Category: Qualitative Research

Early Research INterview Reflections

11/29/2018

This week, I started interviewing instructors and students for my Ph.D. dissertation research. I am amazed at the depth of thought that the instructors and students invest in their work. The reflections from students show real consideration for what they are learning, how they are learning it, and how they can apply their new knowledge to their lives and careers. The instructors demonstrate a sincere consideration for the quality of education they deliver, and for how they educate. I've also interviewed one administrator and I was impressed by his concern for the quality of education in the institution.

As the research progresses, I will share my insights and fresh points of learning that I gain from talking to these interviewees. For those who are interested, here are my research questions.

Research Subject: Exploring definitions and perceived value of experiential learning.

1) What definitions of experiential learning are expressed by students, faculty, and administrators?

2) Within a classroom learning context, how do participants describe teaching and learning related to experiential learning? Specifically, how do:
a. students describe their own classroom experiences with experiential learning?
b. instructors describe their experiences with experiential learning?
c. administrators describe their understandings of the ways in which instructors and students experience and engage in experiential learning?

3) What value, if any, do students, faculty, and administrators ascribe to experiential learning?

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"Psychology’s Replication Crisis Is Running Out of Excuses" (Yong, 2018)

11/23/2018

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The glass is half full.

While half of the replication attempts in this study failed, half succeeded. That is wonderful news for the researchers whose studies succeeded.
The methods of the replication attempts appear to be valid and thorough, according to the article. The replication attempts also checked for possible cultural differences.

That half of the original study results were replicable across cultures is a positive outcome, at least for the half of the studies that were confirmed.

The researchers from the unconfirmed studies can return to their methodologies to evaluate how they might improve their studies, and maybe can confirm their outcomes, or otherwise, modify their conclusions.

The article is not clear about the actual research methodologies that were evaluated. I assume the study designs were quantitative as opposed to qualitative, because qualitative studies generally may not be expected to be replicable.

The first thought that I had after "The glass is half full," was of the work by Hatch (2002) on research paradigms. Not all research can be replicated. See the illustration below.

References
Hatch, J. A. (2002). Doing qualitative research in education settings. Suny Press.
Yong, E. (2018). Psychology’s Replication Crisis Is Running Out of Excuses. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/11/psychologys-replication-crisis-real/576223/

Research Paradigms (Hatch, 2002, p. 13).

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Experiential Learning in Vietnam

8/3/2018

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I recently led a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on my research at a Vietnamese STEM university. I co-led a workshop on Project-Based Learning methodology. The two workshops were:

22 August
Experiential Learning Methodology Workshop with Mr. Paul McAfee

23 August
Training on "Project-Based Learning" with Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen and Mr. Paul McAfee

August 22 Experiential Learning Research

Project-Based Learning Workshop

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First Experiential Learning Research Paper Completed

8/7/2017

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My first paper, titled "Experiential learning pedagogy interviews in a STEM program at a Vietnamese university in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)," is complete. I consider this a draft and will receive feedback from one of my professors in the near future. The next paper will be my research proposal for my dissertation.

Following is the abstract from the paper I completed. I would be happy to discuss the research if any of my friends or associates are interested.

"This study reports on two pilot studies that I conducted at a STEM university in Vietnam. The first was a 2016 survey of students’ exposure to and attitudes toward experiential learning. The mixed methods survey comprised closed-ended Likert-type scale and open-ended questions. The second study was a set of interviews in 2017 of instructors at the university with the same research topic. The interview questions sought more detail about students’ feelings toward experiential learning, plus instructors’ use of, and feelings toward, those methods. Both studies found wide use of experiential learning methods as well as broad appreciation for those methods among the instructors and students. These studies were pilots intended to provide background for the design of my dissertation research. The primary audience for this report is the administration of the university in which I conducted the studies."

The research included a survey of students at the university, asking them about the types of experiential learning the had encountered, and their attitudes toward the methods. The image at the top is a graph from the responses to one question.

Here is one of the illustrations in the paper showingfoundational experiential learning theorists, from Kolb (1984/2015).

D. A. Kolb’s (1984/2015) figure connecting the three foundational experiential learning theorists with contemporary applications of these theories (p. 18).

Reference
Kolb, D. A. (1984/2015). Experiential learning: experience as the source of learning and development (Second ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

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Early Research INterview Reflections

"Psychology’s Replication Crisis Is Running Out of Excuses" (Yong, 2018)

Experiential Learning in Vietnam

First Experiential Learning Research Paper Completed

Paul mcafee

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