The Effect of Allergies on School Age Performance, Essay Example

In addition to the following sample questions, please be prepared to share with your Capstone Facilitator what you learned in each domain of study and how you will apply this to your professional work.

Why did you select this topic?

The topic of allergies and their impact on school performance is highly relevant and timely because the number of children who suffer from allergies continues to grow in response to increased environmental pollutants, allergens, and irritants that plague the air and the environment as a whole. On a personal note, my son suffers from allergies and I’ve witnessed the effects of the allergies on his academic performance.

How did what you’ve learned throughout your studies at WGU influence your project?

I have learned that by selecting a topic that I am interested in, I will remain motivated throughout my studies to move forward.

What specifically that you learned during your studies at WGU did you utilize during your project?

With this project, I have tested the limits of my patience and have triumphed under high pressure. I believe that all of the work that I have performed will pay off. I have also learned to manage my time more effectively and to not procrastinate in my assignments.

What is/are your research question(s)?

Research Question: What are the effects of allergies on children’s performance in the school setting? Furthermore, this research question hypothesized that in some cases, allergies have a potentially significant impact on school performance in the form of declining grades, reduced concentration and focus, and other behavioral concerns.

What is the significance of your study?

Children who suffer from allergies on a regular basis often experience problems associated with academic performance in the school environment

Were there any issue(s) of researcher bias?

No. Researcher bias did not exist in this study.

What are the limitations of your study?

First and foremost, the low response rate demonstrates that the method of dissemination was limiting for the researcher, and it minimized the ability of the researcher to obtain sufficient responses to the survey. In addition, the number of participants and locations for the survey were too small to determine if there is any wide-ranging impact on any approaches that are taken regarding allergies in a larger number of schools.

Why did you choose the research design you used?

This study employed quantitative data collection because it offered a comparison of two variables that appear to be related to each other in a unique manner. Furthermore, this research method enabled the researcher to determine if there was a specific and direct relationship between allergies and academic performance because this supports an understanding of the issues that are most relevant to students, teachers, and parents in addressing allergies on a regular basis.

What measures did you take to protect Human Subjects?

This research study required full support from the principal prior to participant selection and rolling out the study to the desired participants. Prior to seeking the approval of the principal, the researcher completed the National Institutes of Health (NIH0 online training on the Protection of Human Subjects (see appendix B). Additionally, approval from the Institute Review Board of Western Governors University was sought and obtained. Informed consents were obtained and documented both on paper and electronically. Participation in the study was completely voluntary and participants were able to withdraw from the study as any time. Both versions of the questionnaire (paper and on-line) did not have any personal identifiers to ensure anonymity of the participants. All data collected was reviewed solely by the researcher, kept within the researcher’s possession, and uploaded to a password protected computer. All data collected will be purged one year after completion of the study.

What were your findings?

In addressing the research question regarding allergies in the school environment and their impact on children, the survey and subsequent data collection process do not represent a widespread and meaningful approach to the topic, due in large part to the small sample population. Therefore, the study is limiting in that the research question is not addressed on a comprehensive basis in a larger population setting. The current study population is too small to establish an accurate determination of the sample population in addressing the research question. With a larger population sample, it is likely that the study will demonstrate a greater level of effectiveness and will determine if allergies have a significant impact on school age children and their performance in the school setting.

What in the literature supports/disputes your findings?

Currently, research supports the belief that allergies play a role in impacting school performance. However, additional research is required in order to demonstrate that this problem requires additional support and guidance from teachers so that students overcome these difficulties.

What are the implications of your findings?

This study demonstrated that allergies may pose a problem for some students in their efforts to perform at the desired academic level, and this may place a significant strain on their academic performance over time. This study has implications for future research regarding allergies, as there is an important opportunity to develop strategies for students when they experience symptoms in order to restore their concentration and focus.

How do you plan to disseminate your findings?

I will send a request to the principal to upload the final capstone project to the school website for further dissemination.

What are your recommendations as a result of your findings?

Based upon the study framework and results, it is recommended that in future studies, an expanded study to include a larger number of study participants and schools is recommended in order to obtain more evidence regarding the prevalence of allergies within the student population and their impact on school performance. It is also recommended that some of the study questions might be more specific so that participants are able to provide more concise responses regarding the prevalence of allergies in students.

What did you learn about research by doing this project? How did you go about finding the articles for the literature review section (be specific)?

I learned that conducting research is a time-consuming task that provides many benefits to the researcher. I primarily used Google Scholar to identify specific research articles.

What was the most challenging aspect of your research?

The most challenging aspect of the research was finding evidence to support the thesis and to address the research question more closely in order to draw conclusions regarding the research plan.

What was the most rewarding aspect of your research?

This research project was rewarding because it provided an opportunity to discover my own research strengths and my ability to work on a large-scale project in a successful manner.

What would you have done differently if you had the time and the money?

If I had the time and money, I would have conducted the research project in several different school environments rather than a single one.

How has what you have learned throughout your studies at WGU influenced your practice?

This experience has enabled me to recognize my own desire to earn a promotion, but to also realize that I might be excluded from promotional opportunities because I did not have a master’s degree. This was a difficult obstacle for me; therefore, I sought to overcome this issue by earning my degree and making the most of my career opportunities.

What specifically that you learned during your studies at WGU do you utilize in your practice?

I learned how to expand my critical thinking skills in order to acquire new forms of knowledge. I also learned how to manage my time more effectively and to develop a strategy that will support my ability to improve relationships with others to my advantage to perform more effectively in my role.

Finally, what did you learn about yourself as a result of this entire process?

I am able to achieve my objectives when I remain focused and work hard on a continuous basis, which provides me with many rewards that are instrumental in supporting my future success.