1. The Qualitative Approach to Research in and Evaluation of Virtual Schools* Kathryn Kennedy, Ph.D. candidate School of Teaching & Learning University of Florida *Prepared for preconference workshop Research and Evaluation in K12 Online Learning Tom Clark & Cathy Cavanaugh VSS 2009, Austin, TX

2. Agenda Defining qualitative research Examples of qualitative studies in virtual schooling Why use qualitative research in virtual schooling?

3. Defining qualitative research situated activity locating observer in the world consisting of interpretive practices making world visible turns the world into a series of representations: - Field notes - Interviews - Conversations - Photographs - Recordings - Memos (Denzin & Lincoln, 2000)

4. Defining qualitative research (cont.) Understanding, defining, describing Inductive Researcher as data collection tool Natural settings, wholeness and complexity Emergent design

5. Example: Inductive analysis TitleRoles of Mentors in Virtual Schools RQWhat do administrators perceive as the roles mentors play in the VS teacher induction process? Beliefs (ontology, epistemology, theoretical framework) Hermeneutics, Constructionism

6. Example: Inductive analysis (cont.) SettingSix virtual schools in the U.S. SampleSix virtual school administrators who oversee their virtual schools’ mentoring programs Data collectionSemi-structured interviews Data analysisInductive analysis (Hatch, 2002; Grbich, 2007) Open code, identify frames of analysis, identify overarching roles, overarching subliminal roles Data validityMember check, feedback, audit trail

7. Example: Grounded Theory TitleQualities of virtual school teacher applicants RQWhat qualities do virtual school teachers look for in virtual school teacher candidates? Beliefs (ontology, epistemology, theoretical framework) Relativism, Constructivism

8. Example: Grounded Theory (cont.) SettingLarge virtual school in the Southeast U.S. Sample9 virtual school teachers (4 recently hired, 5 experienced) Data collectionSemi-structured interviews Data analysisConstructive grounded theory (Charmaz, 2006) Theoretical sensitivity; theoretical sampling; open, focused and selective coding; constant comparative method; memoing; theory development Data validityMember check, feedback, audit trail

9. Example: Phenomenology TitleEssence of the virtual school practicum RQHow do pre-service teachers experience a practicum in a virtual school? Beliefs (ontology, epistemology, theoretical framework) Idealism, Phenomenology

10. Example: Phenomenology (cont.) SettingLarge virtual school in Southeast U.S. and large research-intensive teacher education program in the Southeast U.S. Sample3 pre-service teachers (criterion sampling) Data collectionPhenomenological interviews Data analysisPhenomenological analysis (Moustakas, 1994) Phenomenological reduction, textural description, structural description, composite description (per participant, then overall) Data validityMember check, feedback, audit trail

11. Why use QR in VS? Individuality in researching Richness of data Flexibility in research design.

12. Resources Charmaz, Kathy. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory. Grbich, Carol. (2007). Qualitative Data Analysis: An Introduction. Hatch, J. Amos. (2002). Doing Qualitative Research in Education Settings. Moustakas, Clark. (1994). Phenomenological Research Methods.

13. Any questions? Kathryn Kennedy kkennedy78@gmail.com