Social Change and Legitimating Voices: Utilizing Mixed-Methods Transformative Research to Understand Parental Involvement

• In Event: Mixed Methods Research Applications

Abstract

How is the parental involvement framed in educational research and policy? Whose voices are privileged? Why? This narrative builds on and contributes to mixed methods research application in educational research. Specifically, the authors argue for the need to approach parental involvement within a new research framework that integrates mixed methods thinking, transformative epistemological stance, and feminist theoretical perspectives to gain an in-depth understanding of this phenomenon from multiple points of view. The merging of all three perspectives may provide a means to unpack the complexity of parental involvement, empower parents to become involved in their children’s education, and move towards a deeper understanding of the role parents play in their children’s education both within and beyond the context of school.

Authors

• Nichole M. Stitt, Ohio Northern University

• Elena Yu Polush, Ball State University