After these five questions were explored, a second technique was used to gather data from students. Using their pencils, students were asked to draw two pictures, each on a sheet of standard white paper. In the first drawing, students were asked to pretend someone was taking a photograph of them and their volunteer working in one of their Project L.O.V.E. sessions. “Draw a picture that shows you and your volunteer working together.” In a second drawing, students were asked to think about their volunteer and what she or he does when not at school working with Project L.O.V.E. “Draw a picture of what you think your volunteer likes to do when she/he is not here working with you.”
When the drawings were finished, students wereinvited to write a sentence telling about their picture. Children who had difficulty writing in the time given, dictated their sentence to a researcher. A total of 62 student drawings were used in the data analysis.
Data collected in the focus groups were transcribed under the five main questions and then reviewed to identify recurring ideas and themes. The drawings were scanned into digital format and they too were analysed for the context where students worked with the volunteer, and for the portrayal of what volunteers did when they are not at Project L.O.V.E.
In addition to focus group sessions with students, teachers and volunteers, individual interviews were held with school district officials, a PEI Teachers’ Federation official and several principals. These interviews centred on the value of using Project L.O.V.E., any jurisdictional issues the program raised and suggestions for improving the program or facilitating its smooth implementation. Project L.O.V.E. Board members were also involved in the research process. They piloted the Survey instrument and met with the researchers to update the progress of the study.
A collection of relevant Project L.O.V.E. documents and its website information (See Appendix A for a list of documents reviewed) was made and examined as part of the research process. Thesedocuments were reviewed to explore the types of information Project L.O.V.E. produces for its participants, the general public and government agencies, as well as the corporate image it projects. The documents/website also provided background information on the organization, mandate and programs and services offered by Project L.O.V.E.