Classroom Research

Question 1

What is classroom observations

Answer 1

Observations are a direct method of gathering data.

The researcher obtains information directly without relying on a respondent:

Observations are inherent to ethnographic studies.

Classroom observation is Polio (1996)
Non-ethnographic, non-experimental.

Involves recording the teaching-learning process that takes place within a classroom with a focus on solving or finding solutions to the problem under study

There are two types of classroom observations
Participant vs non- participant observations
Structured and unstructured observations

Question 2

What is participant observation

Answer 2

Participant observation
- mainly used in anthropology and sociology research.
- Qualitative in nature
- researcher immerse him/herself in the research setting and involve in the daily activities of the participant and observe their behaviors.
- primarily associated with ethnographic research
- long term
-takes place in natural setting
- subjected to subjectivity
-rich data

Ex: the beggar in Sri Lanka by nandasena ratnapala

Question 3

What is non participant observation?

Answer 3

• involves observing without actively participating.
• observes the setting without immersing in it.
• classroom observation is non participant observation.
  -can be overt or covert
  Researcher can observe without the participants acknowledgement.
• there are two types : structured and unstructured observations

Question 4

Similarities and differences between participant and non participant observation

Answer 4

Similarities
- observer effect
The presence of the researcher alters the behavior of the participant.
- selectivity
Inability to observe everything.

Differences
1) - non participant is less time consuming
Ex: workplace, classroom
-participant is more time consuming
Ex: veddha language

2) - non participant is more objective and neutral
Observing without getting involved
No emotions involved.
-participants is less objective and less neutral
Due to immersion

3)- non participant observations is inadequate in observation.
Only whats in-front of the. Researcher
-participant. rich in observations due to immersion .

4) non -participant is associated with less validity.
Not able to access people’s insights
Participant observation offers more validity.
Able to get in touch with people’s deep thought and opinions.

5) non participant is structured and relatively easy yo conduct
Participant- is unstructured
Relatively difficult to anlyze

Question 5

Structured observation

Answer 5

Observation has a specific focus and takes place with a pre defined plan.

It presupposes that the researcher knows what aspects of the setting should be undertaken for the study and then develops a specific plan for the observation .

Involves completing an observation schedule

Carefully defines the units to be observed

Question 6

Unstructured observation

Answer 6

Is an unplanned observation

Everything that takes place in the research setting is under scrutiny, the researcher has to debate about it significance for the research.

Does not involve and observation schedule, but reports data as narrative field notes, mind maps and diagrams .

Question 7

Observational schemes

Answer 7

Unstructured observation uses an observational schedule that contains observational schemes.

Observation schemes are the predetermined categories under which the researchers collects data.

Observation schemes should cover a range of categories that allows the researcher to cover a range of events

Two main methods are used to record data
- event sampling - recording the amount of times a specific event takes place using tally marks
Studnet talk , teacher talk

• time sampling- recording what happens during fixed intervals.
  What happens in the first minute, the next etc.

Observation can contain two types of categories
Low frequency categories - the observer can directly record event related to this category.
Reliable
Ex : teacher talk

High frequency categories - events that require more judgement
Ex: teacher making jokes, feedback

Question 8

Flint - Gertude Moskowitz

Answer 8

Foreign Language Interaction analysis

Used in second lan. studies
Includes real time coding in 3 second intervals according to 22 categories
The categories are grouped into three
- teacher talk
-student talk
- a miscellaneous category. That includes
Silence, laughter. Confusion etc.

Question 9

COLT- Communication oriented language teaching Spada anf Fronhlich 1985

Answer 9

Two parts
Part A - real time coding at
one minute intervals according to 48 categories.

Part B - non real time, post hoc analysis based on audio recordings

Highly influential in L2 classroom research

Question 10

MOLT- Motivation orientation in Language teaching.
Guilloteaux and Dornyei

Answer 10

Developed on COLT focusing on teacher’s and students’ motivation.
Includes real time interval sampling according to 41 categories.

Question 11

Similarities and differences between structures and unstructured observations

Answer 11

Similarities
- both are part of non- participant observations.
- affected by hawthrone effect

Differences
1- Observational schedule
📋- observed according to a observation schedule
❌ - not observed according to a observational shedule

2)aspects under study
📋- presupposes the aspects of the setting that should be observed.
❌all the behaviors in the research setting are under the researcher’s scrutiny.

3) guidance
📋researcher’s observation is guided throughout with a observation schedule
❌- researcher relies on his/her autonomy or self debate .

4) deep
📋 important insights can be missed out when observing according to pre determined a scheme
❌ a thorough observation can be done

Time
📋 is economical and time saving
❌ time consuming and at times overwhelming.

Preparation
📋needs more time for the preparation
❌ no need of preparation

Reliability and validity
📋more reliable- uses observations schemes
❌more valid- more insights

Question 12

Video recording

Answer 12

One of the ideal ways a classroom can be observed

Video taping makes the researcher’s work easier
Stores the observation to access later
A good alternative to audio tapes

Deals with problems like
- ethical issues
- blind spots (it is very difficult to mout a camera to capture the whole setting, even if it happens everything can not be observed.
- distracting
Participants awareness of being recorded can distract them or alter their behaviors
- technical issues
The camera might stop working abruptly while recording unknown to to the
researcher

• need high quality

Question 13

Strengths and Weaknesses of observational data

Answer 13

Strengths
- Direct access to the research problem.

Researcher can directly gain reposes to the problem whiteout having to reply on mediators

• versatile
  Covers a range of aspects related to problem under study.

-more reliable data
Observation schemes

Allwright and Bailey ( 1991) observation can miss insights that could be provided by researchers themselves

Disadvantages
- only whats visible from the outside can be observed
Can’t access the respondent’s thoughts
- logical grounds behind why something takes place can not be understood.
- everything can not be observed