Student+Action+Research

STUDENT VOICES Here is your opportunity to shake things up. Read through these resources and make a plan for your.....  REVOLUTION!

rev·o·lu·tion
// noun // \ ˌ re-və- ˈ lü-shən\ : a sudden, extreme, or complete change in the way people live, work, etc. Sound Out  [|Sound Out Students as Researchers] Sound Out Tool Kit  Turn Up The Volume

**RESEARCH PROCESS**
 * Form a core research team. **

You don't need to have a complete research team to begin brainstorming project ideas. But, you should have a core team with at least a few members - enough that you can discuss a variety of ideas and come to agreement on the main topic area that seems most important to you and your community.


 * Think about your community. **


 * What concerns you about your community?
 * What would you like to change?
 * What have you noticed that you would like to learn more about?
 * What have you noticed that you think others should learn more about?
 * Together the core of your research team should think about these questions, and decide what your research project should be about. You may want to consult others in the community to receive feedback on your ideas.
 * Your topic should be important to you and to others in the community. As you consider different topics, think about who might be interested in your findings. Who could you share your findings with to help bring about change?


 * Formulate a key research question. **
 * Once your core team agrees on a topic to research, think about some of the specifics. Which aspect of the topic are you most interested in? Is your topic focused enough or does it need to be narrowed down?
 * For example, a youth research team in Hyattsville, MD was interested in how geography related to health. They decided their question was too broad, and narrowed their focus to how moving, especially from one country to another, might affect what people eat.
 * Once you've determined your key research question, you may develop sub-questions. In the example above sub-questions were:
 * Did eating habits change after people moved from their home countries? Do young people who moved think their diets improved or became worse? Do their parents agree with them?
 * Whether or not your team develops sub-questions, your key research question should guide your project.


 * Choose a Research Methodology. **

Now that you have a clear research question, how will you answer it?

There are many ways you can begin investigating a research question. It is up to your team to agree on the method that is the best match for your question. Do you want to know how many people in your neighborhood have lived in another country? Or, do you want to know how someone's life changes when they move from one country to another?


 * Example of quantitative methods: (Numbers) **

Surveys (can be done by phone, in-person, or as a written questionnaire)

If your team develops survey questions or a questionnaire to distribute to a large number of people, you should frame your questions so that answers can be easily counted. In general, close-ended questions will be easier to tally up than open-ended questions. For instance, if you want to find out whether people think your neighborhood is safe you can ask this in an open ended way:

What are the things you think are safe and unsafe in your neighborhood? Describe both.

However, if you ask this question to 50 people, you might get 50 different answers. It would be easier to count up responses if you were to ask the question in a close-ended way. Here are two examples of the above question rewritten in a close-ended way: > ___ Safe at all times__ > _ Generally safe during the day > ___ Safe during the day, but not safe at night__ > _ Not safe at any time of the day or night
 * Do you think your neighborhood is safe? ___Yes__ _ No
 * Do you think your neighborhood is:

Qualitative methods can help you understand why or how something happens. If you were interested in how someone's life changes while moving, you might want to interview someone who is in the process of moving or has just moved. If you had the opportunity, you might even want to observe someone as they move. Usually, if you use a qualitative method, you will focus on collecting as much information as possible from a small number of people.


 * Examples of qualitative methods: (Words) **
 * Interviews
 * Focus Groups (Small group interviews; ask open questions and participants answer in a discussion format.)
 * Observation
 * Journals

**Plan Project Details**.

Project details will probably change as you progress but, your team should be able to answer the following basic questions before you get started: If you plan on collecting data from people:
 * Who are your research participants? (ie Who are you going to survey, interview, observe etc.)
 * Do you need their permission in order to do the research?
 * Some topic areas are sensitive. Will you keep the respondents' answers confidential?
 * Will you inform all respondents of how you plan on reporting your findings up front?
 * Where will the research take place?
 * When will the research take place?
 * Which members of your research team will be involved and who will do what?

You may also have to create a data collection instrument. For example, if you are giving people a written survey, your team will have to write the questions, or find a survey that already exists. If you are planning on interviewing people, your team should come to agreement on what to ask.


 * Additional questions to consider when planning: **


 * How do you plan on analyzing the data once you collect it?
 * How will you share your findings once the research is done?
 * Note: If you do ask any sensitive questions make sure your team agrees on a plan for protecting the anonymity of respondents, and that respondents are comfortable with both the research project and the way you will report your findings.
 * How do you plan on packaging your findings? (Once you complete your project, does your team want to produce a c.d., a video, a report, a presentation, or something else?
 * Do you plan on having any events to share your findings?
 * Do you plan on producing and copying a final report?


 * Planning Sheet** [[file:La Revolucion.docx]]

Planning Sheet RTF