The Action Research of:
Getting to know some of my students a lot better through a focus group.
Supporting on the Business Design Management year’s 2 and 3 at LCC Spending time with students working on great briefs. I got to understand that as well as being a busy students, distractions and outside challenges can impact on the journey of completing assignments, projects and collaborative working. In this research, I created an optional space of a practical fun focus group where students could attend, to share, reflect and take away influential strategies and practices formed by myself and their peers to enhance abilities. The objective is to leave empowered having extra knowledge and confidence with the ability to make better decisions with an intervention they can add to their studies and life experiences as they grow, if they wish. This angle of focus looks at the psychological ability and determination to concentrate.
Why I chose this method of a focus group because engage with the literature
References
Project Findings
I have learn an ethical way on conducting research along with methods to use and how to run a focus group.
According to the World Health Orginisation Wellbeing is being in a good state of total physical, mental and social well-being a student who is well will be happily demonstrating all three of the categories.
Individuals may attribute wellbeing to good quality of life being healthy and wealthy, what we have acquired and what we have achieved.
This list below from Farheen Gani (2017) encourages strategies for learning new skills. We are never to old to learn and as there is nothing new under the sun, so we can always learn from others and continue to grow. I love being around people that know more than me. The point of No. 5 learning from someone with more experience is something I believe in. These are some pointers I will be definitely sharing with my students.
- Set clear goals
- Adopt a growth mindset
- Use active learning strategies
- Use different learning mediums
- Learn from someone with more experience
- Practice
- Take frequent breaks
The NHS have 5 steps to mental wellbeing
1. Connect with other people
2. Be physically active
3. Learn new skills
4. Give to others
5. Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)
There are some similarities with the list but I believe if we practice these things we should have an increased percentage of a positive life.
A topic about how work loads and study times effect students.
In the document of Studies in Higher education, students were asked to keep a study diary for some time to capture data on study time and work loads. They were asked questions to describe scenarios about things they were doing. Students were asked to keep a study diary for a week to capture data on study time and work loads. They used a Likert scale to capture findings on motivations towards learning and perceptions of workloads. Looking at the quantity of work that was completed by the students and how they approached activities.
The findings ‘It seems that, on average, mechanical engineering students in Hong Kong work significantly longer hours than students in Europe’.
Kember, D. NG, Sandra, Harrison TSE, Eric T.T. Wong & Mike Pomfret (1996)
I absolutely loved this website creativity of and layouts defiantly one to refer to in the future for learning and delivering Gonzalez, J. (2018)
Students need reminders and self help starters, sometimes as simple as it may seem we all need a point in the right direction.
• Meal preps / Sufficient food
• Timers for allocated time intervals
• Taking walks & breaks
• Procrastination tips
• Effective planner
• Good light in the room
• Physical activity
Percentage of people by age struggling with focus
The idea behind Focus Groups was developed by, Paul Lazarsfeld a director of the Bureau of Applied Social Research, along with his colleague and sociologist Robert K. Merton.
Free Listing Method
Free listing is a simple but powerful qualitative strategy to explore specific subject matter. Participants are asked to list down all the items they can think of concerning a given topic. Principe, L. (2022).
Ranking Method
In this activity, focus group participants are asked to put a list of items in order according to a specified dimension. This exercise is typically used when a researcher is interested in establishing priority among elements or identifying which items are most and least preferred by your target audience. Principe, L. (2022).
Labeling Method
Labeling is used to answer the question: “What words come to your mind when you think about…?” In focus groups, a label is a word or description stated by participants that correspond to the topic under discussion. Principe, L. (2022).
Rating Method
This exercise consists of participants indicating their levels of agreement, frequency, or satisfaction towards individual items. In some cases, the rating process itself can be a source of conversation amongst respondents. Principe, L. (2022).
The golden rule in moderating is that the more comfortable someone is, the more likely they will be honest and engaged in the discussion. Principe, L. (2022).
Companies are paid millions to keep us distracted.
Illing, S. (2016) Sullivan, A. Mentions from the blog “There’s a war for your attention. And you’re probably losing it states “our attention is nowhere and everywhere at once. Ads, smartphones, apps, social media, the internet —we’re captive to an endless parade of distractions”. He also stated “We’re always being stalked by advertisers and product peddlers, always being sold something by someone, whether we know it or not”.
I was introduced to a focus expert and later had an amazing Teams video discussion, with Nina Maklin, Associate Lecture at LCC, sharing some interesting information on the topic focus, Nina looks at it from a point of view, from stress and burnout recovery. She also mentioned we need to analyse conditions we need to allow creativity. “We should be listening to our bodies” In brain memory research has found, the structure of our brain over the years have never changed. After meeting with Nina. I said I would defiantly let her know how I got on and be sure to cite and quote her,
“We have learnt to distract ourselves and picked up bad habits” Maklin, N. (2023
Because we have learnt to distract ourselves, it’s a good idea to reign ourselves back in with meditation and mindfulness. It’s good way to bring us back into focus and alignment.
Understanding the importance to citing people. After an in class session, reading a document about the importance of citing people. Kwon, D. (2002)
Deductive coding = Begin with a set of pre established codes
Inductive coding = Create sets of codes based on the data
Reactive to research I had to make this work, the original amount of students that was supposed to turn up didn’t only one. It was the last week of term, Christmas was the following week and I was desperate to conclude this focus group as the deadline was approaching. it was all planned and the room was booked. Its a good thing I had additional copies of all of the forms available consent, EE etc. I looked for students I could run this focus group with. I saw some students sitting around a table, talked with them and told them what I needed to do. I gave them all the forms got the consent and They were more than happy to join me and we got started. That was a close one
Contribution ideas to resource from students:
The cycle of Flow, Steven Kotler explains that we go through 4 stages in order to get into flow (performing at your best)
Pomodoro Technique is used widely by students to maintain focus while studying. As students are known for their habit of procrastination, the technique can train the discipline and help stay on top of studies. The Pomodoro technique makes you pick a focus point for each session by setting a goal and working solely on that. This focus helps driving tasks through to completion. https://luxafor.co.uk/pomodoro-technique-time-management-life-hack/
I’ve got stuck into the book that my tutor recommended and decided to get an extra one because the title looked so interesting.
