Designing and validating a feasibility study model for humor-based education in primary schools

The aim of this study was to design and validate a feasibility model for humor-based education in primary schools. The research method is mixed exploration (qualitative-quantitative) which in the qualitative part is grounded theory and in the quantitative part is a survey. The participants of the quality section are 13 teachers and principals of primary schools in Neishabour who have been selected using theoretical sampling method and in the quantitative part, 274 principals and primary school teachers in Neishabour were selected by stratified random sampling method. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data in the qualitative section and a questionnaire on the feasibility of implementing humor-based education in primary schools was used in the quantitative section. This questionnaire includes 13 questions in a 5-point Likert scale. The validity of the research has been investigated and confirmed in the qualitative part by Goba and Lincoln (1985) criteria and in the quantitative part by the content and structure validity. The reliability of the interviews was also reported to be more than 60% of the retest reliability method. The method of analysis of the interview data in the qualitative part, open, axial and selective coding with Atlas.ti software and in the quantitative part of structural equations using Smart pls3 software has been selected. Findings of the research were obtained in the qualitative part including 122 open codes, 13 secondary codes and 4 main categories (causal factors, strategies, consequences and intervening factors) and the results of the quantitative part of the research showed that the proposed model has a good fit. According to the research results, policy makers of the educational system should pay special attention to the issue of humor-based education and include it in the upstream documents, and teachers and administrators should use the correct methods of using humor in conveying concepts.