Our school of Stevenson is its very own society. A society that many other schools wish to mimic. So much that other schools across the country come to visit and see how things work. These other schools look at the quantitative stats. The test scores, graduation rate, college admission rates, etc. Never do they ask the students exactly what we think of the school. I would think that most Stevenson students would have mostly positive things to say, but qualitative observation would offer much more information and really allow a visitor to see what Stevenson is doing right and what they are doing wrong.
Most students would mention the quantitative things that visitors already know. But they would also offer information that surveys and statistics cannot. Students can tell you how easy it is to reach a teacher outside of the classroom, how much fun the athletic events are, and how great the relationship between student and staff is.
Quantitative study can also reveal negative things that qualitative study can hide. There isn't any stat that tells how many classrooms have working air conditioning and lights on the opening week of school. ;)
Schools look at the quantitative information and then feel it is necessary to come look at the school for qualitative information. Good example
ReplyDeleteI think you are right about that - That's why sociologists use multiple research methods.
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