A Delphi Study of Research Priorities in Tech Prep

The purpose of this study was to determine research priorities in Tech Prep. The research issues facing Tech Prep-based education over the next ten years were identified, categorized, and ranked based on results from questionnaires distributed to subject matter experts (SMEs). A three-round Delphi was used to generate responses and achieve consensus from Tech Prep SMEs. The findings from the round one questionnaire were used to identify and categorize results into 10 tentative major research focus areas such as marketing strategies, partnerships and linkages with business, staff-development and professional training, curriculum criteria and performance standards, and evaluation methodologies and program assessment. Responses to the second-and third-round questionnaires were analyzed with descriptive statistics. The results of the study produced 11 major research categories and 98 research questions and problem statements. Twenty-six of the 98 research priority items had a mean score of four or more points, based on the assigned five-point Likert-type scale.