Section 5: Methology

PAR studies the research done by the researcher. Information is collected and turned from just being on the paper into actually doing something about it. PAR and traditional research is similar to one and other because you have to do the research in order to find out the answer and information you want. But most data is called through the observation you see on the field.

PAR is usually organized by questionnaires and can be utilized to ensure proper results that have a meaning. It can sometimes be hands on which gives people the opportunity to actually see how a student is getting taught or to see if a school has any resources to offer.

What is important to know about PAR is that it is collective and self- reflective. Participants of a community or organization hold these studies where they can identify a shared problem or concern. You will actually see the difference between the well off school with more resources and the school with no resources.

A lot of people use PAR research such as school boards to see why some schools have a higher percentage in SAT scoring, why the drop-out rate has gone up so high. PAR looks deeper into the problem rather than just judging.

Part of my PAR paper I had to participate in internships such as Fenway high, Concord Academy, and East Boston. The work my CBO site {community based organization} did was to shadow the student’s classrooms and to write any information that we gather up that links to resources, and education status. Most of the data I collected from my site just states the mission of the schools, whether or not they have resources, and just the background information of the school system.

My overall experience at my site was good. There was a lot of friendly people and a good environment to work in. However, going to a suburban school was a big step for me because I never attended one and you had to out on a certain attitude on to fit under their schools criteria. Everyone at the schools made our visit very comfortable as if we attended the school and have known them for a long time.

There really wasn’t no aspects of my experience that would be useful for my PAR paper because I had difficulty coming up with the research question, so I was on my internship just finding a lot of information about education. What I would do differently is I should have took some extra time out while being on my site to actually read those packets of information giving, to see if it can help me in any way. I’m not sure if my views changed about my research topic because I didn’t know truthfully that our field notes was based on our research topic and question.

My surveys are going to help organizations because they would know where to look and see who has been struggling in these schools to receive money for the supplies need at that certain school or certain area. I hope someone will get these papers we are writing so they can see how difficult it is to be a "minority" in Boston.

Furthermore, GIS (geographic information systems) is a tool used to represent geography and data, and social forces in society. GIS is a technique or method of organizing geographical data to explore and relieve data and trends. Such maps are use to relieve and address the real world problems. GIS uses geography as a primary organizer to measure and compare many things or other social forces such as economics, race, etc. By using Geographic Information System ( GIS) as a research and data tool I was able to analyze different geographic data. I also used it for good resources and well development planning. The patterns I found to help answer my research question was seeking the differences in suburban and urban schools.