Action Research Project

Qualitative and Quantitative

Analysis

Dr. Nellie Deutsch

2015

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 Problem Statement
What is your problem statement?

2
 Purpose
• Determine the causes
• Build a workable curriculum program
• Provide students with test taking techniques
• Improve student scores

3
 Background Description
• Population
• Work Setting
• Writer’s Role

4
Qualitative Data Analysis Techniques

Qualitative data are analyzed inductively •

Specific observations  look for patterns  develop •
hypotheses  develop general conclusions
Potentially overwhelming task –
Goal is to reduce volume of information collected –
Risk minimizing, simplifying, distorting data –
Must rely on a coding scheme—system for grouping data •
into categories of similar information
Highly individualized type of system –

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Qualitative Data Analysis Techniques

Often necessitates reading, rereading, rereading again •

your data
Must get to “know” your qualitative data very well •
:Steps in the process •
Reduce amount of narrative data through use of coding –
scheme
Describe main characteristics of categories (connect data to –
research questions)
Interpret what has been simplified and organized –

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Qualitative Data Analysis Techniques

Also, engage in introspection •

Reflective practice that helps to ensure that you –
remain objective and “emotionally unattached” to data

Assistance with analysis through software •

Analysis of qualitative data cannot be “done” on the –
computer (due to inductive nature)

Software can help store and organize data –

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques

Quantitative data are analyzed deductively •

Identify topic  focus with research questions or •
hypotheses  collect and analyze data  develop
conclusions
Can use either descriptive or inferential statistics •
Descriptive statistics—procedures that simplify, summarize, –
and organize numerical data
Inferential statistics—procedures used to determine how likely –
given statistical results are for an entire population based on a
sample

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques
Descriptive statistics •
Measures of central tendency—single value to –
indicate what is typical or standard about a group of
individuals
Mean •
Median •
Mode •
Measure of dispersion—single value to indicate how –
scores are different, or what is atypical
Range •
Standard deviation •

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques

Descriptive statistics (cont’d.) •

Measures of relationship—statistical measure of strength –
of association between variables
Correlation coefficients •

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques
Descriptive statistics (cont’d.) •

Visual displays of data—not really a statistical –

procedure; simply ways to “show” data

Frequency distribution table •

Histograms •

Bar charts •

Pie charts •

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques

Statistical software •
Numerous software packages exist; some are very –
costly

Very effective, Web-based alternative: StatCrunch –

(www.statcrunch.com)

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
 Action research checklist
Analyzing Data in Action Research
Revisit your research question(s) and your previous decisions about the use of qualitative, ☐
.quantitative, or mixed-methods data for your action research
.Develop a plan for analyzing your data (see below) ☐
:If you have collected qualitative data, decide how you plan to analyze your data ☐
?Will you code, organize, and analyze your data by hand ☐
?How will you actually do this (notecards, sticky notes, etc.) ☐
Will you use some sort of software (see the “Related Websites” section of this chapter) to code, ☐
?organize, and analyze your data
:If you have collected quantitative data, decide how you plan to analyze your data ☐
Be sure to specify the type of analysis—descriptive (e.g., frequencies, mean, median, graphs, ☐
.etc.) or inferential statistics (e.g., t-test, ANOVA, chi-square test, etc.)—you plan to use
?Will you analyze your data by hand, perhaps using only a calculator ☐
Will you use some sort of software (e.g., StatCrunch, or others in the “Related Websites” section ☐
?of this chapter) to analyze your data
:Anticipate how you will present the results of your data analysis ☐
?Will you present all of your results in narrative form ☐
?.Will you utilize any tables, graphs, etc ☐
.Develop a timeline for your data analyses ☐

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Qualitative Data Analysis Techniques
Qualitative data are analyzed inductively •
Specific observations  look for patterns  develop •
hypotheses  develop general conclusions
Potentially overwhelming task –
Goal is to reduce volume of information collected –
Risk minimizing, simplifying, distorting data –
Must rely on a coding scheme—system for grouping •
data into categories of similar information
Highly individualized type of system –

