Thesis Seminar Module 8: Method III

Thesis Seminar Recap 8Thesis Seminar Recap 8 - Notes

🎯 Understanding

Instructors will understand that…

• Strong qualitative studies use multiple, complementary data sources (triangulation) to build a credible, well-supported answer to each research question.

• Data collection should be planned around real constraints (school schedules, access, consent, holidays) and documented carefully so the study is transparent and ethical.

• Instrument choice and design (interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, observations, stimulated recall) must align with the study type (case study, phenomenology, narrative) and the specific information needed.

🎯 Language Objective

Students will be able to…

• describe, in a weekly reflection, at least two data sources collected this week and explain how each source helps answer one or more research questions.

• write a brief plan (3–5 sentences) proposing next-step data collection (e.g., observation schedule, follow-up interview) using clear future forms (will / plan to / intend to) and concrete time frames.

• summarize an instrument design choice (e.g., semi-structured interview vs. stimulated recall) and justify it with an explicit link to the study type and the research purpose.

🎯 Vocabulary

• triangulation

• data sources

• observation / classroom observation

• semi-structured interview

• interview guide / protocol

• focus group / focus group guide

• questionnaire

• stimulated recall

• instrument design

• informed consent

• scheduling constraints

• field notes

• recording / audio recording

• transcription

• qualitative study (case study / phenomenology / narrative)

🎯 Learning Sequence

Review March 1, 2024 session: Unit II – Method.

• At this point, everyone should have applied an interview (with an interview guide), focus group (with a focus group guide), or a questionnaire for the sole purpose of choosing your participants (teachers). Once you have chosen your participants, have them complete an informed consent form (See Informed consent form template).

• Each weekly reflection until April 12, 2024 should include a detailed account of any instruments that you designed, any data that you collected, and any analysis that you did to help determine what else you plan to do to collect more data related to your research questions.

• This week everyone should be collecting other forms of data, making sure you triangulate as you answer all of your research questions. Have a (recorded) formal interview or at least an informal conversation with your chosen participants on when you can observe classes from now until April 12, 2024 to reach some kind of agreement.

• In your tutoring sessions, remember that next week, week 9, is Holy Week, which means most schools will be shut down on Thursday and Friday and likely will have other events going on Monday-Wednesday that could interfere with your data collection process.

• Starting this week consider the different kinds of data sources when finding answers to your research questions: Common types of data sources when doing qualitative research.

Tips and links

• Should I consider doing Stimulated recall with my teacher (participants) or a standard semi-structured interview (See Designing a semi-structured interview guide)?

• Remember the kind of study you chose: Phenomenology_Diving into a lived experience, Case study_ Delving deep into specifics, or Narrative research?

• Using AI to generate ideas for creating a questionnaire