cover image: Conjoint Use of Inductive and Deductive Research Methodologies: Validating a Participant Observation Study.

Conjoint Use of Inductive and Deductive Research Methodologies: Validating a Participant Observation Study.

A system of interaction analysis, the Hit-Steer Observation System, was used to characterize interaction patterns of groups of teachers and principals. Evidence for an asymmetrically contingent pattern of interaction between the principals and teachers was provided by findings that principals made more verbalizations than teachers, as well as more influence attempts and directing attempts. They also refused to comply with others' influence attempts proportionately more than the teachers. When the number of verbalizations were held constant, however, the pattern of interaction of the two groups was similar. The results of coding the verbal interaction with this system illustrated the complimentary roles of qualitative and quantitative approaches to educational research. The hypothesis developed from the findings of a qualitative study of the educational task group was tested by a theory-based quantitative procedure, which provided support for the validity of the qualitative study findings. Joint use of these methodologies yielded a richer understanding of the data than either would have yielded alone. (RD)

Authors

Wood, Carolyn J., Fiedler, Martha L.

Peer Reviewed
F
Publication Type
['Reports - Research', 'Speeches/Meeting Papers']
Published in
United States of America

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