Researcher Introduction
I am Iona Bonney, Head of the Arts Learning Area at Albany Junior High School. This study is part of a Master’s Thesis I am currently undertaking on a part time basis through Massey University.
Project Description and Invitation
My research focuses on how middle school students experience and perceive educational decision making with particular attention to making subject choices within the middle school environment. To do this I will be inviting Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 students to complete a questionnaire on their experience of the subject choice making process. Students will also be invited to participate in focus group interviews to provide opportunity for more in-depth responses and views to be explored. Staff and parents/ caregivers of focus group students will be invited to complete a questionnaire and government and school documents will be reviewed to establish the context within which students are making their decisions.
I am approaching the Board of Trustees of Albany Junior High School as I wish to use the school as the base for my study.
Participant Identification and Recruitment
I wish to be able to access the school data base to identify student year group cohorts and obtain gender and ethnicity information. I would like to invite initial student participation through a whanau assembly. Classroom teachers will be asked to administer the questionnaire to avoid any perceived conflict of interest through my dual role as teacher at the school and researcher. An invitation to participate in the focus group is contained in the student questionnaire. Not all students who volunteer may be chosen to take part in the discussion group. Final selection will be made to provide a cross section of the school population.
Staff and parents/caregivers with direct association with the student focus group participants will be invited to participate by the researcher. Participants can withdraw from the study at any time without consequence. Participants will be given the option to provide responses through alternative methods (individual interview or email responses) if they do not feel comfortable with the focus group setting.
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Cultural and social protocols will be adhered to through consultation with school staff responsible for pastoral and cultural welfare of the students. Information and opportunities for interested parties to ask questions will be made available through school parent/caregiver forums.
Project Procedures
The questionnaires will be conducted on-line through the school network and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. This will take place at a time approved by the Principal and teachers affected. Focus group interviews will be undertaken at Albany Junior High School at a time and venue approved by the Principal and teachers affected. Students will be given the option of using drawings to further illustrate verbal responses. These drawings may be copied to assist in analysis of data and illustrate findings.
Data Management
Focus group participants will be given opportunity to review and comment on interpretation of their own responses. All data will be made anonymous by using confidential coding. Data will be stored securely for up to 1 year. The results of the project may be published. No names or material that could personally identify participants or the school will be used in any reports. Data gathered will be used to identify influences and needs perceived as important to student subject choice decisions from the viewpoints of the major stakeholders; students, parents/caregivers, teachers, community, school and government policy makers. All data collected will be archived in password protected digital formats. Consent forms will be stored securely for one year before being destroyed. Access to an on- line summary of project findings will be made available to interested parties.
Participant’s Statement of Rights
The school is under no obligation to accept this invitation. I very much hope that the school will be able to take part in this study. I thank you in advance for your time and assistance with this project. If the school accepts the invitation to participate then please confirm this in writing. If you have any questions or queries regarding the study please feel free to contact the researcher directly
[email protected] or supervisors:
Jenny Poskitt j.m.poskitt@ massey.au Jeanette Berman [email protected]
This project has been reviewed and approved by the Massey University Human Ethics Committee: Southern A, Application 14/87. If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research, please contact Dr. Brian Finch, Chair, Massey University Human Ethics Committee: Southern A, telephone 06 350 5799 x 84459, email [email protected].
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to a prompt response. Iona Bonney
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Appendix A1.4: Student information sheet
Research Study on Middle School Student Views and Influences on Subject Choice Decision Making
STUDY INFORMATION SHEET FOR STUDENTS
I am Iona Bonney, teacher at Albany Junior High School. This study is part of a Master’s Thesis I am currently undertaking through Massey University. I am gathering information to help teachers and schools better inform and prepare their students to make decisions about subject choices and study plans, both now and in the future. In particular, I am gathering information on students’ experience of choosing subjects at a middle school.
What will I be asked to do?
Small groups of students from each year level will be interviewed. You will be asked to discuss what you think about the subject choices you have to make and how you go about choosing them. This interview will take about 30-40 minutes and will be at school during the school day. I may also collect written or drawn ideas used in the focus group..
Who else is involved?
I will also be inviting your parents/caregivers and teachers at your school who are involved with the subject choice process to complete a questionnaire
What will happen to the information I give?
Anything you tell me will be kept anonymous. Your teachers will not know what you say; only the researcher will know. I will be writing about what you and other people say in some reports. I will not use your name. Discussion group participants will be given
opportunity to review and comment on interpretation of their own responses. Your school
will get a copy of the reports I write.