Conversation 3 - Needs analysis and justification

Hi
I would like to know of any good resources on designing surveys/questions? I have posted my needs section and would welcome comments
Fiona.

The book I have found most useful is Research Methods in Education - Cohen, Manion and Morrison. It was the only book I took with me when working in Africa (it weighs a lot and I only had 25kg for 2 years so shows how valuable I think it is!)
I looked at your needs section, there is a need for your research and you have touched on why this research should be done from the point of view of your school, you might also consider why this research is needed in terms of your LEA and nationally? This section is not about what you need to do but why your research is needed . . . Alison

Fiona
It is interesting that you are looking at APP. As a primary school we have embraced APP but it seems that the expectation is changing from being assessment of a sample group to becoming a full assessment system for all pupils. How are you interpreting APP in your school?

Andrew Chritianson in the ohter Diss/AE group is develoiping APP in early Years.

Our school is planning towards whole school use although so far it is just the core subjects using it. We were part of the science pilot and the department is using it with Y7&8 this year. Going well so far, time for all teachers to meet and moderate is the main issue but has been promised.

Hi Alison, after our telephone conversation I revised the needs analysis and emailed a copy to you and posted into my folder. I was hoping for advise/guidance on its quality etc. so that I could edit or ammend if necessary. I am working on the literature review and will post soon. Am I the only person? as I can't see any conversations relating to lit.rev.

Hope to hear from you on any others in the group.

annette

I am adding to the conversation as requested by Ian. I have spoken to Alison and by email about the needs analysis. The focus of my project is on girls achievement in science and the need to get more girls to do science(triple science in particular). I have looked at this needs analysis and justification from a local, national and international perspective and all literature I have read so far states that there is a need. The justification for this need is one of economy both for women in terms of equality and ending of gender pay gap & occupation segregation and nationally as there is a need for more scientists to enhance scientific development and scienctific advancement of the country. women are under-represntentd in STEM occupations this is waste of a valuable resource.
Please, I would appreciate any comments. Thanks . Annette

Annette,
There is a need for more women scientists - is there a need for your research? What and how is your research going to contribute to the problem? All that you have written is good but I would suggest the last link is missing which is about the purpose and need for your particular piece of research.
Good luck with the literature review. Alison

Hi Alison, thank you for your reply which was much appreciated. I think the last link that is missing is what I have noticed in my own classroom
The needs analysis and justification for my research is to answer the question as to why or the reasons for girl’s underachievement and underrepresentation of girls in stem occupations in science and the reasons for fewer girls than boys taking up triple science.

The justification for my research comes from what I have seen taking place in my own classroom. I became personally disappointed when I saw very able girls from a top sets whom I would had taught and expected to choose triple science at option time didn’t despite receiving levels 5-7 in SATS.

The hypothesis is that girls are not supported or encouraged sufficiently and it is suggested that socialisation and discrimination while girls are school might be leading to underrepresentation of in these professions. How therefore, can I improve my practice to encourage more girls to take triple science?

A brief interview of a small number of girls told me that they perceived that triple science to be too hard, others stated that triple science clashed with other options, others stated that they hated science. On a local level I have been looking at various data collected by the school to support the findings.

Am I am the right track?

Thanks.

Annette

We will be lookimng for the appropraite references to justify your research. You might refernece national plicies and data, local policies and data, and school based references to data, plans etc.

Your job is to show that you are well read and informed in your judgement of need.