Limitations of Study
There were some limitations to this study. Although limitations existed, they did not appear to impede success of this investigation.
1. A potential limitation was the use of iPads to practice early reading subskills outside of school could not be monitored or controlled by me.
2. A potential limitation was the occurrence of unpredictable technical difficulties. Headphone plugs broke off into the iPad and sound was no longer available on two iPads. Additional iPads in the cart were used while Helpdesk staff serviced the students’ inoperative assigned iPads.
3. A potential limitation was that the school district participating in the investigation only permitted free apps to download to the iPad cart, limiting the use of highly recommended apps available in the iTunes store. Some free apps only allowed students to play to certain levels and then payment was required to go further. To have new apps downloaded to the iPad cart, Helpdesk needed to be contacted, and the time frame of service was not predictable, postponing planning and use of the new app.
4. A potential variance in the rate of maturation among children could be considered a limitation of this study.
5. Lack of a control group could be considered a limitation of this study. Comparing intervention data to a control group that did not receive the intervention could more valid data to propose a stronger correlation of effectiveness.
6. A potential limitation of this study is that it was conducted over 10 weeks. A longer intervention period may have yielded different results, potentially more growth. A longitudinal study would provide more reliable data collection.
7. The fact that the teacher and researcher were the same person to conduct instruction, intervention, assessments, and analysis of the results is a potential limitation of this study.
1. A potential limitation was the use of iPads to practice early reading subskills outside of school could not be monitored or controlled by me.
2. A potential limitation was the occurrence of unpredictable technical difficulties. Headphone plugs broke off into the iPad and sound was no longer available on two iPads. Additional iPads in the cart were used while Helpdesk staff serviced the students’ inoperative assigned iPads.
3. A potential limitation was that the school district participating in the investigation only permitted free apps to download to the iPad cart, limiting the use of highly recommended apps available in the iTunes store. Some free apps only allowed students to play to certain levels and then payment was required to go further. To have new apps downloaded to the iPad cart, Helpdesk needed to be contacted, and the time frame of service was not predictable, postponing planning and use of the new app.
4. A potential variance in the rate of maturation among children could be considered a limitation of this study.
5. Lack of a control group could be considered a limitation of this study. Comparing intervention data to a control group that did not receive the intervention could more valid data to propose a stronger correlation of effectiveness.
6. A potential limitation of this study is that it was conducted over 10 weeks. A longer intervention period may have yielded different results, potentially more growth. A longitudinal study would provide more reliable data collection.
7. The fact that the teacher and researcher were the same person to conduct instruction, intervention, assessments, and analysis of the results is a potential limitation of this study.