Phenomenography is best known as an empirical research approach for investigating variation in conceptions of different educational phenomena--including learning, teaching and particular disciplinary concepts such as price in economics and motion in physics. It is less well-known for its theoretical basis, in terms of its epistemological and…

Embarking on a study in which we hope to gain a contextualized understanding of the experiences of adolescent girls who use crystal methamphetamines, it is crucial for us to select a research methodology congruent with our aims. In the current article, we share the theoretical basis and decision making process that has lead us to a multi-modal…

In order to get the most from LibQUAL+[TM] qualitative data, libraries must organize and classify the comments of their patrons. The challenge is to do this effectively and efficiently. This article illustrates how researchers at Western Michigan University Libraries utilized ATLAS.ti 5.0 to organize, classify, and consolidate the LibQUAL+[TM]…

Generally educational research is grounded in the empirical traditions of the social sciences (commonly called quantitative and qualitative methods) and is as such distinguished from other forms of scholarship such as theoretical, conceptual or methodological essays, critiques of research traditions and practices and those studies grounded in the…

This qualitative study examined the growth of Jelani, a failing novice teacher who successfully received tenure following his third year of teaching. His progress seemed related to the quality of his relationships with different mentors. An unanticipated factor in Jelani's success was his participation in a university-based program for children,…

In this qualitative study, the authors explored definitions of multicultural competence given by 99 frontline human service providers. The providers had no formal training in counseling but served in a helping role. Seven thematic definitions emerged: color blindness, client focused, acknowledgment of cultural differences, textbook consistent,…

Counselling children often requires the use of supplementary strategies in order to interest and engage the child in the therapeutic process. One such strategy is the Metaphorical Fruit Tree (MFT); an art metaphor suited to exploring and developing self-concept. Quantitative and qualitative data was used to explore the relationships between…

Research in the field of school curriculum and national organizations such as the National Council for the Social Studies and the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics support the use of inquiry-based curriculum in schools. However, due to the policy constraints of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), inquiry-based curriculum is not common in…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore through in-depth analysis of interviews of perceptual change and what trainers of "A Framework for Understanding Poverty" to educators have learned about themselves, about poverty in the United States, about children of poverty, and about those who work with students of poverty. A…

The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether the data from the qualitative study fit Rasch model requirements for the definition of a measure, as well as to address concern in the extant literature regarding the appropriate number of items needed in analysis to assure unidimensionality. The self-report victimization scale was…

Issues surrounding female participation in graduate theological education are complex and multifaceted. One important problem concerning female theological students is the lack of research exploring the experiences and unique challenges faced by conservative evangelical female Master of Divinity (M. Div.) students as they pursue academic and…

There is an apparent dearth in the leadership literature of African American women when juxtaposed with race, gender and social class. This scarcity appears to be connected with the small percentage of African American women who hold the position of president in institutions of higher education. Additionally, recent reports have noted, that the…

Adults returning to graduate school to acquire a master of business administration (MBA) degree face a myriad of challenges as they attempt to manage academic responsibilities, work, family, and social obligations. Currently, a number of educational professionals only look to identify and remediate student deficiencies. Developing existing…

The purpose of this study was to look at the relationship between selected Texas public school superintendents and school boards to determine the communication factors that help to make for stronger relationships. This study attempted to describe the relationship between the superintendent and school board in terms of effective communication…

With the pending shortage of community college leaders expected in the next few years, this study addresses the leadership development of women two-year college senior leaders. There is much work to be done in generating diverse pools for senior positions, in preparing the next generation of leaders, particularly women, with the skills and…