Transcript What`s Next - Weber State University

What’s Next?
Session 3
M.Educ. 6085
Method
• In the introductory paragraph, discuss the
study type and how it will meet the purpose
of the study.
• Identify the major tasks that will be
completed in order to achieve the objectives
stated in the purpose. Under each category,
provide a detailed description of the tasks.
Tasks could include
–
–
–
–
Identification of participants - specific
Description of measurement instruments
Step by step procedures – specific
Data analysis plan – to answer research questions
DETAILS !!! SPECIFIC ! SPECIFIC !!! DETAILS !!
Qualitative Study
• Discuss what methods you are using to gather
data—interviews, focus groups, archival data,
observations, personal journal, etc.
• If you have a conceptual framework, discuss
• Discuss the triangulation of the data—
triangulation means more than one data source
• Write a short paragraph about researcher bias.
Qualitative researchers own up to this bias.
Data Analysis Plan
• This subsection describes how the data will
be analyzed for your project
• Quantitative: statistical analysis
• Qualitative: how will you present the
findings?
Your data analysis plan should enable you to
answer your research question
Statistics Review
(Quantitative Studies)
• Descriptive statistics: describing an
outcome with numbers
– Measures of Central Tendency
• Mean: the average ( X )
• Mode: the most common
• Median: the middle number when the data is
put in order from least to greatest
– When should you use which measure?
More Descriptive Statistics
• Measures of Variability
– Standard Deviation (SD): a measure
of how spread out the data are;
roughly, the average of how far each
data point is from the mean
– Range: difference between the
lowest data point and the highest
data point
– Interquartile Range: rank order the
data, split it in half and in half again,
subtract the median of the bottom
half from the median of the top half
More Descriptive Statistics
• Measures of Association
– Correlation coefficient (r ) : a number between -1
and 1 that describes the relationship between two
data sets
• r=0 if there is no relationship
• r=1 if there is a perfect positive relationship (as one goes
up, the other goes up a perfectly predictable amount)
• r=-1 if there is a perfect negative relationship (as one goes
up, the other goes down a perfectly predictable amount)
• Most correlation coefficients are somewhere in between
– Square the correlation coefficient to show how
much (%) of the second variable can be attributed
to differences in the first variable. This is called the
coefficient of determination (R2).
Association does not mean Causation!
Inferential Statistics
• What is the probability that the
difference found between these
samples would have occurred if there
was really no difference in the total
populations?
t tests
• What is the probability that the
differences between TWO groups has
occurred by chance alone?
The way it is reported:
t(49) = 1.34, p<.05
Degrees of freedom
(typically n-1)
Value
calculated
by the t-test
Probability that this
difference is due to chance
alone
It is likely that there is a real difference
http://www.physics.csbsju.edu/stats/
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
• What is the probability that the differences
between more than two groups has occurred
by chance alone?
The way it is reported:
F(3,53) = 26.26, p<.001
(number of groups -1,
roughly the number of
subjects)
Value
calculated
by the
ANOVA
Probability that this
difference is due to chance
alone
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
• ANOVA doesn’t indicate where the
differences occur, just that there is a
difference
• Researchers must then pair the means
to find the differences
Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA)
• Like ANOVA but some covariate (something
that is in common between the two groups)
is statistically held constant when the
comparison is calculated.
• For example: comparing the achievement
level of different schools with SES held
constant
Chi-Square
• Comparisons when data can’t be
averaged
• Nonparametric: without
assumptions about the shape of
the data distribution
The way it is reported:
Χ2 (2, N=120) = 12.39, p=.002
(number of groups -1,
number of subjects)
Value
calculated
by the
statistic
Probability that this
difference is due to chance
alone
Regression Analysis
• Method used to develop a predictive
equation based on the relationship
between two variables
• Multiple regression is when two or more
variables are used to predict another
variable using an equation
• Confidence interval: accuracy band
around the predicted scores.
Statistical Significance
When a difference is found that appears
unlikely to have occurred by chance,
that difference is identified as being
statistically significant. It does not
mean the difference is important,
crucial, or practically significant.
Effect size: a standard measure of the size
of the difference
Standardized mean difference effect size:
difference between means divided by the
standard deviation
Data Analysis Plan
• Think – how will the data enable me to
answer my research question(s)?
• Evaluate the data in such a way that
you can answer your question(s) with
confidence.
Where do I go from here?
• In consultation with your
committee chair, prepare your
proposal for a meeting.
• When the chair feels the Proposal is
ready, you will copy it and give it to
the remainder of the committee and
set a date for the Proposal meeting.
The Proposal Meeting
• The Master’s Candidate (you)
arranges the date, time, and room
for the meeting. Contact Lynda in
the Master’s office for available
rooms.
• The candidate gives each committee
member a copy of the proposal at
least one week prior to the meeting.
• Check with the Master’s of
Education office to see that your
Program of Study form is up to date
in your file.
The Proposal Meeting
• At the Proposal meeting, the candidate presents
the proposed research project idea. The
committee, including the candidate, discusses the
proposed Project, making any needed changes
and clarifications. Make sure you bring your title
page for signatures.
After the Meeting
• The candidate makes all the changes needed and
gives the Proposal to the chair for a final review.
• The chair signs the title page and puts the title
page with the final copy of the Proposal in your
Master’s file. You keep a copy of your signed title
page for the IRB application.
• The candidate registers for MED 6091
After the Proposal Meeting
• The candidate prepares the IRB
forms. These forms cannot be
turned in without a signed proposal
title page.
• The IRB forms are emailed to Linda
Gowans and a paper copy is also
given to her with the signed
Proposal title page, the NIH
certificate, and any instruments.
After the Proposal Meeting
• The candidate obtains other
permissions as needed – school, district, etc.
• DO NOT COLLECT ANY DATA UNTIL YOU HAVE
RECEIVED ALL NECESSARY PERMISSIONS
• The candidate does what they said they would
do in the Proposal.
• The candidate writes up the Results and
Discussion in consultation with the committee
chair.
• The candidate registers for M.Ed. 6090 for the
semester he/she will complete the project and
graduate.
• Apply for graduation through the Graduation
Office at the beginning of the semester you
plan to graduate.
• Ogden School District
– Donna Corby 737-7310
The candidate registers
for M.Ed. 6090 for the
semester he/she will
complete the project
and graduate.
Before the Project Defense Meeting
• When the chair says the Project report is
ready, a Project defense meeting is
scheduled for the committee.
• The candidate arranges the date, time, and
room for the meeting. Contact Lynda in
the Master’s office for available rooms.
• The candidate gives each committee
member a copy of the draft Project at least
10 working days prior to the meeting.
The Project Defense Meeting
• The candidate presents the Project and
defends the research. The committee
discusses the project and any changes
that need to be made.
– Bring to the defense multiple copies of
your cover sheet on good paper
• The candidate makes the changes and
submits the Project to the chair for the
final review.
After the Project Defense
• The Project is accepted and the chair
completes the final signatures.
• You take your final copy to the copy center in
the Shepherd Union Building and have at
least three copies made on the high quality
paper.
• Go to the Stewart library and pay for binding.
• Take the receipt from the library and your
copies to Lynda Goucher to send to the
bindery.
After the Defense
• The candidate does a happy dance and
has a party!
– You can get a letter from Lynda G. that
says you have completed all the
requirements for the Master’s degree if you
need it for your employment.
• GRADUATE
– Fall: MED Hooding ceremony and
University commencement
– Spring: College of Ed convocation and
University commencement