Pr2 Prelim

Blum (2006)

indicates that getting a dissertation proposal approved is often so stressful and time-consuming that students have a hard time refocusing on the next phase in the process, that of writing chapters four and five

— Results of descriptive analyses

— Results of inferential analyses (Quantitative).

— Findings of text analyses (Qualitative)

Chapter 4 Content

Simon (2006)

According to __________, the length of a qualitative Chapter Four can range between 25-35 pages determined by number of themes.

15-25 pages

A quantitative design is typically shorter ranging from _______ pages.

Data

— Identify the process by which data were gathered, and recorded.

— Describe the systems for keeping track of data and emerging understandings— research logs, reflective journals, cataloging systems.

1. Research Questions

2. Major Themes

Organize findings using titles and subtitles by ______ and ______

Findings

— Patterns, relationships, and themes are described as ______ and supported by the data. All salient

data must be accounted for in the findings.

— Are presented in a manner that address the research questions.

Qualitative data

is analyzed for patterns or themes, and is presented based on the major themes found in the data.

unit of analysis

is the major entity that you are analyzing in your study. It is the 'what' or 'who' that is being studied.

Creswell, 2004

According to _______ "If the design is historical, organize the

findings by time"

Yin, 1993

According to ________ "If the design is a single-case study, the unit

of analysis is the entire case being studied"

Summarize Themes

— Summarize Themes: Add Examples, Tables, Code Names.

— Under each theme and sub-theme, the researcher describes the pattern and adds counts or percentages in a narrative format (Creswell, 2004)

— Explain the pattern being careful to

code the participants names such as

R1 (respondent one), or W1 (woman

one).

Validity Issues

— How can one be assured that the data is valid?

— Indicate how the study followed procedures to assure accuracy of the data (e.g., member checks, triangulation, etc.).

— Such evidence is placed in the appendices (sample transcripts, researcher logs, field notes, etc.)

Revision

— Be aware that writing the results chapter

will be an iterative (repetitive) process.

— Outline key findings before you describe a complex pattern.

Summary and Conclusion

1. Summarize the major patterns

(findings) discovered.

2. No new information or analysis

should be included

1. The research questions and or hypotheses are analyzed.

2. Report the results obtained.

What issues must be addressed in Chapter 5?

Describe Tests and Data Collection Methods

1. Quantitative designs present results of statistical tests in chapter four.

2. Describe the type of tests that were

chosen and why.

3. Describe the data collection instrument.

4. 4. Does the process of how the data was intended to be collected as stated in Chapters 1 and 3

(methodology) match what is presented in Chapter

4. A common error: what is done in chapter four does not match what the student said she was going to do in the Nature of the Study (Chapter I)

and Chapter Three.

Pilot Study

— Test for validity and accuracy of the

survey with a sub-set of the participants (Sproull, 2004)

— Describe the results of the item analysis, and report the alpha coefficient.

— Describe the factor analysis procedure to determine factor loadings (items that correlate with others to form a factor [variable]).

— Report and any later survey modification before implementing the survey to the rest of the participants.

— If missing data could not be collected, as outlined in chapter three, include reasons why (Creswell, 2004)

Data Analysis

— Analyze each research question or hypothesis.

— Report outcomes of hypothesis testing

procedures:

a. What has the research revealed?

b. To what extent do the results support what is

found in the literature?

c. Are there results that differ from that found in the literature

Consistency of Analysis

Ensure that data analysis (interpretation, explanation, presentation) is consistent with research questions or hypotheses and underlying theoretical conceptual framework for the study.

Present the Data

Present the result of each test in statistical format and

with tables and charts in a visual manner using section

titles related to each hypothesis (Simon, 2006)

1. Prose

2. Tables

3. Figures

Tools for Presenting Results (3 Main Tools)

Tables and Figures

1. Are properly titled and captioned.

2. Are as self-descriptive as possible, informative, and conform to standard dissertation format.

3. Are directly related to and referred to within the narrative.

4. Have immediate comments.

When should we use tables?

Use tables to simplify text that

otherwise would be dense with

numbers

Discuss Validity and Reliability

Add a section after presenting the results of the tests that discusses how the research handled issues of validity and reliability.

Conclusion

Outcomes are systematically

summarized and interpreted in relation

to their importance to the research

questions and hypotheses.

Chapter V Goals

1. To analyse of results in the context of the literature discussed in Chapter 2.

2. To state implications for further research, practice, and or social change.

Qualitative Designs

In qualitative studies, Chapter 5 follows the same major theme section titles as in chapter four

Interpretation of Findings

1. Includes conclusions that address all of the research questions.

2. Contains references to outcomes in Chapter 4.

3. Covers all the data.

4. Is bounded by the evidence collected.

5. Relates the findings to a larger body of literature on the topic, including the conceptual or

theoretical framework

Qualitative Studies

Include a reflection on the researcher's experience with

the research process in which one discusses the following:

— possible personal biases or preconceived ideas and values.

— the possible effects of the researcher on the participants or the situation.

— Your change in thinking as a result of the study.

Quantitative

According to Creswell (2004), the intent of chapter five is to present the findings, implications, recommendations for implementation and actions, and to suggest studies for future research based on the result of the study.

1. Introduction

2. Purpose of the Study

3. Methodology

— Population and Sample

— Instrument

4. Summary of Results (Findings)

5. Discussion of Results (Findings)

— Research Question 1

— Sub-Titles

— Research Question 2, etc.

6. Conclusion

— Implications for Practice

— Implications for Further Researc

Possible Outline

Quantitave Design

— The Chapter is Captioned:

SUMMARY, DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION, AND IMPLICATIONS

— Organize the hypothesis by the level of importance in the study (Sproull, 2004).

Recommendations

— should follow the same logical

flow as the findings and interpretations; presenting

each around the major theme or results of testing in the same order (Creswell, 2004).

— are suggestions for actions, how

leaders can apply the results of the study, for whom, when, and where.

— state who needs to pay attention to

the research results, and how the results might be disseminated (Simon, 2006).

— Relate each recommendation back to the problem. Include a narrative of topics that need closer examination to generate a new round of questions. Be

sure to make specific recommendations for leaders in the field and policy makers

Suggestions for Further Research

— Suggest areas that the results of the study imply would be useful for future research by other researchers (Creswell, 2004).

— Consider the study expansion or implementation with different populations.

— Suggest possible different designs. Do not forget to mention any researcher surprises in the results

Introduction

Introduce the chapter with:

1. the purpose statement as the connecting link among

chapters; it should appear in the introduction of each

chapter (Creswell, 2004).

2. a brief overview of why and how the study was done.

3. a review of the questions or issues being addressed.

4. a brief summary of the results or findings

Summary and Conclusion

Create a strong concluding statement

that will enable the reader to see the

message clearly.