Content Details
ED464989 - Diversity in Action: Improving Educational Research in the Pacific Region. PREL Briefing Paper
- Category
- Executive Agency Publications
- Collection
- Education Reports from ERIC
- SuDoc Class Number
- ED 1.615:
- Date Issued
- November 1, 2000
- Author
- Uehara, Denise; Flores, Juan
- Source Institution
- Pacific Resources for Education and Learning, Honolulu, HI
- Sponsoring Agency
- Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC
- Publication Type
- Opinion Papers
- Subject
- Cultural Differences, Diversity (Student), Educational Research, Elementary Secondary Education, Gender Issues, Language Usage, Pacific Americans, Racial Bias, Reading Achievement
- Identifiers
- Pacific Region
- Abstract
- Conducting educational research is a complex endeavor, even within familiar contexts. Researchers conducting studies in the Pacific region face such challenges such as multiple languages and time zones, frequent shifts in political power, social interactions based on traditional extended family connections, great distances, and cultural factors varying from village to village. Understanding interpersonal relationships based on history, family ties, cultural connections, school affiliations, and community membership is key to accomplishing tasks in this region. In an effort to contravene cross-cultural barriers, researchers from Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) work in collaboration with the PREL Research and Development Cadre to create awareness of local cultural and political issues and propose effective methods of gaining pertinent, accurate information. This paper examines research steps: formulating the research question, writing the literature review, determining research methodology and design, pilot testing, sampling, designing the instrument, collecting data, considering gender and status issues, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. It examines the Pacific Language Use in Schools Study, which investigates relationships between classroom practice and student reading achievement. Recommended strategies for conducting research in the Pacific region include building relationships and seeking community input, allowing for flexibility in the timeline, and developing multiple communication modes. (Contains 14 references.).