Running head: CONDUCTING A RESEARCH STUDY
Describe the Major Steps in Conducting a Research Study
James Murduca
New Jersey City University
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CONDUCTING A RESEARCH STUDY
Identify a Topic to Study
How do STEM educational programs influence females and minorities to increase
diversity in future STEM related careers?
Rationale
According to Wadley (2004), a study performed by the University of Michigan stated that
the prospect of a set of diverse problem solvers is more likely to surpass the results obtained
from a set of the most brilliant problem solvers. Outcomes and answers that come from a diverse
group tend to integrate multiple viewpoints that could generate healthier solutions (Wadley,
2004). Perspectives that are rich with diversity enhance science and make engineering more
appealing to broader global interests. Representation of women and minorities in STEM-related
careers is the same as it was fifteen years ago (Bidwell, 2015). The number of secondary
students concentrating in STEM dropped to its lowest level in 2004. That number reached its
peak by 2009, and then began its decline to where the level of interest now is the same as it was
in the year 2000 (Bidwell, 2015).
This study will measure the effectiveness of early childhood STEM programs and its
impact on all students, with a focus on females and minorities. The theory to be tested is to
investigate the number of young female and minority students who were exposed to STEM
programs and professional STEM role models reflective of their identity, and determine its
sustainability through college and careers. Lesley McCollum, PhD., has a Bachelor’s degree in
Physics and Mathematics. She stated, “My story is positive, but unfortunately is not
representative… Because of my successful female role models in physics, I didn’t doubt whether
or not I belonged” (McCollum, 2015).
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The purpose of this study is to reveal to businesses, grantors, educational leaders, faculty,
parents, and all stakeholders involved, the importance and impact that early exposure to STEM
programs will have on all students, with a focus on females and minorities. Hopefully this new
knowledge will also influence new standards in curricula and extra-curricular activities.
Framework for Research
Analysis of the problem of creating diversity in STEM fields, specifically with females
and minorities, will constitute the framework of this research. The foundation of the inquiry will
be the practice of an excerpt of the poem “I Keep Six Honest Serving Men” by Rudyard Kipling:
I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
The first steps in this research approach will be to find out “why” there is poor
representation of females and minorities in STEM careers. Is the problem caused by factors such
as lack of interest, culture, socio-economics, identity (lack of role models), and is there guidance
towards and awareness of STEM related careers? This leads to deciding the implementation of
quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods approaches.
The first steps in the research design process will be to find out why there is a vast
deficiency in the representation of females and minorities in STEM majors and careers. In
finding out why, we can determine if there is a viable means to overcome these phenomena.
Using existing research will help to determine reasons in answering the “why” question.
Preliminary research will investigate the distinct facts and figures of representation of females
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and minorities through a longitudinal perspective, beginning with generations of educational
curricula before STEM implementation.
Backward designed research using a mixed methods approach is the next step. By
conducting interviews and surveys of primary sources, data can be collected through contacting
females and minorities who are successful in their pursuit of STEM-related majors and careers.
Inquiry in this area of the research will be qualitative and quantifiable. Conducting research by
using surveys at the various stages of education will be a critical step in this process. This
information can determine “who,” or collectively, what groups are interested in STEM-related
careers. At these stages, there can be a pre and post survey, whereas a STEM initiative is being
presented amid the surveys. This will shed light on “what” was the motivating factor to create
positive changes in attitude and interest towards STEM. Another aspect of this research is
“where” implementations of STEM initiatives are most effective in generating interest in these
research groups. This study will look into urban, suburban, and rural (indigenous) school
districts around the globe, as well as public and private institutions within these regions. Upon
compiling information and data, it can be possible to determine “when” is the right time for
implementation of STEM initiatives. If the data supports the theory that early implementation
leads to futures in STEM fields, the hypothesis will be that STEM initiatives have increased
impact on females and minorities (and possibly all students) the earlier they are implemented.
The expected results would be a diminishing linear regression or hyperbolic curve regression,
approaching zero, from early ages to later ages of implementation.
The logistic segment of this study is “how” to traverse through the research. A literature
map reflecting the narrative of this paper will be structured accordingly.
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Research Approach
A mixed methods approach appears to be the most appropriate application leaning more
to quantitative measures. Having a postpositivism worldview to establish the “need to identify
and assess the causes that influence outcomes” (Creswell, 2014 p. 7), is the reason for leaning
more towards a quantitative analysis. However, according to Philips and Burbules (2000), the
idea of attaining the absolute truth with regard to human behavior cannot be assured. With a
postpositivism worldview, this study will be conducted through a lens of observation and
measurability of human behavior.
Significance of Study
The significance of this study is that it is designed to create awareness to educational
institutions, as well as STEM-related fields to the importance of early exposure to STEM
programs and careers. This study can help fill the gaps in the number of twenty-first century
scientists and engineers that will be needed now and in the near future. Filling these gaps with a
diverse group of problem solvers will enhance the quality of solutions (Wadley, 2004). As the
number of problem solvers in a group broadens, diverse groups begin to overtake a group of elite
performing groups (Hong & Page, 2004). Female and minority role models in STEM-related
fields can have an equally important impact on young children’s identities. This will be
reflective of the survey questions, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” or “Where do
you see yourself 5 or 10 years from now?”
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CONDUCTING A RESEARCH STUDY
Literature Map
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CONDUCTING A RESEARCH STUDY
References
Bidwell, A. (2015). STEM workforce no more diverse than 14 years ago. U.S. World News &
World Report. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/news/stemsolutions/articles/2015/02/24/stem-workforce-no-more-diverse-than-14-years-ago
Creswell, J.W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods
approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Hong, L., & Page, S. E. (2004). Groups of diverse problem solvers can outperform groups of
high-ability problem solvers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the
United States of America, 101(46), 16385-16389. Retrieved from
http://www.pnas.org/content/101/46/16385.full
Kipling, R. (2013). I keep six honest men.
McCollum, A. (2015). The importance of mentoring to increase diversity in STEM. Inside
Higher Ed. Retrieved from
https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/gradhacker/importance-mentoring-increasediversity-stem
Phillips, D.C., & Burbules, N.C. (2000). Postpositivism and educational research. Lanham,
MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Wadley, J. (2004). Diverse group is the best solution for problem-solving tasks. The University
of Michigan Online. Retrieved from http://www.ur.umich.edu/0405/Nov22_04/23.shtml