Researchers will over five years study the teacher induction activities of 5 MSPs from among 2-3 MSP Cohorts. Additionally, an in-depth case study will be carried out with the MSP by the National Science Teachers Association and partners because its entire scope of work is focused on teacher induction. During years 1-2, researchers will conduct exploratory research to determine a set of MSPs having an amount and type of teacher recruitment and induction activity that warrants further investigation. Exploratory work will involve document inspection and telephone interviews, and exploratory visits, when needed. A high priority selection variable will be whether the MSP evaluation plan or other data that researchers could obtain will enable both quantitative and qualitative analysis of a variety of program impacts: teacher retention, teacher efficacy, teaching quality, and outcomes for students of the teachers who participate in programs.
In years 2-5, researchers will conduct focused case studies of relevant activities of the 6 MSPs. In addition to using telephone interviews and Web-based surveys with a variety of program participants, researchers will make several annual visits of 3 and 5 days to each MSP. Year 5 data collection on MSPs in Cohort 1 will enable study of institutionalization issues after they end. The five-year time line will permit longitudinal investigation of phenomena such as program changes and their causes/effects, and changes in individual beginning teachers beliefs, knowledge and practices as a result of participation in MSP recruitment and induction activities.
