Project 6: Methodologies

This project is also available as a properly formatted Word document -> Project 6: Methodologies

The Question – (at this point):

How does the integration of the social network (Second Life or FaceBook) with classroom instruction affect student interaction and retention of course material?

The Methodologies and researching the methods:

I have compiled several methods and sources I would use in the research of my working hypothesis. A major methodology I plan to employ in the research of my hypothesis is observation. I have begun compiling a list of resources I am using to prepare my observation research methodology. Here I provide some links and basic information. Several sources specifically employ the use of social networks, one within an educational setting.

1) Observation:
http://www.ryerson.ca/~mjoppe/ResearchProcess/Observation.htm

Excerpt of specific methods I wish to employ:
“Observation is a primary method of collecting data by human, mechanical, electrical or electronic means. The researcher may or may not have direct contact or communication with the people whose behaviour is being recorded. Observation techniques can be part of qualitative research as well as quantitative research techniques. There are six different ways of classifying observation methods:

1. participant and nonparticipant observation, depending on whether the researcher chooses to be part of the situation s/he is studying (e.g. studying social interaction of tour groups by being a tour participant would be participant observation)
2. obtrusive and unobtrusive (or physical trace) observation, depending on whether the subjects being studied can detect the observation (e.g. hidden microphones or cameras observing behavior and doing garbage audits to determine consumption are examples of unobtrusive observation)
3. observation in natural or contrived settings, whereby the behaviour is observed (usually unobtrusively) when and where it is occurring, while in the contrived setting the situation is recreated to speed up the behaviour
4. disguised and non-disguised observation, depending on whether the subjects being observed are aware that they are being studied or not. In disguised observation, the researcher may pretend to be someone else, e.g. “just” another tourist participating in the tour group, as opposed to the other tour group members being aware that s/he is a researcher.
5. Structured and unstructured observation, which refers to guidelines or a checklist being used for the aspects of the behaviour that are to be recorded; for instance, noting who starts the introductory conversation between two tour group members and what specific words are used by way of introduction.
6. Direct and indirect observation, depending on whether the behaviour is being observed as it occurs or after the fact, as in the case of TV viewing, for instance, where choice of program and channel flicking can all be recorded for later analysis.

2) Observational Field Research
http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/tutorial/Brown/lauratp.htm
The Ethnographic Self: Fieldwork and the Representation of Reality/ Doing Ethnographic Research: Fieldwork Settings/ Ethnography: A Way of Seeing. . .
International Journal of Social Research Methodology; Oct-Dec99, Vol. 2 Issue 4, p329-333, 5p

Mediating ethnography: objectivity and the making of ethnographies of the internet.
Beaulieu, Anne1 anne.beaulieu@niwi.knaw.nl
Source: Social Epistemology; Apr-Sep2004, Vol. 18 Issue 2/3, p139-163, 25p

Ethnomethodological Approaches to Research and Evaluation in the Professions.
Yunker, Rose
Ethnomethodological research involves participation in the field, with some degree of social interaction, with the subjects of the study; direct observation of relevant events; some formal and a great deal of informal interviewing; systematic counting; collection of documents and artifacts; and flexibility in the direction the study takes.

Ethnomethodological architectures: Information systems driven by cultural and community visions.
Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology; Mar2007, Vol. 58 Issue 5, p723-733, 11p, 2 charts, 3 graphs
As networked digital systems are rapidly created and deployed, social, cultural, and community-focused issues are often neglected. Indeed much research has focused on the “effects” these systems hold rather than viewing systems as tools to be designed given an understanding of sociocultural context.

I’ll See You On “Facebook”: The Effects of Computer-Mediated Teacher Self-Disclosure on Student Motivation, Affective Learning, and Classroom Climate.
Mazer, Joseph P.1 jm161106@ohio.edu, Murphy, Richard E.2, Simonds, Cheri J.
Source: Communication Education; Jan2007, Vol. 56 Issue 1, p1-17, 17p, 3 charts
This experimental study examined the effects of teacher self-disclosure via Facebook on anticipated college student motivation, affective learning, and classroom climate.

3) Interviews

Aside from observing the online behaviors of college students I will conduct personal interviews with random, yet willing participants. I will a conduct a majority of these interviews. To further assist and help remove potential fear in truth responses, I have asked several students to complete interviews for me. There is much evidence to suggest the person conducting the interview can have considerable impact on the responses. Given I am in an authority figure over several of the people who will be interviewed I would like to remove that potential impact on at least some of the results.

4) Participation

I will also participate within the new social educational system. Active participation will be necessary as considerable effort will need to be completed in order to setup the system within Facebook. I will also need to participate within several computer assisted social networks to under how the system works. Perhaps learning the system is a great limiting factor of the use of computer assisted social networks in educational settings. Is it simply too much for instructors to manage simple class operating tasks and those necessary to keep a functioning social network structure in place? By participating in this process I will gain a better understand of the requirements of such a system.