Purpose Statement & Research Questions

7/4/2017

My plan is to conduct a mixed methods research study so the questions hopefully reflect both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Purpose Statement:
The purpose of this study is to measure the effects of participation in BreakoutEDU activities on student motivation and the acquisition of the 4Cs of learning, (creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking) and to understand what about the activities motivates the students. The 4Cs of learning are considered a part of the twenty-first century learning skills that are needed for students to be successful for the workforce of the 21st century.

Research Questions:
1. How does participation in BreakoutEDU activities relate to student motivation for first and third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta?
2. How does participation in BreakoutEDU activities relate to student engagement for first and third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta?
3. How does participation in BreakoutEDU activities relate to the acquisition of the 4Cs of learning for first and third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta?
4. What is the motivational trigger from BreakoutEDU activities for first and third grade students at a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta?

7 Comments

Dr Reeves

7/6/2017 01:14:56 pm

Ok, good job overall. A few suggestions:

The purpose of this mixed methods study is threefold: to (a) determine how participation in BreakoutEDU activities affects student motivation and the acquisition of the 4Cs of learning, (i.e., creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking), (b) understand how students experience motivation during the BreakoutEDU activities, and (c) to determine how students' experiences of motivation helps explains their acquisition of the 4Cs (or something like this for the mixed methods question) for first and third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta.

Research Questions:
In RQs 1-3 change "relate to" to affect. How does participation... affect motivation...
4. What is the motivational trigger from BreakoutEDU activities for first and third grade students at a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta? -- good or how do students experience motivation (just be consistent in your purpose and RQ).
5. You need a mixed methods question -- How does the qual data help explain the quant data (or vice versa).

Keri

7/6/2017 03:11:38 pm

Thank you for the feedback Dr. Reeves. Here is another try with your suggestions. I'm most "concerned" about the last question.

The purpose of this mixed methods study is threefold: to (a) determine how participation in BreakoutEDU activities affects student motivation and the acquisition of the 4Cs of learning, (i.e., creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking), (b) understand the motivational triggers students experience during the BreakoutEDU activities, and (c) to determine how the motivational triggers help explain their acquisition of the 4Cs for first and third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta.

1. How does participation in BreakoutEDU activities affect student motivation for first and third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta?
2. How does participation in BreakoutEDU activities affect student engagement for first and third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta?
3. How does participation in BreakoutEDU activities affect the acquisition of the 4Cs of learning for first and third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta?
4. What are the motivational triggers from BreakoutEDU activities for first and third grade students at a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta?
5. How do the data of the motivational triggers from BreakoutEDU activites help explain the quantitative data of motivation as measured by the CAMI, Children’s Academic Motivation Inventory.

Thank you for your feedback,

7/9/2017 08:51:09 pm

After talking with Dr. Edmonds about my study, we tweaked the research questions a little more. Here is the statement and the research questions once again.

The purpose of this mixed methods study is threefold: to (a) determine what effect participation in BreakoutEDU activities has on student motivation, student engagement and the acquisition of the 4Cs of learning, (i.e., creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking), (b) understand the motivational triggers students experience during the BreakoutEDU activities, and (c) to determine how the motivational triggers help explain their acquisition of the 4Cs for third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta.

1. What is the effect of participation in BreakoutEDU activities on student motivation for third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metropolitan Atlanta?
2. What is the effect of participation in BreakoutEDU activities on student engagement for third grade students in a Ttile I elementary school in metro Atlanta.
3. What is the effect of participation in BreakoutEDU activities on the acquisition of the 4Cs of learning for third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta?
4. What are the motivational and engagement triggers from BreakoutEDU activities for third grade students at a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta?
5. How do the data of the motivational triggers from BreakoutEDU activites help explain the quantitative data of motivation as measured by the CAIMI, Children’s Academic Motivation Inventory and the student engagement from the GSHS, Georgia State Health Survey?

Keri Duncan

7/11/2017 11:07:25 pm

OK, after talking to my chair tonight I have yet another version. Not much change but a little bit.

The purpose of this mixed methods study is threefold: to (a) determine what effect participation in Breakout EDU activities has on student engagement and the acquisition of the 4Cs of learning, (i.e., creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking), (b) understand the engagement triggers students experience during the Breakout EDU activities, and (c) to determine how the engagement triggers help explain their acquisition of the 4Cs for third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta.

Research Questions
1. What is the effect of participation in Breakout EDU activities on student engagement for third grade students in a Ttile I elementary school in metro Atlanta.
2. What is the effect of participation in Breakout EDU activities on the acquisition of the 4Cs of learning for third grade students in a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta?
3. What are the engagement triggers from Breakout EDU activities for third grade students at a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta?
4. How do the data of the engagement triggers from Breakout EDU activities help explain the quantitative data of engagement as measured by the School Engagement Scale?

Shari Howington-Carlin

8/6/2017 05:32:08 pm

Hi Keri,
I can see the growth and change of your methology as you have moved through this process. It will be interesting to see how the engagement triggers manifest. I see that the idea about the motivational trigger(s) has also morphed. The mixed method approach seems like a fine data collection method and I can see how there could be so much more you might want to investigate. It seems many of these research opportunities could extend for years if they were not adapted for the sake of time. You are on the right track and I am exited to see what you find out!

Shari :-)

Don Hall

8/5/2017 07:57:53 am

Keri,

I think the idea for studying the 4Cs model is very timely. School districts across the country are trying to figure out how to teach to a standards-based program while also providing rigorous instruction, which is not necessarily the same.

I might suggest you examine how Bill Daggetts work on his 3Rs model might fit into your research.

Thanks for sharing,
Don

7/13/2017 01:48:20 pm

Great job Keri. So just to clarify you are no longer measuring motivation quantitatively? If you are, that needs to be added back in. Also, you have in (c) of the purpose statement to determine how the motivational triggers help explain the 4Cs, but then in RQ4 you focus on motivational triggers help explain engagement. Which is correct or are both correct? Regardless the last question needs to be tweaked slightly:
4. How do third grade students' engagement triggers help explain their acquisition of the 4Cs [and/or engagement/] at a Title I elementary school in metro Atlanta.
and then add "as measured by the School Engagement Scale" to RQ1 after engagement.

Purpose Statement & Research Questions

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Author: Keri Duncan

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