kv713 session 3
TRANSCRIPT
Session 3Keith Turvey and Irena Andrews
MA Education (Teaching Leaders)
KV713 Research Project
The Dissertation 2014/15
Data analysis: unraveling
Reasoning
Inductive and deductive reasoning
“Although both deduction and induction have their weaknesses, their contributions to the development of science are enormous and fall into three categories:1 the suggestion of hypotheses; 2 the logical development of these hypotheses; and 3 the clarification and interpretation of scientific findings and their synthesis into a conceptual framework.”
Cohen, Manion & Morrison (2000, P.5)
Your data might be:
• Interview transcripts• Questionnaire response• Observation schedules• Action research: baseline +
innovation + recordings of effect• Content analysis
Activity: Coding and thematic analysis
Using the extract from a group interview with student teachers:Read through the transcript onceRead it again and this time annotate the transcript to identify any themes that emerge for youShare your keywords/themes with a partner. Are there any similaritiesDiscuss with the rest of the group. What themes/codes would you identify in this transcript
Presentation of data(Bassey 1981:85)
An important criterion for judging the merit of a case study is the extent to which the details are sufficient and appropriate for a teacher working in a similar situation to relate his decision- making to that described in the case study. The relatability of a case study is more important than its generalisability
In analysis, interpretation
and presentation of data
Do not attempt generalisations
based on insufficient data
Do not claim more for your results
than
the evidence warrants
Small scale studies can inform,
illuminate and provide a basis for
policy decisions within an
institution
Reporting the findings
• Look for similarities, groupings, clusters and items of particular significance
• You may have ideas about this before you start collecting your data – a balance of ‘informed hunch’ and the influence of pre-conceived ideas
• The literature can provide helpful guidance
• It is worthwhile thinking about which types of data and how it can be analysed at the start
• Experiment with different ways of presenting findings: Bar charts; pie charts; histograms
Statement of Results
Text, supported by tables, figures, quotations
Tables, charts, graphs and quotes should illustrate and illuminate the text and help the reader to understand complex data
The text should not describe what the data shows but draw attention to what is most important
Number tables and figures
Be clear about what information is needed in the text and what should be in the appendices
Presentation of data
Use sub –headings – these could be
• Research questions
•Identified themes
Present data under each
• Integrate data – bring together data
from questionnaires, interviews,
observations etc
• Explain the data , be precise: ‘ A
majority (4 out of 5) of respondents
indicated that.....’
• Let the data do the talking
Sample chapters
•Look at the examples provided
•Draw up a list of good ideas/things that work well
•Questions coming out of this
•What will you do?
Analysis and Discussion
Re-state the research question –remember context• Synthesise the results in such a way
as to allow a new perspective to be reached
• Make links, comparisons and contrasts, juxtapose results with the findings of others
• Consider the results in the light of the literature
• And also in the light of the methodological approach
Analysis and Discussion
•Explain limitations in research design -suggest more appropriate approaches
•Draw out implications for improvement of practice
• What evidence do you have now to support new knowledge?
•Avoid speculation that goes beyond the evidence presented
Relationship between literature and project
elements
The literature Elements of your project
Rationale
Research design
Topic literature
Methodological
literature
Findings
Discussion
Conclusions
Recommendations
Structure
Abstract
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction 10%
2. Literature review25%
3. Methodology 20%
4. Findings and Analysis35%
5. Conclusions and recommendations 10%
References
Appendices
Timescales
March 07 Data coding
and
presentation
DRAFT Methodology
Updated Lit Review?
April Skype/
telephone call
Planning fieldwork?
May 08 Skype/
telephone call
Progress review
Sample of data analysis?
20 June
08.45 –
15.30
Round table
discussion
Defend methodology
Ethical issues?
03 July Progress
review and
formative
assessment to
discuss:
• Data analysis and writing
up
• September 17 or
November 19 submission?
August
Round table discussion
• 10 minutes to introduce their research problem and question and justify their chosen research methodology.
• Following this, the presenter can choose to ask the audience for comments on one or two methodological issues or invite the audience to ask questions (5 minutes).