AN ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT ADRIENNE J. LORME` FALL 2010 EDUCATION 7201 Implementing Literacy Instruction for Students with Hearing Disabilities

Table of Contents Research Design - Threats to Internal Validity - Threats to External Validity - Proposed Data - Proposed Data Analysis - Survey and Correlation

Research Design Quasi-Experimental Nonequivalent Control Group Design: Three groups are pretested, exposed to a treatment (x), and post tested (o). Groups are randomly assigned Symbolic design: – O X 1 O – O X 2 O – O X 3 O

Research Design (X 1 ) students : 1. Uses a strong phonic program in their reading instructions. 2.Is taught to read solely by using an Oral-Auditory Approach 3.Phonics is taught everyday. (X 2 ): 1. Uses a Total Communication Approach 2.Phonics is taught twice a week. (X 3 ): 1. Uses ASL 2.Phonics is not taught. The action researcher will compare each group to determine which approach is better for deaf students in learning how to read. The researcher will give each group the same assignments, homework, tests, and perform Developmental Reading Assessments (running records).

Threats to Internal Validity Threats to External Validity History Some participants may not give honest answers to the proposed survey questions. Parents might sign off on the Reading Logs without recording the accurate amount of time spent reading. Instrumentation Researcher created surveys which might create bias. The collection of data may be compromised by teachers and interpreters who do not sign the researcher’s questions/lessons accurately. Mortality Some participants may leave the classroom, the school or might not want to participate anymore Selection-Maturation Interaction Students vary in the communication approach, hearing loss, assistive devices and education. inclement weather might effect how students behave or their moods. Ecological inclement weather might effect how students behave or their moods. results could be completely different depending on students time of studying, if their assistive devices are working or not, and if they heard the question asked. Generalizable Conditions results could be completely different depending on students time of studying, if their assistive devices are working or not, and if they heard the question asked. Some students may interact differently with the researcher. Specificity of Variables Some students may interact differently with the researcher. There may be some personal bias due to previous interactions with some students. There may be bias in relation to age, race and gender. Experimenter Effects There may be some personal bias due to previous interactions with some students. There may be bias in relation to age, race and gender. Participants may modify their responses because they know they are being observed. Hawthorne Effect Participants may modify their responses because they know they are being observed.

Proposed Data for (X 1 ): Running Records StudentDRA Level Student A2 Student B2 Student C1 Student D1 Student E2 Student F2 StudentDRA Level Student A4 Student B3 Student C3 Student D3 Student E3 Student F2 (X 1 ) Running Records from October 2010 Students are reading on a Kindergarten Grade Level. (X 1 ) Running Records from March 2011 Students reading levels have increased. The majority of students are reading at/on their grade level.

Proposed Data for (X 2 ): Running Records StudentDRA Level Student A1 Student B1 Student C2 Student D2 Student E1 Student F1 Student G1 StudentDRA Level Student A2 Student B2 Student C2 Student D2 Student E2 Student F1 Student G1 (X 2 ) Running records from September/October Students are reading on a Kindergarten Grade Level. (X 2 ) Running records from March Students are still reading on a Kindergarten Reading Level.

Proposed Data for (X 1 ): Reading Logs Students in (X 1 ) increased the time they spent reading per week.

Proposed Data for (X 2 ): Reading Logs The amount of time spent reading, increased slightly for students in group (X 2 )

Questionnaire results for (X 1 ) and (X 2 ) One question chosen from Questionnaire X-Axis- Question 15- It takes me a long time to learn the meaning of a new word. Y AXIS- Pre-Test October 2010 Running Record

Correlation for (X 1 ) Analysis Correlation for (X 2 ) Analysis There is a negative correlation between the students taking a long time the definition of a new word and their DRA level. The rxy is There was a positive correlation between students taking more time to learn the definition of a new word and their DRA Level. The rxy is 0.3

References O’Connor – Petruso, S.,(2008) Stat.scales.analyses.threats.design.ppt.