A Research Design METHODS Research Approach and Desig

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 ag

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rument consisting of several questionnaires developed for use by employed adults. Each questionnaire takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Only one of these questionnaires is relevant to the purposes of this study; this is the Occupational Stress Inventory which yields seven scale scores, one of which is a global or overall measure of occupational stress. The psychometric properties of the Occupational Stress Inventory have been well tested over the years. It's validity has been supported in several studies (Baldwin, 1981; Brown, Bond & Prentice, 1985; Yanico, 1985) as has its reliability (Holland, 1985; Osipow, Doty & Spokane, 1985). Examples of the Likert-type scale used on the OSI and test items are provided below: Please use the following scale to rate each of the listed items: 1 = rarely or never true 2 = occasionally true 3 = often true 4 = usually true 5 = true most of the time ___At work, I am expected to do too many different tasks in too little time. ___I feel competent in what I do ___I feel over qualified for my job. Maslach Burnout Inventory This study will use the MBI to measure: a) subjects' overall degree of burnout; and b) the extent to which subjects each experience feelings of deper

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