Sections 1-4 are to be completed by the student; Sections 5 / 6 are to be completed by the tutor / supervisor.

Section 1
Briefly outline your research questions or aims
I observed in my bi-lingual kindergarten classroom that students are not aware of the significance of literacy skills. Students do not show an understanding of a constructed writing lesson and cannot relate what is being learned to everyday life. Therefore I believe that young children’s understanding of literacy as meaningful and purposeful, and not merely an abstract skill to be learned, is a critically important part of learning to communicate, read and write. For my case study I have decided to look at the following questions and observe these through different role play and teacher lead activities in the classroom.

What types of scaffolding techniques enhances emergent literacy skills in a bi lingual environment?
How can a positive attitude towards writing be encouraged?

Section 2
Briefly outline your proposed methods and sites of data generation and your proposed methods of sampling
During this case study project participants will be expected to answer a series of questions about their feelings and understanding of literacy. Participants will also be expected to take part in role play activities and literacy exercises during the course of the study. During the study, participants will also be asked to complete and partake in specific writing exercises. At the end of the study participants will be asked a second set of questions to try and establish their learning and outcome after taking part in the study. All of the procedures that will be introduced are experimental and will only be observed to see what significance it might show with regard to emergent literacy skills. The writing and drawing exercises will be collected from students at the end of each session. This documentation will then be analyzed and used for the research project.

The data that I will be collecting from my students will thus be as follows:
1. Students will be asked to answer a serious of questions in order to try and establish their feelings and understanding of what literacy skills are. ( I have attached a list of the questions to this email).
2. Students will be asked to participate in role play areas and will be observed during these activities. Close attention will be paid to their participation and understanding of the different role play areas. The notes that I make will serve as the data that will be collected during this time.
3. Students will be interviewed at their stations, recorded with the help of a video camera, and asked to explain to the best of their understanding how the different stations work and what is expected from them.
4. The papers and other writing that will be completed during the role play areas and activities will also be collected for the research.

Section 3
Briefly explain how you plan to gain access to prospective research participants
Access will be gained to prospective students by classroom observation and establishing whom will be ideal to take part in the study. I will observe my students and try to establish who exactly has not yet developed complete skills for their level of education thus far. Who does not have a positive view on literacy. I will then contact the parents or guardians and inform them of the study I would like their children to take part in. I will also hand over an information pamphlet and a consent form should they decide to take part in the research project.

Section 4 (a)

