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ERIC Number: EJ987442
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
Reference Count: 40
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-8259
Demonstrating the Application of Q Methodology for Fieldwork Reporting in Experiential Education
Pruslow, John T.; Red Owl, R. H.
Journal of Experiential Education, v35 n2 p375-392 Spr 2012
Experiential education programs seek meaningful ways to connect field experiences to classroom instruction. To illustrate one way to make this connection, the authors drew on Q methodology, a systematic approach for identifying clusters of people who share common viewpoints. Q methodology was employed in a two-year demonstration project with graduate students in teacher education. Students were provided with a list of varied statements reflecting potential aspects of their fieldwork experiences and indicated their level of agreement or disagreement by sorting their responses on an online quasi-normal template. Q-factor analysis was then applied to develop models of shared field experiences from the card sorts. Those models were useful for whole-group and small-group discussions that systematized student reflections on, and interpretations of, their fieldwork experiences. The findings offer three principal ways that facilitators can implement Q methodology in an effort to help participants make more meaningful connections between the field and the classroom: one requires no electronic technology; a second is a free, automated program; and a third, more advanced approach uses standard statistical software. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)
Association for Experiential Education. 3775 Iris Avenue Suite 4, Boulder, CO 80301. Tel: 866-522-8337; Fax: 303-440-9581; e-mail: publications@aee.org; Web site: http://www.aee.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A