Mrs. Vandelaar, an elementary-school principal, felt frustrated when her teacher

Question

Mrs. Vandelaar, an elementary-school principal, felt frustrated when her teachers tried to teach their students about being good citizens. The school and school board lacked appropriate curriculum and materials to assist them with this task. She was aware that there were many programs available that addressed these issues, and she hoped to be able to purchase one for implementation at her school. She worried, however, that the school board might not see the value of such a citizenship program and would refuse to support its purchase or implementation. Mrs. Vandelaar believed that she and her teachers would be called upon to demonstrate the need for such a program, as well as the benefits associated with implementing it. Some teachers didn’t agree with Mrs. Vandelaar’s perspective. One believed that it was futile to attempt to change student behavior because they couldn’t change parent behavior: “After all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Another teacher wanted a “ready-to-use” program that could be applied to all students across Grades 1 to 8. He had read an article in a popular magazine endorsing this program. Yet another teacher wanted to purchase a new version of an old program that she had used when she was a student. Mrs. Vandelaar knew that she had one school year to review existing programs and make a convincing case to the school board for funding. Please answer the following questions. How would you carry out the background research necessary to make a sound decision about program selection? Explain. What issues would need to be considered? Why? What research design would you use? Why? Could you use an experimental design? Why or why not? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

This is very good intiative change should be brought otherwise things continue to remain the same, they continue to worsen. For eg: one of the teachers said that since attitude of parents cannot be changed hence it in impossible to change student's behaviour. But if the student's behvaiour is not changed then it would pass on to the next generation.

The background research can be carried out by seeing its record, statistics, implemetation and changes. Has the program brought any difference in the student's behaviour, in the teacher's perspective. The teachers sould talk to the people who designed the program. They should take into consideration the designer's exp in the field of teaching, knowledge, degree if any etc.

The issue to be considered can be made by comparision, for eg: in the school where the program got the difference, in which year, which module, how were the students, what problems did the teachers face, is Mrs. Vandelaar's school is facing more or less the same problems? What are the rules of the schools, what rules does the current school have. Where the change was made? Did the problem really existed? can it changed without adopting any module.

If the program is selected then or experimental deisgn should be used as well as descriptive research design. For eg: on some random students the program should be implemented, and the difference should be observed. Naturalistic observation can be done in the school where the program is implemented, By doing naturalistic observation also we can see the effectiveness of the program.

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