[nobe-l] research project help.

[James Fetter]

Melissa,
Both of these would be fine topics, if they haven't already been done. I 
could foresee some problems controlling for the fact that, in many 
cases, students who struggle in public school for some reason end up at 
a school for the blind, which means that you may be comparing apples and 
oranges. However, the standardized test idea is particularly intriguing, 
especially if you looked at those who took the test in Braille vs. 
everyone else and/or vs. blind students who had it read to them. It 
would be nice to have more hard research to back up the utility of 
Braille, if, in fact, the Braille readers do significantly better than 
those who have tests read aloud to them or do about as well as the 
sighted population. This option would also have the advantage of being 
entirely based on raw data, whereas trying to assess students' 
social/blindness skills without actually talking to them or introducing 
an element of subjectivity might be tricky.
I hope this helps, and I'm willing to talk off-list about any other ideas.
All Best,
James

On 9/15/2009 8:47 AM, pajohns1 at vt.edu wrote:
> Melissa,
>
>        Another topic which personally I'd find interesting would be to 
> compare scores on standardized tests, visually-impaired/blind against 
> non-disabled students.  A longitudinal study of a set period of time 
> could yueld some interesting results.  The Heath Foundation at George 
> Washington U., NIDRR, and and various state departments of education 
> should be able to provide you data.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Patrick
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Melissa Green" <graduate56 at juno.com>
> To: "National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List" 
> <nobe-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 1:43 AM
> Subject: [nobe-l] research project help.
>
>
>> Hello.
>> I am helping a friend out who is taking a graduate research class.
>> She needs to do a lit review and proposal based on her field of study.
>> She is preparing to be a Teacher of blind students.
>> The Lit review and proposal must be quantative.
>> What her and I are having problems finding is a topic in the field of 
>> blindness that needs further study.
>> Here is one idea that we came up with.
>> Any others as well as suggested literature searches would be 
>> appreciated.
>> The topic that we thought that might possibly work is comparing blind 
>> and visually impaired students who are in residential schools, to 
>> children who are in public school, or in a self-contained program in 
>> the public school.
>> How they learn skills of blindness.
>> How they adapt socially, and or how they learn and develop social 
>> skills.
>> Any other suggestions of topics would be appreciated.
>>
>> Melissa Green
>> ____________________________________________________________
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