Tank Tops in Schools
 

Discussion

A few aspects impacted the end result of our study.  After obtaining some of our surveys, we realized that we did not figure out a way to separate the student responses from the staff responses.  Therefore, we were not able to compare the proportions of staff and student responses as we originally planned.  There was also a response bias in that 91out of the 130 surveys sent out were returned.  Some of the students may have been absent on the days the surveys went out or not in the classes the surveys were sent to.  The other surveys that were not returned could have greatly impacted our results.  Also, there may have been more males than females, or vice versa, which may have influenced the data as males and females may have different views on the appropriateness of wearing thin strapped tank tops in school.  
           We do not feel comfortable extrapolating our results.  Possible ways to extrapolate would be to apply it to all high schools.  However, some high schools may not have the same dress code.  In the case of different dress codes, some schools may allow thin strapped tank tops and others may require a standardized school uniform to be worn.  Also, some communities may have different standards where the majority in one community agrees that thin strapped tank tops in school is not appropriate, and the majority in another community agrees that they are appropriate.  In either case, students and staff members in other communities could possibly have different views than the students and staff at North Olmsted High School.
         All though extrapolating is not recommended, there are possible ways to further this study.  For example, other high schools in the local area can be surveyed individually and compared to the results of the same study at North Olmsted High School.  Another possible way is to obtain a separate sample of staff members and students of their opinions on the appropriateness of wearing thin strapped tank tops in school, as this study was originally intended to do.  Schools that require school uniforms can also be surveyed to discover the student and staff’s views on dress code policies and appropriateness.  In addition, students and staff members in schools that allow thin strapped tank tops can be surveyed to obtain the proportions of the different views in order to compare them to schools who do not allow thin strapped tank tops to be worn.  Many surveys can be taken that are relevant to our study.