This week in Research in Music Education, our objectives were to describe data collection techniques that may be used for quantitative and qualitative research studies, develop a research questionnaire, discuss the importance of accuracy, credibility, dependability, validity, and reliability in research, and explain the attributes of quantitative research in music education.
Studying about the data collection techniques and developing a research questionnaire were very interesting this week. Both Phillips (2008) and Mertler (2012) discussed that quantitative data collection techniques will be more based on close-ended numbers while qualitative data collection techniques will be more based on narrative thought. I greatly enjoyed using quantitative (and a bit of qualitative) data collection techniques to develop my questionnaire about the formal education in music of currently employed worship leaders in the Southern Baptist churches in Illinois. I look forward to editing, creating a final draft, and administering the survey this week and analyzing the results.
Another topic that was discussed this week was the importance of authentic data collection. Mertler discussed in detail the importance of validity and reliability in research. It is important that data is as accurate as possible and that it measures what it is supposed to measure. If data is compromised, the entire study will be rendered useless. It is of utmost importance for the researcher to very carefully consider all forms of data, how questions are worded, and what outside influences may chance or affect the data that is collected.
Additionally, coursework included watching a video about Patricia Sheehan-Campbell and her thoughts about what she would say to President Obama about the importance of music education if given a chance.
The majority of time spent for the course this week was on reading the articles for and constructing a literature review. While extremely time consuming, the completion of a successful literature review was quite the highlight of the week.
Studying about the data collection techniques and developing a research questionnaire were very interesting this week. Both Phillips (2008) and Mertler (2012) discussed that quantitative data collection techniques will be more based on close-ended numbers while qualitative data collection techniques will be more based on narrative thought. I greatly enjoyed using quantitative (and a bit of qualitative) data collection techniques to develop my questionnaire about the formal education in music of currently employed worship leaders in the Southern Baptist churches in Illinois. I look forward to editing, creating a final draft, and administering the survey this week and analyzing the results.
Another topic that was discussed this week was the importance of authentic data collection. Mertler discussed in detail the importance of validity and reliability in research. It is important that data is as accurate as possible and that it measures what it is supposed to measure. If data is compromised, the entire study will be rendered useless. It is of utmost importance for the researcher to very carefully consider all forms of data, how questions are worded, and what outside influences may chance or affect the data that is collected.
Additionally, coursework included watching a video about Patricia Sheehan-Campbell and her thoughts about what she would say to President Obama about the importance of music education if given a chance.
The majority of time spent for the course this week was on reading the articles for and constructing a literature review. While extremely time consuming, the completion of a successful literature review was quite the highlight of the week.
References:
Phillips, K.H. (2008). Exploring research in music education and music therapy. New York: Oxford
University Press.
Mertler, C.A. (2012). Action research: Improving schools and empowering educators. Los Angeles:
Sage Publications.
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