Behavior Problems : Can Character Education Improve it? Action Research Paper By Jacqueline Holzer EDU /Fall 2010
Research Design Quasi Experimental: Nonequivalent Control Group Design One single group pretest- posttest design One single group is pretested (O), exposed to treatment (X), and post tested (O) Symbolic Design: OXO Groups are not randomly assigned
Possible Threats to Internal Validity History Being a follower, desire to be accepted, act out to gain attention Maturation Overtime experience a difficult time & default back to behavior problems, curriculum can become repetitive Testing/Pre-test Sensitization May not answer honestly can affect results, knowing they are being surveyed may result in temporary behavior change Differential Selection of Subjects Each child has different personalities & outlooks Selection-Maturation Interaction Some students mature faster than others
Possible Threats to External Validity Ecological Validity Different views based on their atmosphere & up-bringing Pretest Treatment Testing before the treatment may affect results Selection-Treatment Interaction Upon agreement from family member, students are not given an option of participating Experimenter Effects Passive elements- some students may respond & engage more than others. Gender can be a threat to response & participation Reactive Arrangements/Participants Effects Hawthorne Effect- students may change their behavior if they think they are being studied. Present as a way to get to know them.
Pre- Survey & Post-Survey Same class, one group One question chosen from pretest & post test Pre-survey question # 4: I have difficulty listening Post-survey question # 4: I have difficulty following directions StudentPre Survey- X Post Survey- Y RXY= There is a positive correlation between the pre-survey, the treatment and the post-survey
Proposed Pre-Survey & Post- Survey Data Students Pre & Post survey response on following directions StudentPre Survey Post Survey
Proposed Pre-Survey Post-Survey Average of Data Average of each survey question for the pre and post survey: QuestionsAverage of Pre- Survey Average of Post- Survey
References O’Connor – Petruso, S.,(2008) Stat.scales.analyses.threats.design.ppt.