Research Practicum for Social Science
General Project Information
Project Name: Examining the Impact of School Choice on Neighborhood Connections
Institution: Arizona State University
Project Duration: January 2023 – May 2023
Project Overview
In this research practicum, I contributed to a project focused on understanding the impact of school choice on neighborhood connections and community engagement. The study aimed to explore how parents’ school choices affect their sense of belonging and connection within their neighborhoods, alongside their overall perceptions of community integration. My role primarily involved conducting one-on-one interviews and coding qualitative data to uncover themes related to school choice, neighborhood relationships, and health impacts.
Responsibilities and Key Contributions
As part of the research team, I undertook several responsibilities that contributed significantly to the data collection and analysis process:
Interviewing Participants: Conducted individual interviews of approximately 30 minutes each with study participants. These interviews provided qualitative data on participants' experiences, perceptions of school choice, and neighborhood relationships. To ensure reliability, I adhered to a structured survey protocol, covering topics such as school belonging, neighborhood connection, and overall well-being.
Creating and Managing the Codebook: I played a central role in developing the codebook used to analyze the qualitative data gathered through interviews. This involved identifying recurring themes, defining coding categories, and ensuring that the coding structure accurately reflected the responses collected from participants. The codebook provided a systematic framework for interpreting and categorizing data, supporting the team’s efforts to uncover meaningful insights.
Data Entry and Quality Assurance: Following each interview, I recorded responses and conducted data checks to ensure accuracy and consistency across entries. This attention to detail helped maintain the integrity of the dataset, providing a reliable foundation for subsequent analysis.
Significance
This project was significant in that it addressed the broader social impacts of educational choices on community dynamics. By focusing on parents' decisions around school choice, the study aimed to uncover how these choices influence feelings of community connection and support. The findings are intended to inform policies that promote community cohesion and engagement, especially in areas undergoing rapid changes in school policies and neighborhood demographics.
Research Themes
School Choice and Community Integration: Exploring how school choice affects parents’ relationships with others in their neighborhood and their sense of belonging within the community.
Neighborhood Connections and Health: Investigating the influence of social connections within neighborhoods on residents' overall health and well-being.
Qualitative Analysis in Social Research: Utilizing interviews and thematic coding to reveal insights into complex social phenomena, with an emphasis on cross-sectional themes in community studies.
Impact and Personal Growth
This experience strengthened my skills in qualitative research, particularly in interviewing, thematic coding, and data management. By working on a project that connects educational choices to broader social and health outcomes, I developed a deeper understanding of the ways in which research can inform community-focused policies. My role in creating the codebook and conducting detailed interviews enhanced my analytical abilities and reinforced my commitment to conducting meaningful, impactful social research.
