RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Kim HardieThomas Whitehead

Andrew Baker

Introduction

The research QuestionHow do teachers at Albury High School identify students with low self esteem?

??Why Research This??

To develop teaching skills; classroom and student management

Year 7 students may be at risk of low self esteem entering their teens and at a new school

The issue of self esteem has been recognised by the dept of as a significant problem within Australian schools. Ellis (2009)

“People with lower self esteem have lower expectations for success.” Baumeister (1993)

Literature Review

Scaffolding students with low self esteem

ParadigmTransformative/Constructivist

Ontology - Multiple realities shaped by the students environment – There is no single fixed answer to our research question.

Epistemology – Interactive link between researcher and participants. Preconceived idea’s about self esteem and the participating school.

Research Design Literature review: –

Determine interview questions Interview teachers: -

A structured face to face interview with teachers discussing their methods for identifying low self esteem.

Determine which students those teachers have identified who may have lower self esteem

Research Design

Student Testing (Rosenberg Test): - Paper testing of students to determine level of

self esteem. Analysis:-

Comparison

Methodology Literature Review: -

Gain definitions of low self esteem To confirm a requirement for the research Provide an insight teacher methods

Teacher Interviews To gain teachers personal definition of low self

esteem Student Testing

To provide information for comparison with teacher interviews.

Participants

Students Ethics approval would be required to allow

student names on tests. Names used to make correlations in data.

Permission required from parents to conduct research

Teachers Voluntary participation by year 7 teachers

Data Collection

Data Analysis & Reporting

Analysis Comparison of student tests and teacher

interviews Analysis common themes among the

literature and how this fits with our data Comparison of how teachers define self

esteem and literature themes Reporting

Reporting back to school, Individual student information not included

Questions???

Questions for you

Is our research question scaled well to the task?

Should parents be notified of student participation in the Rosenberg survey?

Should we interview all year 7 teachers, just the home group teachers?

Rosenberg Test1. I feel that I’m a person of worth, at least on an

equal plane with others. 2. I feel that I have a number of good qualities. 3. All in all, I am inclined to believe I am a failure. 4. I am able to do things as well as most other

people.5. I feel like I do not have much to be proud of. 6. I take a positive attitude towards myself. 7. On the whole, I am satisfied with myself. 8. I wish I could have more respect for myself.9. I certainly feel useless at times. 10. At times, I think that I am no good at all.

References

Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Ellis K. (2009). Department of Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth.