EDU671: Fundamentals of Educational Research (MRD1414A) Ashford University Instructor: Dr. Kathleen Lunsford May 11th, 2014

My area of focus will be “Bullying”, to be identified within the classroom and school, with student’s engagement and help; to assist with continued education improvement for students and success. To scrutinize and make sure that the students in a classroom do not bully their fellow classmates.

Many students are being bullied in schools, and even though there is a policy of no bullying, children are getting hurt and losing lives. Bullying takes us to deaths, emotional trauma, and physical impairment, which for the person is not at fault. Certain societies, living environments, lack of education, and young parents all contribute to bullying in schools.

All ages from Kindergarten to High school, which will be, ages 5 to years old and the participants will be the full student body in school totaling up to 500 students, depending the project type. Other variables will be the parents and neighbors who the students will come in contact with, when asking questions/interviews for surveys and reports.

Will realization of “stop bullying” at an early age, improve students’ academic level? How can I get students and their parents involved? What techniques can I use to stop bullying in school? What impact will it bring to our community? Does bullying others in a classroom hinder educational achievements? Does bullying in a classroom affect a student’s academic outcome? Will bullying finally be stopped? Does bullying in school create anger, violence, and suicides?

I have witnessed how students in a classroom bully others, making it difficult for them to succeed and achieve education, that is why I have selected this topic “Bullying” to help stop it from the day students start school. I have experienced educational development is effected due to bullying therefore, it is necessary to stop bullying. When students come in a class spreading negative behaviors and putting other students down, it creates a lot of emotional, low-esteem, violence, and suicidal events. One day sure I will make a difference in my classroom and kids. Bullying is something that effects a person negatively, therefore is it our duty as humans to stop it.

I intend to implement it by having student’s engagement in the classroom and extending it within the school. If this research is introduced on the very first day by the teachers, I think there will be a positive impact on the students by making them feel secure, and safe in the environment. For the research, students will participate in a shared data; establish a constitution as a new step towards non-bullying in classroom. Voicing student opinion creates a sense of independence, accountability and ownership of the cause/awareness.

Students will be responsible to share the project, ask questions, interview parents/neighbors, and bring the answers. Teachers will tally the research and present the statistics. Parents will contribute their ideas, knowledge and assistance.

After this proposal I will ask the principal to allow me to do this research, consents will be sent home before the project is started, consents back in 15 days, 3 weeks project of surveys and questions. After the constitution is declared, it will be the students responsible to implement it in the school. To secure their safety, protection, self esteem, respect, work towards their education achievement.

My research will involve children and their behaviors that affect others. I will need to be careful in asking permissions and consents before I begin it. To stop bullying is to help society through the knowledge of the society. The most ethical part will be respecting how other students feel. Recognize that there are some different cultural expectation, but as a school body we will try to make them understand that student’s security in school is important as well.

Initial stage 3 weeks, then gathering survey/interview/questions for 30 days, compiling results and building charts/statistics with teachers assistance another 30 days. It will take 2 months to compile and build the constitution of bullying then introduction will take place. Utilizing of the posters/banners for spreading awareness will be continuously used. During rest of the school year, students will report any bullying, share what other students notice if there is a positive behavior.

By gaining approval of the school educators or by reading their reviews/feedback and concerns makes a topic valid and reliable. We need to adapt to different ways of learning and teaching. It is imperative that approval of Board of Directors, including the Principal and other educators is gained before the proposal plan.

Qualitative and quantitative data collection, includes observe, evaluate, and interact. We need to create questions so that we can have answers, we need data collection of some sort to analyze, assess, and prove a point. For example, triangulated data is a good way of obtaining data collection. Where several sources of data will be used, for a better outcome and the research questions match the data sources from surveys, questions, interviews, and matrixes complied by the students and teacher.

 Landrum, R. E. (2013). Research design for educators: Real-world connections and applications. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.Research design for educators: Real-world connections and applications  Mills, G. E. (2014). Action research: A guide for the teacher researcher (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (1979). Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research. The Belmont Report. Retrieved from principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research  