predominant challenges unique to each setting