This document outlines the purpose, importance, research design, strategy of inquiry, philosophical worldview, research methodology, potential literature deficiencies, ethical considerations, and results for a mixed methods study examining the costs of obtaining a private pilot license. The study aims to create awareness of training costs, examine the impact of debt on ability to pay for training, and examine potential standards of living after completing training. A mixed methods approach using qualitative and quantitative data will provide a comprehensive analysis.

1. Jon R. Hilden
January 21, 2014

2. Purpose Statement
The intent of this mixed methods study is to do the
following:
 Create an awareness of the training costs involved for
students who wish to obtain a private pilot license
 Examine the impact that the debt-to-income ratio can
have on the ability for students to pay for the training
 Examine the potential standard of living after
completion of training that pilots may experience

3. Importance to Audiences
The information provided by this research is applicable
to anyone interested in obtaining a pilot license and is
significant for the following reasons:
1. Understanding the total cost of earning a pilot
license can help provide fundamental financial
advice to those interested in obtaining a license.
2. Having a vast knowledge of the various cost-saving
options available to trainees can help save significant
amounts of money.

4. Research Design
This study focuses on the mixed method form of
research for the following reasons:
 A design that provides a mix of qualitative and
quantitative data is necessary for creating the
benchmark for comparison with other findings.
 An important part of this study is gathering
information, both financially and non-financially
related, in order to obtain benchmark information
necessary to make a financial decision about whether
to pursue a pilot license.

5. Strategy of Inquiry
 Using a mixed methods strategy will help to obtain a
more comprehensive collection of data that focuses on
both qualitative and quantitative data.
 A mix of qualitative and quantitative data is necessary
for creating the benchmark for comparison with other
research findings.

6. Philosophical Worldviews
In his book Research design: Qualitative, quantitative,
and mixed methods approaches, Creswell (2009) lists
four philosophical worldviews that help guide our
research actions: (1) postpositive, (2) social
construction, (3) advocacy/participatory, and
(4) pragmatic.
The path to achieving a pilot license is not without its
potential pitfalls, the least of which is cost. This research
will focus on the implications of using and
understanding the postpositivism worldview, which are
critical to the success of the endeavor.

7. Research Methodology
The research methodology will use the following
process:

8. Potential Literature Deficiencies
 Much of the research on this topic focuses only on the
tangible costs of earning a license, such as instructor
fees and plane rental, and little on the intangible
aspects.
 Developing a further understanding of the concept of
debt-to-income ratios and the potential financial
impact of borrowing money to pay for training is
critical to a person determining whether he or she can
afford to pursue such an endeavor and deserves further
exploration by the student.

9. Ethical Considerations
Following the lead of Creswell (2009), ethical considerations
for my research will include the following:
 Protecting the privacy of research participants
 Developing an atmosphere of trust with the participants
 Promoting the integrity of the research by acting in a
professional manner
 Being prepared before meeting with participants
 Being prepared to handle changes in the data collection
and research process

10. Results
The results of this research will conclude whether my hypothesis
regarding the costs of obtaining a private pilot license are either
confirmed or not supported. The results will include the following:
 Qualitative data reference to exploring and understanding social
or human problems regarding the affordability of learning to fly
 Narrative research regarding stories of individuals’ lives, and case
studies regarding the impact of activities and processes on
individuals’ lives (Creswell, 2009)
 Quantitative data that references frequencies and percentages
regarding actual costs of obtaining a pilot license, such as
instructor fees and plane rental
 Tables and graphs, with descriptive titles, which will report the
most important findings of the research (The University of Texas
at Austin, 2007).

11. References
 Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative,
quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.).
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
 The University of Texas at Austin (2007). Reporting
results. Retrieved from
http://www.utexas.edu/academic/ctl/assessment/iar/
research/report/survey-report.php