Tammy Turri Scodeller

Doctoral Dissertation Announcement

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Candidate: Tammy Turri Scodeller

Degree of: Doctor of Education

Department: Educational Leadership, Research and Technology

Title: An Inquiry Approach to Reading Instruction: A Case Study of the Relationship between Instruction and Motivation

Committee:
Dr. Patricia Reeves, Chair
Dr. Walter Burt
Dr. Ronald Crowell

Date: Monday, September 10, 2012 10:00 p.m. to Noon
3335 Sangren Hall

Abstract:
This research is a qualitative case study analysis of the experiences of five fifth grade students involved in a classroom, action research project. The purpose of this action research is to measure the impact of this method of instruction on the reading motivation of the fifth grade class as a whole. From the action research project, five individual student cases are purposefully sampled for further in-depth analysis.  The objective of the individual student case study analysis is to explain how the behaviors of five students with a low level of reading achievement, activity, and motivation change, or do not change, after participating in a six-week, inquiry-based, reading class. The results of this study are presented in two phases.  Phase I consists of the action research portion of this study, and Phase II focuses on a more detailed analysis of the five individual student cases.
Criterion-based sampling is utilized in both phases of this study.  Chosen participants possess attributes that are specifically developed for the purpose of this study. Observations, interviews, and questionnaires are given to students and parents and used to collect information necessary to answer the research questions. 

By examining how students respond to inquiry-based instruction, this study identifies patterns of responses that relate to self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, goal orientation, and reading frequency.