Perceptions of high school teachers regarding the use of tablets in their classrooms.
You have conducted a case study exploring the thoughts and perceptions of high school teachers regarding the use of tablets in their classrooms. You have collected three sources of data including semi-structured interviews. How might you analyze the data gathered from the semi-structured interviews you conducted? Explain. After you analyze the interviews and the remaining sources of data, how might you triangulate the data to answer the research questions? Why?
Sample Solution
The analysis of data gathered from the semi-structured interviews can be conducted in several ways. First, a qualitative content analysis can be used to identify patterns and codes within the interview transcripts. This approach involves reading through the transcripts and coding meaningful elements such as themes,
topics, or ideas expressed by participants. Once these have been identified, they can then be examined more closely to gain an understanding of the underlying sentiments and attitudes of teachers regarding tablet use in their classrooms.
Once all sources of data have been collected and analyzed, triangulation of that data can help answer research questions related to teacher perceptions of tablets in their classrooms. Triangulation is a research strategy employed when multiple methods are used to collect data on a particular topic; this provides validity in terms of confirming findings across multiple sources (Morse & Richards, 2002). In terms of this case study example, validating findings from semi-structured interviews with other types of data gathering techniques such as surveys or focus groups will lead to more reliable results. This can provide insight into teachers’ overall thoughts about tablet use in their classroom setting as well as how factors such as school resources or student proficiency may influence those perceptions. Furthermore, triangulating across different methodologies will enable researchers to assess any discrepancies between them (for instance if responses vary significantly depending on which technique was used) so that further investigation into potential contributing causes for those differences might be explored (Elliott et al., 2011).
Triangulating across multiple sources also allows researchers to develop more grounded interpretations based on converging evidence from various angles instead than relying solely on one source (Walter et al., 2016). For example, survey responses could reveal quantitative information about the number or percentage of teachers currently using tablets while interview transcripts provide actual quotes regarding why certain educators do not employ them within their teaching practice – thereby providing deeper insights into teacher perspectives beyond what could be gleaned just through using one type methodological approach alone.
Overall then analyzing both qualitative and quantitative elements together can result in conclusions being drawn that are stronger than either one individually due its holistic nature: by combining individual pieces together it creates an even clearer picture that enhances our understanding around teacher attitudes towards tablet use within the classroom context (Yin 2003). Consequently triangulating different sources during analysis provides a powerful way for making sense out of empirical material collected since it enables us uncovering larger collective stories about issues under study like never before possible before – thus helping ensure our conclusions are built upon solid evidence base rather than mere assumptions along with providing better accuracy when assessing potential influences over outcomes encountered during course investigation undertaken too .