Developing a Plan for an Action

Research Study
By: Jill Thompson

12/19/2014

Educational Research
Dr. Elana Joram

Introduction:
My research question: How does class size impact student achievement in
the high school classroom?
What You Currently Understand About Your Topic:
There is an abundance of research relating to my research question.
Before searching for articles about class size and grades, I expected to find
similar results in most articles. Instead, I found a variety of conclusions and
opinions.
Most all studies agree that small class size results in higher student
achievement in the long term. Students are overall happier, more apt to go
out of their comfort zone, and work with others well. Not only does the

research prove that smaller class sizes have a positive effect on students,
but teachers as well. Teachers are more easily able to maintain control,
monitor, and give students the attention they need in smaller classrooms.
Instruction is improved, and student to teacher interaction increases.
Some articles that collected qualitative data through interviews of
students about their feelings on class size were similar. In a smaller class,
most students felt they had a sense of belonging. Students said mentioned
that the classes felt more united and harmonious. Many students in large
classes did not like doing group work, preferred to work alone, did not like
answering questions in front of class, and many other important life skills
students should learn in school.
One particular study focused on money and if the extra costs to keep
class sizes small are worth spending educational dollars on. This article
resonated with me, because the school district I am in has the same issue as
many schools looked at in the article. In a perfect world, where money is
plentiful, it is clear that class sizes should remain small, at any cost. In low
income schools like my own, it is not as simple as shuffling money around in
the budget. This is where the problem lies, and decisions have to be made.
This particular issue is what has driven me to create a potential action
research study on this topic.
Research Plan Foundations:
My study would take place in the high school I am currently teaching
at, Davis High School, in Aldine ISD, Houston, TX. All willing science teachers
in my department would be able to participate and provide data for the
study. Administration and parents would not need to play a part in the study

until after data has been collected. The independent variable in my study
would the number of students in each classroom. The dependent variable
would be the grades those students achieve. I would control the methods of
instruction and assessment throughout each class, so that all students are
given the same opportunities to learn the content. The classroom
environment and students in each class would remain the same throughout
the course of the study.
This study would take place over the course of a school semester or
year. I would use deception in this study by not telling the students, so that
the study is unbiased. Grades would be collected the entire span of time by
myself and other teachers participating in the study. At the end of the time
period, quantitative data (all grades) would be analyzed and compared.
Stakeholders present in this research study would include teachers,
parents, and administration. Teachers would be directly involved by
participating in the study. All teachers would agree to use the same control
by instructing and assessing all classes in the same manner. Parents would
not be involved until after the study, when the opportunity presents itself to
inform them about the results and ask for their support. Administration
would also be involved at the end of the study, when I would present my
research to them and ask for their support in reducing the class sizes at my
school, given the results are positive.
The study would take place over the course of the semester or school
year. There are not any required resources outside of what we typically have
in the classroom needed during the data collection part of this study.
Teaching would be carried out just as it would on any given day, week, or

year. Once the study is completed, and parents and administrators become
involved, needed resources will present themselves. Volunteers, funding,
and time would all be a few examples of important resources.
Data Collection and Analysis:
During my action research study, I would use quantitative data. This
study is what I see to be a perfect example of something where numbers tell
all. Seeing that class size directly correlates with students grades will be our
main way of using data to back up my hypothesis.
There are many different analyses I could perform on my data I collect.
One analysis I would do would be the t-test, to test for a difference between
the two groups, looking at a difference in grades. I would also consider doing
a Cohens d effect size test, to see if there is a significant difference between
those groups and if it is practical. A Pearson correlation would also prove
useful to this study, to determine whether the class size is related to the
students grades.
Predicted Outcome:
If successful, I believe my prediction would prove to be true. Showing
that students in smaller class sizes are able to achieve higher grades would
prove a point to administration that we need to make a change. The study
could be seen by parents, congressmen, and many others. Involving parents
in this particular study would help to get them involved with supporting the
district or school to lower their class sizes. Overall, the study could
potentially directly affect the students lives by giving them the opportunity
to learn more in a better classroom environment.