Appreciating primary investors in education

Using Q-methodology to quantify parents’ priorities for a future high school program at Immanuel Christian School

Almasi, Cadence

Honours

2016

MacKinnon, Stacey

Bachelor of Science

Faculty of Science. Honours in Psychology.

Psychology

University of Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown, PE

In recent years, there has been extensive research on factors affecting education. As an outcome, this body of research describes how various factors pertaining to education have the potential to either support or inhibit good outcomes for learning. Even so, there are a number of problems identified between the current model of education and society’s demands and expectations for its modern day graduates (Adams, 2013; Berger, 2014; Kashdan, 2009; Robinson, 2015). As a unique institution engaging Show moreIn recent years, there has been extensive research on factors affecting education. As an outcome, this body of research describes how various factors pertaining to education have the potential to either support or inhibit good outcomes for learning. Even so, there are a number of problems identified between the current model of education and society’s demands and expectations for its modern day graduates (Adams, 2013; Berger, 2014; Kashdan, 2009; Robinson, 2015). As a unique institution engaging in the process of designing a future high school program, Immanuel Christian School values its community as well as data-driven, informed decision making processes. Following this institution’s interests, this study implemented a Q-methodology to access the relative prioritization of education factors by addressing the research question, “how do parents, as primary investors in Immanuel Christian School, conceptualize priorities for designing a high school program”. The data analysis revealed four key factors as illustrating parental prioritization, associated with two underlying orientation themes. From the results, the findings addressed two key components of this research. For the first key component, the factors associated with the highest prioritization values described what primary investors in a future high school program believed ought to be addressed first. The second key component emerged from the lowest prioritization values, where these results might open a dialogue for any necessary further discussion with parents. As informing the design decisions for the future high school program at Immanuel, this study connected community interests to the quantification of subjective opinion. Show less

author
In presenting this paper in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an honours degree from the University of Prince Edward Island, I agree that the Libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection and give permission to Show moreIn presenting this paper in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an honours degree from the University of Prince Edward Island, I agree that the Libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection and give permission to add an electronic version of the honours paper to the Digital Repository at the University of Prince Edward Island. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this paper for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professors who supervised my work, or, in their absence, by the Chair of the Department or the Dean of the Faculty in which my paper was done. It is understood any copying or publication or use of this paper or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Prince Edward Island in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my paper. Show less

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