Quaker Survey Data Analysis

Initial analysis of interview data revealed that students across Quaker schools shared similar perspectives about the environment and priorities of their schools. These perspectives, and others, were tested through statistical analysis of survey data. These data included both a school culture perspectives questionnaire, created from dominant themes revealed through analysis of the interview data, alongside a well-established study preferences questionnaire (Biggs et al., 2001). This chapter will present these data and the evidence they show of significant relationships between students’ positive experiences in their Quaker schools and their engagement with learning opportunities provided. How these findings raise important questions about aspects of Quaker school practices and ethos are explained, thus setting the scene for further exploration of what students and teachers said about Quaker schooling. The chapter will conclude with discussion concerning the use of a learning preferences questionnaire, addressing potential challenges to the validity of findings drawn from its use in the analysis.