3a.+Data

**Research Methods and Data**
In my research plan, I will use interviews and multiple questionnaires to collect data regarding what types of emerging technologies are currently being used to support the middle school special education student. I will conduct an initial open-ended survey to all current special education teachers in Cobb County using a Google Docs survey. This survey will be used to specifically uncover technologies that are currently in use. An additional follow-up survey will be able to focus on the most popular specific technologies and collect quantitative data such as how often, how effective, and method of utilization. All results and a discussion forum will be available on a Wiki page following analysis and tabulation.

To supplement and validate my research, I also will interview special education supervisors in Cobb, and Cherokee Counties as well as assistive technology supervisors. My questions will focus not only on what is being used, but what may be on the table for use in the future. My findings from the two teacher surveys will provide useful information and guidance for later questions and discussions with these two additional groups.

My nominal data will be validated using interpretive validity by incorporating the following strategies from chapter 10 in the textbook (Johnson, B., & Christensen, L., 2008):

(Initial surveys will guide the direction and content of later data instruments. Multiple viewpoints will be collected.)
 * 1. Extended fieldwork**

(Cross-checking information by collecting data from three groups including the teachers, along with the special education administrators, as well as the assistive technology supervisors.)
 * 2. Triangulation**

(Results will be available with additional comment input from all participants from Wiki page devoted to the results.)
 * 3. Participant feedback**

**Extension**
The natural extension to this research plan would be to test the most popular or most promising teaching technologies on actual LD students. This will surely be a personal mission of mine as I look for the latest and greatest in digital teaching tools for my LD students.