PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED: THE TWIST AND TURNS ON THE ROAD OF DATA COLLECTION

Shwu-Wen Lin CLIO 3 March 2009

Overview

Research context Problems encountered and compromises

made: - Difficulty in securing access

- The unwillingness for classroom observation

- The restriction of timetable

- The unavoidable loss of participants The proposed & the achieved Suggestions for fieldwork

Research context (I)

Research project: - Washback/Impact study graduate requirement of English proficiency

General English Proficiency Test (GEPT)

- Case study: University A (no graduation requirement)

University B (with graduation requirement)

- teachers & students (non-English majors)

Research context (II)

Research Methodology:

- Questionnaire - Interview: teachers & students - Classroom Observation:

Problem (I): Access

University A: Access secured University B: - Approval from teachers - Proposal - Formal letter - Human subject protection (GSoE ethics procedure instead)

Proposed Design (I)

Classroom Observation: (based on the idealistic assumption of washback)_

(Watanabe, 2004,p.28)

Teacher A Teacher B

Exam –related lessons

[same]

[different] [different]

Non-exam lessons

Proposed Design:

Research

Methods

Participant

s

Number of Participants

Case A Case B

Classroom Observation

Teachers 6 6

Test-related classes

0 2

General English classes

12 10

Problem (II): Unwillingness for classroom observation

University A: - number of teachers : 5 3 4

- number of classes observed: 7

- observation duration: 3 weeks, 2 weeks

- all general English classes

Problem (III):Restriction of timetable & Unavoidable loss of participant

University B: - number of teachers: 6 3

- number of classes observed: 3

- observation duration: 3 weeks, 2 weeks, 1 week

- 1 test-related class, the rest general English classes

Achieved:

Research

Methods

Participant

s

Number of Participants

Case A Case B

Classroom Observation

Teachers 4 3

Test-related class

0 1

General English classes

7 2

Suggestions:

For access: - Impression management

- Obtaining ‘bottom-up’ access

- Being non-judgmental

- Offering feedback

- Establishing a contract (Silverman, 2005, p.255-256)

- Making ethical guidelines explicit

For others: - ‘It is important to be realistic rather than optimistic in your

plans, because resources have a tendency to go less far than you anticipate.’ (Mason, 2002, p.44)

Prepare yourself for the unexpected!