Quantitative Research Methods

Presentation to Dr. Glenn E Malone’s WSU Research Methods I ClassBy Pat Cummings, Director Research & Evaluation Tacoma Public

SchoolsJune 12th, 2014

Quantitative vs Qualitative Research

2

Qualitative Data that relies on observation and interpretation as opposed to numbers

Quantitative dataData that is data based strictly on numerical measurements

Research Basics

3

Validity

4

Reliability

5

Generalizability

6

The “Average” Problem

7

Understanding Educational Data

and Impact of Poverty

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Children growing up in poverty are less likely to do well at school. This can put them at a disadvantage in later life which, in turn, can affect their children.

What are Poverty Rates by Age?Trends from1959-

2009

Note: Shaded areas denote recession

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Historical Poverty Tables 9

What Contributes to

PovertyAverage Family Wealth by

Ethnicity 1983-2010

10Source: Urban Institute http://www.urban.org/changing-wealth-americans/lost-generations-interactive-race.cfm

Percent Poverty by Ethnicity

Tacoma Public Schools 2014

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

40%21% 18%

28% 27%12%

55%

60%79% 82%

72% 73%88%

45%

FRL-YesFRL-No

11

How many of our students are homeless?• For the sixth year in a row,

the number of homeless students in Washington state has increased

• Last year, Tacoma had 1,489 homeless students

• 1 out of 20 students in Tacoma are homeless (almost twice the state rate*)

12Source: OSPI McKinney Vento 2013 (Tacoma 5/1%, WA States 2.9%)

What are Word Gaps By Age 3?From Betty Hart and

Todd Risley

Source: Adapted from Hart and Risley, Meaningful Differences in the Everyday Experiences of Young American Children (Baltimore, MD: Paul; H. Brookes, 1995) 13

What Contributes to Poverty?

Unemployment & Earnings by Education Levels

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey 2009 14

What Contributes to Poverty?

US Incarceration Rates Stratified by Race

Source: Bonczar, T. (2003). Prevalence of Imprisonment in the U.S. Population, 1974-2001. Washington, D.C. :Bureau of Justice Statistics15

What are Academic Poverty

Gaps?Grade 4 Reading and Math MSP 2012-13

Reading Math

(Gap = 24) (Gap = 22) 16

What are Monthly Costs for Family of 4

in Tacoma?

Source: Family Budget Calculator; Economic Policy Institute http://www.epi.org/resources/budget/ 17

What are Guidelines for Poverty?

Source: Department of Health and Human Services 18

Minimum Wage

$9.19/Houror

$19,115/Year

Homeless Student Count

McKinney-Vento for Districts Enrollment > 10,000

Tacoma 1,489 Homeless

19

Homeless Student PercentMcKinney-Vento for Districts

Enrollment > 10,000Tacoma 5.1% Homeless

State Average 2.9%

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What Contributes to Poverty?

Lifetime Likelihood of Imprisonment

Source: Bonczar, T. (2003). Prevalence of Imprisonment in the U.S. Population, 1974-2001. Washington, D.C. :Bureau of Justice Statistics21

WaKIDShttp://tinyurl.com/TPSWaKIDS

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FRL-Assessment Trends

http://tinyurl.com/TPSMotion

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Discipline Trendshttp://tinyurl.com/TPSDiscipline

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Graduationhttp://tinyurl.com/TPSGradResults

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