The proposed research is descriptive in nature rather than experimental. Descriptive research, according to Best (1981), can be distinguished form other forms of research on the basis of the following characteristics:
1. Descriptive research is nonexperimental in that it deals with relationships between nonmanipulated variables in a natural rather than artificial setting. Since the events or conditions have already occurred or exist, relevant variables are merely selected for an analysis of their relationships.
2. Descriptive research involves hypothesis formulation and testing.
3. Descriptive research uses logical methods of inductive and deductive reasoning in order to arrive at generalizations.
4. All of the variables and procedures used in descriptive studies are described as completely and accurately as possible so as to permit future replication.
5. Descriptive research often employs methods of randomization so that error can be estimated when inferring population characteristics from observations of samples.
Because the study is not experimental, it is technically inappropriate to refer to the variables of interest as dependent or independent factors (Kiess & Bloomquist, 1985). Therefore, the variables of interest in the study can only be listed as follows: (1) level of teacher burnout; (2) level of teachers' feelings of depersonalization; (3) level of occupational stress; (4) perceived sources of stress; (5) teacher age; (6) teacher gender; and (7) grade level taught.
There will be 200 elementary and middle school teachers serving as subjects in the study. Subject selection methods will begin by obtaining a list of all elementary and middle schools in a large, local school district. Five middle schools and five elementary schools will then be randomly selected from this list.
Principals at each of the ten selected schools will be contacted by the researcher who will ask permission to condu...