Mixed Methods Research
Mixed methods research is my favorite kind! Combining quantitative (numbers) with qualitative (words and stories) is incredibly powerful. I have experience designing and implementing survey and interview protocols, and classroom and school observation rubrics; as well as analyzing administrative, demographic, and achievement data. Together, these different sources can answer questions you have and paint a compelling picture of your work. Every formal study I have ever worked on has used both qualitative and quantitative data to answer its research questions.
The key is to let the questions drive your methods — together we can decide what tools are best suited to get you the information you need.
My credentials:
My dissertation study explored school turnarounds and what it means to be successful (findings were recently published — open access — in the Journal of Educational Change and you can read them here).
I currently serve as Co-Director and Co-PI of a Bill & Melinda Gates-funded national study of professional learning for which our research design includes using longitudinal survey, interview, administrative, and academic data.
I’ve worked on 4 education-related federally funded studies; led the design of teacher, school leader, family, student, coach, and administrative surveys; led the design of school and classroom observation rubrics and interview protocols for teachers and school leaders; spent over 70 hours interviewing teachers and school leaders; and completed 10 site visits, including classroom observations.
I’ve coached over 150 entrepreneurs on how to measure and evaluate their ideas to make education better — this included weighing in on surveys, observation rubrics, project-based assessments, quizzes, and other creative data collection mechanisms.