Mini proposal for Techniques of Research. Stage 1 Problem statement, Purpose of Research, Research Questions, Variables and.

Transcription

1 Mini proposal for Techniques of Research Ben Dulin Dr. Warrick Spring 2010 Stage 1 Problem statement, Purpose of Research, Research Questions, Variables and Significance The proposed study is about student achievement in the K-12 classroom. I will be looking into the CBT (Cognitive behavior Therapy) approach to assist students with diagnosed or suspected ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Professionals in the field of education are asked to be cognizant of legality issues when pertaining to diagnosing learning disorders, which is understandable as they are not doctors of medicine. They are sometimes left in situations without support when assisting students learning needs. I will be doing a bivariate experimental qualitative case study where I will be looking at student achievement and the CBT approaches that I try. If the student s academic success is not affected positively by the CBT approach then another approach will be implemented. The following literature was found regarding the topic. References Anekwe, L. (2009). GPs stop ADHD drugs 'too early'. Pulse, 69(38), 10. Retrieved from Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition database.

2 The article, GPs stop ADHD drugs 'too early', talks about how general practitioners are being forced to take young patients off of their medication to regulate ADHD too early because of a lack of support from psychiatric support. It is also said that the people diagnosed with ADHD are under prescribed between the ages of 15 and 21 even though the symptoms are still present. It is a secondary source and is written as a journal to other professionals in the field of medicine. The research was funded by NHS but it is not made clear who they are. Herr, S. (2009). An ADHD Checklist for Teachers. Phi Delta Kappan, 91(1), Retrieved from Professional Development Collection database. The article, An ADHD Checklist for Teachers, immediately starts their article with a statistic from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention stating, In 2003, approximately 4.4 million children aged 4-17 years were reported to have a history of ADHD diagnosis; of these, 2.5 million (56%) were reported to be taking medication for the disorder. This statistic definitely shows that the individuals are not being medicated. The article states that teachers need to stop and reflect on best practice and compares treating ADHD to teaching a student how to read. It suggests a checklist for teachers to go through to help the student correct their behaviors. The article has many reputable and recognizable references to support their evidence. Nadeem, E., & Jensen, P. (2009). Teacher Consultation Research in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Cause for Congratulation or Consolation?. School Psychology Review, 38(1), Retrieved from Professional Development Collection database.

3 The article, Teacher Consultation Research in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Cause for Congratulation or Consolation? discuss an outside assistance program from a consultant for the teacher to use for ideas regarding interventions to use with students diagnosed with ADHD. They saw an improvement in students with ADHD and those without though the consistent intervention and consulting program with the teacher. The article also discusses a consultation model in a middle school setting where it, focused on supporting teachers to implement psychosocial interventions targeting organization skills, study skills, behavioral self-monitoring, and social skills. The final article they reviewed said that teacher dominate interventions and consultant dominate interventions can be beneficial at different times. The article uses many different references which appear to credible. It also offers an alternative to medicine for people diagnosed with ADHD. I could use some specific ideas or suggestions that were made during the consultations. Rabiner, D., Murray, D., Schmid, L., & Malone, P. (2004). An Exploration of the Relationship between Ethnicity, Attention Problems, and Academic Achievement. School Psychology Review, 33(4), Retrieved from ERIC database. This article, An Exploration of the Relationship between Ethnicity, Attention Problems, and Academic Achievement, begins by stating that African Americans and Caucasians have ethnic differences in attention problems. They state that they only could find one study of research on whether ethnicity moderates the association between attention problems, other behavior problems, and academic achievement. There are three objectives worked on in this review; find that teacher ratings are higher for

4 inattentiveness amongst African Americans than Caucasians, find that achievement differences amongst AA is higher than Caucasian students related to higher rates of attention problems among the AA, and to see if there is an association between attention difficulties and academic achievement. They found that the AA inattentiveness when assessed by the teacher was higher than the Caucasian students. Even though they only could find one study regarding the correlation between ethnicities and inattentiveness, that is the purpose of their study so it is not a con regarding this study. They also did a good job listing their limitations of the study and telling what the future direction of the study was going to be. Ramsay, J. (2010). CBT for Adult ADHD: Adaptations and Hypothesized Mechanisms of Change. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 24(1), Retrieved from Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection database. This article, CBT for Adult ADHD: Adaptations and Hypothesized Mechanisms of Change, addresses the misunderstanding that ADHD is a neurodevelopment disorder which only affects children. It states that the life outcomes of adults diagnosed with ADHD have more difficulty performing everyday life which makes ADHD the most impairing disability in psychiatry. It offers adults with ideas on how to effectively cope with their disability. This article is focused on how to assist adults with ADHD but the cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) approach is useful for students as well. Spencer, T. (2009). Issues in the Management of Patients with Complex Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms. CNS Drugs, Retrieved from Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection database.

5 The article, Issues in the Management of Patients with Complex Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, discusses the possibility of a person having a dual diagnosis of ADHD and another disease. It not only suggests medication to help the person but it suggests that the person takes multiple medications and suggests that pharmaceutical companies need to look into the possibilities. The article referenced 100 articles. Whitmire, K. (2006). Responsiveness-to-Intervention: IDEA Offers an Approach for Struggling Learners. ASHA Leader, 11(14), 32. Retrieved from Education Research Complete database. This article, Responsiveness-to-Intervention: IDEA Offers an Approach for Struggling Learners, discusses the need for specialized instruction based on the individual s needs. It makes reference to using RTI as a means of recognition for special education and additional services needed by the student. Whereas RTI could help in the determination of need for a student to go to a doctor and be diagnosed with ADD; this article will not help offer suggestions on whether to use medication to assist student achievement or to use other venues. Wigal, S. (2009). Efficacy and Safety Limitations of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Pharmacotherapy in Children and Adults. CNS Drugs, Retrieved from Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection database. The article, Efficacy and Safety Limitations of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Pharmacotherapy in Children and Adults, discusses the use of medicine to assist people

