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COLUMBA 1400: HEAD TEACHER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY: DEVELOPING ENTERPRISE CULTURE

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODS AND DATA SOURCES

RESEARCH METHODS

3.1 The research team has adopted a combination of research methods including quantitative, qualitative and observation techniques. The timing of these different methods in terms of data collection, in relation to the Columba 1400's HTLA programme is given in Figure 3.1 The quantitative findings are based upon a questionnaire survey prior to the residential programme. Direct and participation observation techniques have been employed by the research team on the residential and pre-residential programmes. Qualitative in-depth interviews have been conducted with a sample of 30 head and deputy head teachers, prior to the full residential programme on Skye and second stage interviews completed after the residential.

Figure 3.1: Research Methods and the Columba 1400 HTLA

3.2 The methods illustrated in Figure 3.1, have also been supplemented by discussions with the Columba 1400 team, by a formal interview with Columba 1400 trainers, conducted after HTLA5, and the collection of training materials kindly supplied by Columba 1400.

DATA SOURCES: THE NUMBER OF HTLA COHORTS

3.3 The Columba 1400 HTLA is designed to accommodate 15 participants on each separate programme or cohort. The pilot has involved six cohorts, HTLA1 to HTLA6. Approximately one cohort per month (some months are too short to run the programme due to breaks in the school year) has taken the programme since October 2003, with the last cohort taking the programme in June. In theory, this means that 90 head and deputy head teachers should have been through the different elements of the programme since October 2003. However, not all HTLAs have had their full cohort of 15 teachers, two, HTLA4 and HTLA5 have had only 12 and 13 members respectively. The study was commissioned only after HTLA1 had embarked on the Columba 1400 programme and it was decided to exclude the first cohort from the research. Therefore, the research has been conducted with the programme members on HTLA2 through to HTLA6 inclusive, making a total of 71 head and deputy head teachers that have been the subject of research. Figure 3.2 illustrates the nature of research undertaken with each cohort

3.4 Figure 3.2 illustrates that 69 questionnaires were returned giving a response rate of 97%. A total of 30 HTs and DHTs were interviewed in first and second stage interviews (although it was not possible to complete all the second stage interviews) and a total of 15 days were spent on participant and direct observation.

3.5 It was felt that given the nature and structure of the programme, which stresses personal reflection, enrichment and inspiration by participants, observation was essential in order to inform fully the research team's understanding of the programme, and the interpretation of the findings. Indeed, observation demonstrated that the Columba 1400 programme, unlike many CPD programmes that stress knowledge assimilation and skills development, is a unique and unconventional experience with a significant element of personal input leading to individualised outcomes, which clearly had a profound impact on many participants.

3.6 It should be noted that members of the research team were careful to ensure that the observation techniques used did not interfere with the training sessions and were, as far as possible, constructed to have neutral effects on programme members.

3.7 As noted earlier, members of the research team conducted a formal interview with the Columba 1400 trainers and the team was also able to draw upon content material provided by Columba 1400.

3.8 Finally the research team had access to internal evaluations completed through feedback sheets provided at the end of the six-day residential by programme members.

Figure 3.2: Sampling of the Columba HTLAs (HTLA2 to HTLA5)

Overall Response Rates

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