Educational Equity Gaps
To prepare:
- Reflect on what you have learned through this course and how you will apply what you have learned to your dissertation research process.
Note: It is important to make sure you save your Research Journal in a Word document outside of the course for future reference.
Assignment: 1–2 paragraphs. No cover page is required, as this is a continuous document used in Weeks 1–4 and Week 11. Instead, date each entry on the document just as you would in any other journal. Be sure to include references.
- List one sentence for each of the following:
- Social problem you investigated
- Gap you identified in the research literature
- Research problem you identified
- Draft purpose statement based on your preliminary outline. Note: Be sure you use the appropriate qualitative or quantitative language.
- Potential theoretical framework
- Then, based on these statements, review the Assignment you submitted last week and:
- Note any problems you see.
- Describe the next steps you will take to continue developing your dissertation research design.
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Educational Equity Gaps
Reflection on Learning
Throughout this course, I have deepened my understanding of the research process, especially in aligning social issues with clear, evidence-based inquiry. I’ve learned how to craft a research problem from identified gaps in the literature and apply appropriate methodologies. These skills will guide my dissertation work and ensure that my research remains focused, valid, and relevant to solving real-world issues in education.
Research Development Summary
Social Problem: Low-income and minority students often face unequal access to quality education.
Gap in Literature: Limited recent studies explore the intersection of school funding inequities and academic outcomes in rural areas.
Research Problem: There is insufficient understanding of how funding disparities affect student performance in rural low-income schools.
Purpose Statement: The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the impact of school funding disparities on student academic achievement in rural, low-income communities.
Potential Theoretical Framework: Critical Race Theory will guide the exploration of structural inequalities affecting marginalized student populations.
Assignment Review and Concerns
Upon reviewing my previous assignment, I noticed a lack of clarity in articulating how my purpose statement connects to my theoretical framework. I also need to refine my research questions to better align with qualitative inquiry methods. These corrections are necessary for coherence in my overall dissertation design.
Next Steps
I will revise my research questions to ensure they support a qualitative approach. I will also refine the literature review to better highlight the specific educational equity gap I intend to study. Further, I will expand on how Critical Race Theory frames my analysis of funding disparities and student outcomes.
