A qualitative methodology is chosen for this study to examine the ways in which graphic organizers’ strategy and academic vocabulary learning can decrease the reading gap among ELLs. According to Hammarberg, Kirkman, and de Lacey (2016), qualitative methods are focused on exploring the “experience, meaning and perspective, most often from the standpoint of the participant” (p. 499). Thus, their in-depth approach allows one to see the topic from the point of the population at the center of the investigation. In this study, semi-structured interviews with a group discussion are chosen as the primary sources of data. An interview is a communication between a participant and the investigator, during which the topic discussed with guiding questions. Nonetheless, the semi-structured strategy provides the sample members with an ability to give their ideas and guide the interaction into areas that researchers might not have considered (Creswell, 2012). A final group discussion should create further collaboration and knowledge exchange that will identify common ideas in exploring the usefulness of the considered reading improvement methods.
The sample of teachers will be chosen purposefully from a school that has a high rate of ELLs among students. A total of 10 participants is expected to supply the researchers with enough information and different opinions on the subject of the study. Semi-structured interviews will be performed using a set of questions prepared beforehand, and other inquiries may be added during the course of each interaction. The participants will converse with the investigator for about 30 minutes, and the final group discussion will be held on a different day to conserve the participants’ time. The answers to the interviews and main ideas explored during the discussion will be recorded and transcribed to present the perspectives in a transparent way and lower the risk of bias.
References
Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative research (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Hammarberg, K., Kirkman, M., & de Lacey, S. (2016). Qualitative research methods: When to use them and how to judge them. Human Reproduction, 31(3), 498-501.