A Review of Participant Representation and Reporting in Qualitative Science Education Research

• In Event: Trends and Topics in Science Education Research Methods

Abstract

Current knowledge in the teaching and learning of science is informed by the participants involved, especially in studies with qualitative methods: such methods rely greatly on the experiences and perspectives of participants to generate data. However, little is known about the field of participants who inform science education research, particularly in studies using qualitative methods. This study is a review of participant representation and reporting in 120 recent science education publications which use qualitative methods. Findings indicate that several aspects of participants and their contexts are infrequently reported, even among studies using a methodology such as ethnography. For example, participant race and/or socioeconomic status are reported in less than 38% of papers. Additionally, few studies described their sampling method.

Authors

• Andrea Malek Ash, The University of Iowa

• Jamie L Tanas, The University of Iowa

• Jessica Bowden, University of Iowa

• Cathryn Carney, University of Iowa