Marshmallow test Delayed gratification Lindsey J mentioned this in the tutorial
Found a great website with Attention and Concentration strategies for my students. https://canadacollege.edu/disabilityresourcecenter/attention.php.
Suggestions like:
Creating a Study Environment
When to Study
How to Study & Concentrate
This will accompany the printed pdf intervention
Draft Presentation Ideas
Draft presentation mid way for tutorials.
Another draft Presentation
Final Presentation
Resources booklet front cover
Participant-facing documents
Ethics
The feedback from my tutor, is that my research question was too long. I reduced the question to make it simpler. Also learning styles wouldn’t be a strong topic to include as some companies see it as an opportunity to make money
Research Methods
Loaded annotated data into memo.txt
Also allowed the students to submit their own themes and data
Action Plan
To try something fun and different, I used Composite Characters to hide Identities of the students..
Names like The procrastinator, The Sleeper and nature lover were though of.
- Work in progress
- Ethics form – DONE
- Draft activity plan/brief – DONE
- Get feedback – DONE
- Refine activity Print and prepare bits for focus group – DONE
- Double check with students, they are still happy to attended- DONE
- Prepare observation templates – DONE
- Run activity and capture data
- Reflect on session
- Collate feedback
- Presentation slides arrangement
- Show tutor presentation layout midway – DONE –
- Show tutor presentation again a week before deadline -AWAITING 3rd Feedback update
- Prepare for the presentation – ON GOING
- Create the intervention START JANUARY 24
- Print a few copies A WEEK BEFORE PRESENTATION
- Communicate with a peer before deadline, test presentation.
Reflections
If I didn’t have a deadline I would have consulted with the students again for appropriate time that wasn’t before the end of term (Christmas) and agree something suitable for
the majority
If I were to do this again, there would be a few other questions I would loved to ask. Topics like the difference between studying abroad if they are international students. Asking them if they had any questions for me, on how I approach the Focus topic. When they have gone away and used the intervention to meet with them in 3 months time to practice some of the suggestions and methods. It would be good to have additional feed back after 6 months to see how the improvements worked out. Asking if they were to over come the battles challenges they were facing. Did they use the intervention and strategies. Have they improved personally at all.
All students were happy with the reflection and contributed
ideas for the intervention, Received insights to apply better study and life balance. A non judge mental environment
Problems, Had some miscommunication with the person who was supposed to support me by observing and taking notes, with all the preparation and organization, I forgot to book her in although we discussed this weeks before I forgot to confirm. I had to do this myself. I should have added this to my plan and tick list
Professional Development Some of what the students suggested I took to my own personal practice.
I would encourage buddying of peers
Timing is always important when approaching student for research, surveys and focus groups. Don’t attempt before Christmas, after the new year and leading up to important deadlines and hand in dates. I would consider the Spring and Summer seasons as general people seem more cheerful and happier around these times, so it would be strategic to approach students at this times. I am also aware that research incentives increase participation.
This was the first time I voice/recorded and saved to transcribe.
Make lists, Our brain loves ordered tasks Zeigarnik, B (1920)
Rationale
Who else has written (published) about this and could you include a few quotes here to augment your own thinking? Delete
100% of the students who took part, said they would welcome an intervention as they would consider they have nothing to lose using it.
My method I chose was to do a focus group. Which would have always been my preference of delivery. I asked 9 random if they would prefer to undertake surveys, questionnaires, or take part in a focus group. Majority of them said a focus group. As they feel there would have more of a voice an impact and they dynamics of engagement. Sometimes students may find surveys as a negative experience, my reasoning and answers from others. Too many questions, questions sound the same and unclear. There may be no benefit to take a survey unless there’s an incentive or a change that will benefit the partakers immediately. Also, some people don’t have that extra time on their hands to fill them in.
Originally I was going to use my Artifact for my ARP and realised, this idea would work for beginner students and wouldn’t fit to the current 2nd and 3rd years students as they were already on there way and possibly confident on their study journey. So after brain storming I thought of ideas after students conversation to get to know them and support them. With something that would improve and compliment the rest of their journey.
To solve a problem
Extra bits along the way.
Blog Tutorial – online session A great thinking session
Limber Up an exercise to start you off writing, making a creative list to inspire and generate ideas. To inspire my work. Getting words down on a page to do some free writing. Ideas: looking at colours around the room or listing family members.
This worked well Looking at my project how I think about documents and observations
Mnemonics tool: A pattern of letters that help in Memory making.
Using my name TONIA, to generate ideas using the letters of my first name or surname relating to my project.
- T Teaching – teaching in the creative field within my practice
- O Ordering – I’ve been ordering books from Amazon relating to the topic
- N News – taking in some relatable topics from news programs
- I Insightful – enjoying the ARP and learning
- A Aspiration – to keep growing and learning
Positive feedback for me to take away from Rachael below
“I’ve used the mnemonics to reflect on my experience on the ARP each word is speaking to a different aspect of how I’ve engaged with the unit. Word of reflections to think about and how they relate”. M, Rachael 2023
These words helped me reveal feelings and emotions. Note to self, could I take this further with literature, theory and definitions?
Remember a pattern of letters for memory making a word generation exercise using letters add more from little shades book here