Methodology Outline

Question 1: How does Whiteness in a Washington School District operate in a diverse classroom?

Question 2: How can White teachers prepare to work with diverse students more effectively?

 participants in the proposed research

 permissions that will be required
 data collection method (e.g., observation or survey)
 any instrument that you plan to use
 how you plan to analyze your data
 when and how you would collect data before and after testing the solution
 how you well ensure validity and reliability

Participants:

 4th and 5th grade students (half White and half non-White) from multiple schools in the Lake
Washington School District
 4th and 5th grade White teachers from multiple schools in the Lake Washington School District

Permissions:

 Needed from LWSD

 Needed from the principals of the schools involved
 Needed from students and teachers
 Needed from student parents

Data Collection Method:

 A case-study on how White students and Non-White students are treated. This involves asking
the students monthly questions, having them write reflections, and observing the students in
class to see how having a White teacher may affect their academic ability.
 Survey completed by White teachers to see how they view their students based on their race.
 Collect student data of past assignments and assessments to see how they do in school to relate
to what teachers think of the student.

Any instruments that I plan to use:

How to Analyze data:

How to collect data before and after testing the solution:

How to ensure validity and reliability:


1. Introduction
The literature review has shown what some problems are with Whiteness in the
classroom and then provided solutions through culturally relevant pedagogy. However, there is
little to no such data for the Lake Washington School District besides their annual report cards.
Since my question is aimed to finding out how Whiteness operates in a diverse classroom and
how White teachers can prepare for such, I will gather data from students and White teachers
from several schools in the Lake Washington School District through a case study. The new data
compiled will give a glimpse into diversity problems the district is facing and give an indicator
as to what programs and other solutions can be implemented. Ultimately, the data will give
insight to help the Lake Washington School District implement culturally relevant pedagogy into
its schools to form well-rounded children who understand and respect cultures, are prepared for
the future, and are academically enthusiastic and successful.
2. Participants
Since I am interested in the effects of Whiteness in the elementary classroom, I will be
interviewing and observing students and teachers in the elementary schools of LWSD. Also, due
to the nature of this research and the complexity of the topic, the student participates of this case
study will be a mix of 4th and 5th grade boys and girls of all different races and ethnicities that are
students to a White teacher. Therefore, the adult participants of the case study will be White
teachers of the students to compare their views with their students’ views. Five 4th and 5th grade
classrooms will be selected from the district to partake in the case study with the permission
from the respective principals. Each student involved will receive a permission letter that will
need to be signed by all parents to be a part of the study.

3. Data Collection
Once participants have been chosen for the case study, both teachers and students will
take a survey that will examine how White and Non-White students are treated and affected in
the classroom by White teachers. Teachers will be asked questions about their students and their
academic ability to determine if biases influence their teaching of diverse students. The students
will be asked questions regarding how they feel about Whiteness and about discrimination at the
school. Students will also keep a journal that they will reflect in throughout the study. Classroom
observations will also be utilized to describe classroom behavior. Last, student data from past
assignments and assessments will be collected to see if their scores reflect their teacher’s
thoughts on each student.

4. Data Analysis
After all the surveys are completed, they will be collected and analyzed. The answers
seem to be qualitative data but the questions will be articulated in a way that answers will only
require a number. Therefore, the data will be collected as quantitative answers and formed into
tables and graphs for easy comparisons. An important comparison will be when comparing
teacher’s thoughts on student academic ability to thoughts of the students own academic ability
and to actual student data of past academic ability. This will provide a snapshot into the level of
urgency needed to implement culturally relevant pedagogy into the school district.

 A case-study on how White students and Non-White students are treated. This involves asking
the students monthly questions, having them write reflections, and observing the students in
class to see how having a White teacher may affect their academic ability.
 Survey completed by White teachers to see how they view their students based on their race.
 Collect student data of past assignments and assessments to see how they do in school to relate
to what teachers think of the student.

Description of Research Methodology for Proposal - Weight = 30%

Has the candidate clearly described the proposed research methodology?

Here is where you should add the information on Action Research and how it connects to your question,
Appropriateness of Research Methodology for Proposal - Weight = 25%
Has the candidate selected a research methodology that is appropriate for the proposed research?

Here is where you provide a rationale on why this is the best approach;
2. Participants
Participants in Research Proposal - Weight = 15%
Has the candidate clearly identified appropriate participants for the proposed research?

Here is where you discuss the context of the school, the classroom and the participants; include any permissions that
you will need to get and how you will go about this;

3. Data Collection
Data Collection Method(s) - Weight = 15%
Has the candidate selected and described appropriate data collection method(s)?

Here is where you tell how you will collect data; will it be qualitative (interviews, focus groups, observations,
document analysis) and why this is the best approach to answer your question; what are the exact steps you will
follow to collect the data?;
4. Data Analysis
Analysis of Data - Weight = 15%
Has candidate discussed how the collected data will be analyzed?

How will the data by analyzed?; what are the steps you will take?; will you use coding?