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.