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Qualitative Data Analysis Techniques

Often necessitates reading, rereading, rereading again •

your data
Must get to “know” your qualitative data very well •
:Steps in the process •
Reduce amount of narrative data through use of coding scheme –
Describe main characteristics of categories (connect data to –
research questions)
Interpret what has been simplified and organized –

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Qualitative Data Analysis Techniques
Also, engage in introspection •
Reflective practice that helps to ensure that you remain –
objective and “emotionally unattached” to data

Assistance with analysis through software •

Analysis of qualitative data cannot be “done” on the –
computer (due to inductive nature)

Software can help store and organize data –

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques

Quantitative data are analyzed deductively •

Identify topic  focus with research questions or •
hypotheses  collect and analyze data  develop
conclusions
Can use either descriptive or inferential statistics •
Descriptive statistics—procedures that simplify, summarize, and –
organize numerical data
Inferential statistics—procedures used to determine how likely –
given statistical results are for an entire population based on a
sample

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques

Descriptive statistics •
Measures of central tendency—single value to –
indicate what is typical or standard about a group of
individuals
Mean •
Median •
Mode •
Measure of dispersion—single value to indicate how –
scores are different, or what is atypical
Range •
Standard deviation •
http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques

Descriptive statistics (cont’d.) •

Measures of relationship—statistical measure of –
strength of association between variables
Correlation coefficients •

http://studysites.sagepub.com/mertler4e/study/chapter.htm
 Problem Documentation
– Two Surveys
• Online Questionnaires
• Students
• Parents
• Teachers
• Offline Questionnaires
• Students

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 Action Research Project Proposal

Survey Results
(Before Intervention)

QuestionPro Online Survey Program

http://www.questionpro.com/akira/ShowResults?id=161974

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 Students: What thoughts do you have during the test?

.I wish I had prepared myself better 25.71%

I won't have enough time. 39.05%

I am doing great. 20.95%

I wish I could be somewhere else 14.29%

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 Teachers: ESL/EFL students are anxious during
.reading comprehension tests in English

Strongly Agree   34.15%

Agree   45.85%
Undecided   8.29%
Disagree   8.78%
Strongly Disagree 2.93%

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 Teachers: ____ of my ESL/EFL students
are/were anxious during reading comprehension
tests.
Most   31.03%
Some   36.55%
Many   25.52%
None   2.07%
A few   4.83%

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 Parents: My daughter/son gets anxious when there is
reading comprehension test in school.

Strongly Agree   41.03%

Agree   17.95%
Neutral   23.08%
Disagree   18.38%
Strongly Disagree   2.56%

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 Parents: Reading strategies would improve reading
comprehension in English.

Strongly Agree   70.27%

Agree   21.62%

Neutral   8.11%

Disagree   0.00%

Strongly Disagree 0.00%

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 Teachers: ESL/EFL students would benefit from
relaxation exercises before reading comprehension
tests.

Strongly Agree   28.29%

Agree   37.07%
Undecided   27.80%
Disagree   3.90%

Strongly Disagree 2.93%

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 Literature Review
Brief summary
• Problem
• Solution

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 Solution Strategy

Reading Comprehension Test Taking Skills

12 Week Curriculum Program:
• Reading Strategies
• Test Taking and Relaxation Techniques

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 Reading Strategies
• General Layout
• Paragraph: Introduction, body and conclusion
• Type of writing: letter, report, description, persuasion…
• Skimming and scanning: Numbers, capital letters

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 Test Taking Techniques
• Relaxation Exercises
• Mindfulness: Present
• Breathing: Counting to 10
• Color Visualization and Chakras
• Self-talk: Positive affirmations

• Time
• Organization
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 Results
Student scores before and after the 12-week implementation

80.15
Scores

57.3

Students

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 Audience Feedback
• Questions
• Comments

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 Recommendations
• Needs Assessment Survey
• Questionnaire on test taking anxiety
• Questionnaire on reading strategies

• Action research project

• Comparison of grades before and after test taking
and reading strategies curriculum program

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 Reflecting

Dr. Nellie Deutsch

2015

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