Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
LO1- Critically discuss methodologies and research-based theories and their application to practice when working with children
LO2- Critically analyse the ethical considerations of research practice in relation to children
LO3- Critically evaluate data and literature in relation to a chosen area of research
LO4- Complete research task, using a synthesis of theory and research to inform practice
You need to write your Methods section in such a way that a reader could replicate the research you have done. There should be no ambiguity here, so you need to write in a very factual informative style.
You need to state clearly how the investigation carried out. Explain why you chose this particular method (questionnaires, focus group, experimental procedure etc), include techniques and any equipment you used. If there were participants in your research, who were they? How many? How were they selected? Write this section concisely but thoroughly go through what you did step by step, including everything that is relevant. You know what you did, but could a reader follow your description?
The methodology will need to include the teacher questionnaire (pre and post ELSA intervention), parental questionnaire (pre and post ELSA intervention) and child questionnaire (pre and post ELSA intervention. I have attached the assessments. I have included these in the files.
Contextual information
This project was conducted within mainstream primary school. The mainstream primary school has 4 provisions to meet the needs of children with additional needs including emotional difficulties. Linking closely to the project focus, the mainstream school has 2 ELSAs, 1 full-time ELSA and 1 part-time ELSA. The school was accredited as an outstanding school by the office for standards in education (Ofsted) in 2015/2016. The ELSAs that work within the mainstream provision work closely with the schools educational and child psychologist to ensure best practice.
Background
The research has taken place over eight weeks in a mainstream primary school. The children received six ELSA sessions throughout the investigation. The school was accredited as an outstanding school by the office for standards in education (Ofsted) in 2015/2016. The school is a three-form entry school with a nursery. The school has four separate provisions to support vulnerable children and children on the autistic spectrum. Linking closely to the research question, the school setting has one full-time ELSA working in KS1 and one part-time ELSA working in Key Stage 2 (KS2). The ELSAs were both trained by an educational psychologist in 2018 and receive ongoing supervision.
The research project has been conducted with 10 children in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Additionally, 3 members of teaching staff were included in order to help support with questionnaires. Teachers identify children in their class who could benefit from time with an ELSA focussing on specific targets to support their emotional well-being and mental health. The parents will then be contacted to discuss the programme. The consent form and pre ELSA parent questionnaire will go home with the child and then sent back signed by a parent/carer (see consent form attached) and completed pre parent questionnaire (see questionnaire attached). The teacher will complete a pre ELSA questionnaire. This will provide the ELSA with information and the ELSA will be able to set targets and plan targeted work. During the first ELSA session, the ELSA will explain the programme to the child, ensure the child knows that they can withdraw at any point and complete the pre ELSA child questionnaire. The teaching staff were the children’s class teacher and therefore knew the children best. Furthermore, parents of all children were involved to allowed for the opinions to gather views of the project and impact of ELSA, through questionnaires. This provided a further viewpoint which allowed for triangulation of the findings (Bell, 2010). Triangulation includes the use of several data sources to allow for in-depth investigation and produce an understanding of findings (Nobel and Heale, 2019). Triangulation helps explain the results of a study and allows explanations of different aspects of data. Often, researchers use triangulation as a method for ensuring research is comprehensive and well-developed. The parents were key for this project to be conducted as following ethical considerations, all children needed to have permission to be involved in the project throughout. Additionally, the parents/carers all had the option to withdraw from the project at any point. Consent forms attached in files. At the end of the ELSA sessions, post data will be collected from parents, teachers and the child. This will allow for clear comparison.
Methods of Data Collection
Questionnaires were used in order to collect the views and thoughts of staff, parents/carers and children. This allowed the researcher opportunity to explore trends in answers. The questionnaires were adapted to allow questions to be suitably altered and relevant for the children, parents/carers and staff. Questionnaires were given to all pre ELSA intervention and post ELSA intervention. The researcher chose questionnaires because they are a reliable and quick method of data collection for several respondents at one given time and can be collected in a time-effective way. However, a disadvantage of questionnaires is their fixed format, which has the potential to discourage in-depth answers or abstract views. However, the questionnaires include a section for additional comments (see questionnaires). Before the researcher sent the questions to the groups, the researcher piloted the questions and system with University colleagues.
Limitations
Throughout the process of the research project, the researcher found some challenges and limitations. Firstly, time scales. For example, the researcher sent out questionnaires and asked for all to be back within two weeks. However, when the two week time period was over the researcher was chasing up questionnaires that were not returned. Evidently presenting a limitation on the research project. Additionally, the sample size presented in this research project. Due to the fact, the sample size used within this research project is small, the data will not be able to be generalised.
I have not included a specific amount of sources but please use a good amount for masters level.
Please message with any questions as I understand they may be some. I have included the module handbook, 3 examples, and any other material that is relevant.
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