6 with ADHD. There are two main types of medicines stimulants and nonstimulants. It also discusses patients with comorbidities and the difficulty in medicating them for ADHD and their other disorder. The article determines that the pharmaceuticals need to increase the amount of information that they provide their patients. The article uses many different references. The problem addressed in the proposed study will be investigating whether a child diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) can have a productive day where they are academically and socially successful without medicine. ADD is a diagnosis that has been accepted as truth. ADD is observed in classrooms across the world. The medicine used to assist people with ADD can be expensive, misunderstood, or just an unacceptable means viewed by the loved ones involved with the one diagnosed which is why the Center for Disease Control said the following in the article, An ADHD Checklist for Teachers; 4.4 million children aged 4-17 years were reported to have a history of ADHD diagnosis; of these, 2.5 million(56%) were reported to be taking medication for the disorder. There does not seem to be too much gaps in the research that I found. Most of the research suggests a balance between both medicine and cognitive behavior therapy. The problem is important because the people who are diagnosed with ADHD and ADD are in need of help so that they can make good choices socially and stay at grade-level with their work. The teachers and students classmates are also affected negatively when a student is in class and is unable to control themselves. The students, who are not provided with medication, would have an effective way to express themselves if they were taught cognitive behavior

7 therapy. Others have proposed medicine and/or cognitive behavior therapy to help the people diagnosed with ADHD. Some of the factors and variables discussed are ethnicity, types of medicine used, other disorders the student may have, age, outside consultation, how long to medicate a person, and reactions from teachers and parents. Purpose of the Research The purpose of the proposed study is to provide some tangible resources for teachers to use with students who are diagnosed or suspected of diagnosis. Teachers are unable to prescribe medicine so they need a way to assist their students with alternative ways to enable their academic success. Research Questions 1. Are the student s grades affected by CBT approach in a positive way? 2. What CBT approach works best for the said individual? Variables 1. Student achievement 2. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)

8 The student has difficulty paying attention long enough to turn assignments in when he is not on his prescribed medicine for ADD. I will be using the CBT methods at this time to intervene and try to assist the student with his academic success. The student will be monitored for nine weeks because it is said that a true intervention takes eight weeks to be effective. At the end of the nine weeks, I will look at the student s academic performance and see if he has made sufficient progress or is still being prohibited with his learning disability. Significance of the Study The study will empower the said student with an effective way to be academically successful. The study would also be useful to teachers and staff members who directly interact with students diagnosed with ADHD. They would be empowered with additional ways to effectively assist student s success. Stage 2 Method and Limitations Method I will be conducting a bivariate experimental qualitative case study where I will be using CBT to assist a student with the learning disability of ADD. I will be conducting this experiment in his natural environment of the regular education classroom. The two variables that will be taken into account for this study are the student s academic success and the CBT approach. The

9 CBT approach will be pursued for nine weeks and then the approach will be assessed and maybe modified at that time. I will be using the grade-level curriculum to assess if the student is making appropriate academic progress. There are weekly quizzes that are similar in structure and question examples. They are given during the same time of the day and in the same environment. The weekly quizzes are a Daily Language Review, Math-4-Today, spelling, comprehension, and reading skills quiz. The quizzes that I will focus on are the DLR quiz and the comprehension quiz. It would be too encumber some to try and evaluate the students progress on all of the quizzes effectively and by focusing on just two of the quizzes, one writing skills and one reading skills, I can better assist the student with his academic success in those areas which are his greatest needs. I will keep track of the scores in a quantitative manner as they are both out of ten points. The records will be kept on Progress Book which is a resource made available by the school district for keeping scores. Although there are keys for grading the DLR and comprehension quizzes, I will rotate every other week with my co-teacher on who grades which quiz that way I can help keep bias from the study as some questions on the quizzes are subjective. The previously mentioned quizzes will still be asked of the student and they will be monitored as well by the researchers but they will not be the focus of the student s success. Limitations The study will have internal validity as it is an experimental case study which means as the subject changes, so too will the intervention. It is for the same reason that the study will not

10 have much external validity. I believe that the approach, if successful, may be duplicated as a way to intervene with students who suffer with ADD but the study itself will not be enough to say that the CBT approach is helpful to all students who suffer from ADD.

11 References Anekwe, L. (2009). GPs stop ADHD drugs 'too early'. Pulse, 69(38), 10. Retrieved from Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition database. Herr, S. (2009). An ADHD Checklist for Teachers. Phi Delta Kappan, 91(1), Retrieved from Professional Development Collection database. Nadeem, E., & Jensen, P. (2009). Teacher Consultation Research in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Cause for Congratulation or Consolation?. School Psychology Review, 38(1), Retrieved from Professional Development Collection database. Rabiner, D., Murray, D., Schmid, L., & Malone, P. (2004). An Exploration of the Relationship between Ethnicity, Attention Problems, and Academic Achievement. School Psychology Review, 33(4), Retrieved from ERIC database. Ramsay, J. (2010). CBT for Adult ADHD: Adaptations and Hypothesized Mechanisms of Change. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 24(1), Retrieved from Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection database. Spencer, T. (2009). Issues in the Management of Patients with Complex Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms. CNS Drugs, Retrieved from Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection database. Whitmire, K. (2006). Responsiveness-to-Intervention: IDEA Offers an Approach for Struggling Learners. ASHA Leader, 11(14), 32. Retrieved from Education Research Complete database.

12 Wigal, S. (2009). Efficacy and Safety Limitations of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Pharmacotherapy in Children and Adults. CNS Drugs, Retrieved from Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection database.