| |I have read and discussed with my supervisor the British Educational Research Association’s Revised Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research (BERA, 2004) and/or guidelines of the appropriate professional |X |
| |association where relevant. | |
| |I have read and discussed with my supervisor the Code of Research Conduct and Research Ethics of the University of Nottingham: |x |
| |http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/fabs/rgs/documents/code-of-research-conduct-and-research-ethics-approved-january-2010.pdf | |
| |I am aware of and have discussed with my supervisor the sections of the Data Protection Act (1998) that are relevant to my research study: |X |
| |http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980029.htm | |
| |Data gathering activities involving schools and other organizations will be carried out only with the agreement of the head of school/organization, or an authorised representative, and after adequate notice has |X |
| |been given. Written permission (e.g. email) will need to have been seen by your supervisor. | |
| |The purpose and procedures of the research, and the potential benefits and costs of participating (e.g. the amount of their time involved), will be fully explained to prospective research participants at the |X |
| |outset. | |
| |My full identity will be revealed to potential participants. |X |
| |Prospective participants will be informed that data collected will be treated in the strictest confidence and will only be reported in anonymised form, but that I will be forced to consider disclosure of certain |X |
| |information where there are strong grounds for believing that not doing so will result in harm to research participants or others, or (the continuation of) illegal activity. | |
| |All potential participants will be asked to give their explicit, normally written consent to participating in the research, and, where consent is given, separate copies of this will be retained by both researcher|X |
| |and participant. | |
| |In addition to the consent of the individuals concerned, the signed consent of a parent, guardian or ‘responsible other’ will be required to sanction the participation of minors (i.e. persons under 16 years of |X |
| |age) or those whose ‘intellectual capability or other vulnerable circumstance may limit the extent to which they can be expected to understand or agree voluntarily to undertake their role’. (BERA, 2004, para | |
| |14-16). | |
| |Undue pressure will not be placed on individuals or institutions to participate in research activities. |X |
| |The treatment of potential research participants will in no way be prejudiced if they choose not to participate in the project. |X |
| |I will provide participants with my contact details (and those of my supervisor), in order that they are able to make contact in relation to any aspect of the research, should they wish to do so. |X |
| |Participants will be made aware that they may freely withdraw from the project at any time without risk or prejudice. |X |
| |Research will be carried out with regard for mutually convenient times and negotiated in a way that seeks to minimise disruption to schedules and burdens on participants. |X |
| |I have considered carefully to what extent, if any, my research might expose me to any kind of risk to my personal safety. I have also discussed this with my supervisor, and appropriate steps taken to respond to|X |
| |any risks identified. Where such a strategy has been agreed, a record of it is attached to this submission. | |
| |At all times during the conduct of the research I will behave in an appropriate, professional manner and take steps to ensure that neither myself nor research participants are placed at risk. |X |
| |The dignity and interests of research participants will be respected at all times, and steps will be taken to ensure that no harm will result from participating in the research. |X |
| |The views of all participants in the research will be respected. |X |
| |Special efforts will be made to be sensitive to differences relating to age, culture, disability, race, sex, religion and sexual orientation, amongst research participants, when planning, conducting and reporting|X |
| |on the research. | |
| |Data generated by the research (e.g. transcripts of research interviews) will be kept in a safe and secure location and will be used purely for the purposes of the research project (including dissemination of |X |
| |findings). No-one other than research colleagues, supervisors or examiners will have access to any of the data collected. | |
| |Research participants will have the right of access to any data kept on them. |X |
| |All necessary steps will be taken to protect the privacy and ensure the anonymity and non-traceability of participants – e.g. by the use of pseudonyms, for both individual and institutional participants, in any |X |
| |written reports of the research and other forms of dissemination. | |
| |Where possible, research participants will be provided with a summary of research findings and an opportunity for debriefing after taking part in the research. |X |
| |Does your research involve (please tick ALL that apply): | |
| |Schools? Vulnerable Adults? Children? None of these groups? | |
| |Will your research be conducted in (please tick ONE BOX only): | |
| |UK only? Outside the UK only? UK and outside the UK? | |
| | | |
| |b) If outside the UK, please name the country(ies) involved: China | |
| |FOR ALL STUDENTS UNDERTAKING RESEARCH INVOLVING SCHOOLS, CHILDREN (UNDER 18) AND/OR VULNERABLE ADULTS I have received Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure through the University of | |
| |Nottingham and the School of Education Postgraduate Office has the reference number. This applies even when data are collected outside of the UK. | |
| |NB: All students must remember to apply for their University of Nottingham DBS disclosure when they are visiting the UK. | |
| |FOR ALL NON UK STUDENTS | |
| |I have received a Certificate of Good Conduct (where one is available)* and the School of Education CRB Coordinators have a copy of this**. | |

* Countries that produce a Certificate of Good Conduct/or criminal records certificate can be found online at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants

** UK students who have lived in one of the above countries for 6 months or more may also need to apply for one of these.

Section 4 (b)
Please provide further information below in relation to any of the above statements which you have not been able to tick, explaining in each case why the suggested course of action is not appropriate:

| |
| |
|Boxes 26 and 27 are not applicable |
| |
| |

When you have completed Sections 1-4 email the form to the relevant supervising tutor, together with:

1) a draft information sheet to be provided to prospective participants; yes

2) a draft consent form to be used with prospective participants. yes

Section 5

Supervising tutor
I have discussed the proposed research outlined on this form with the student and I am satisfied that the work will be carried out with due regard to ethical protocol and participants’ interests.

NAME:

Section 6

Course Leader/ second reviewer

I have reviewed the proposed research outlined on this form and I am satisfied that the work will be carried out with due regard to ethical protocol and participants’ interests.

NAME: Date:

Note to supervising tutor: Please email the completed form to the course leader who will forward the final version to the appropriate administrative assistant. When the Course Leader is also Supervising Tutor (Section 5) they should get a second member of their course team to check and review the form. The administrative assistant will email the student (cc yourself and course leader) with confirmation of ethical approval to begin collecting data and proceed to the next stage of the dissertation.

Updated 26/11/2014
-----------------------

X

X

X