1. Analyzing Small Group Research DR. Joann Keyton

2. Collecting and Analyzing Data
Validity, reliability, and credibility of the data and research design
Quantitative and qualitative research
Strengths and limitations
Determine applicability of research findings
applicability
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Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

3. What question do you want to answer?
Who is best for answering the question?
What data will you collect?
How will the data be analyzed?
6/10/2017
Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

4. Survey Data: Closed Questions
Simple yes/no
Categorical data
Specific piece of information
Categorical data – or -- continuous level data
Scaled questions
Continuous level data
Ideal for attitudes and perceptions
Can require multiple items to fully explore
Needs a stimulus statement
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Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

5. Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research
Categorical Data
One variable
Analyze with frequency, chi-square
Two variables
Analyze with contingency analysis
Not valid if
less than 5 responses
in a cell
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Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

6. Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research
Limitations of 2
Does not give much information about the strength of the relationship or its substantive significance in the population
Sensitive to sample size
Size of the calculated chi-square is directly proportional to the size of the sample
Sensitive to small expected frequencies in one or more of the cells
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Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

7. Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research
Continuous Data
Scales should
Have odd number of responses
5 or 7 point recommended
Responses must be balanced and equal distance
Assign numerical values to responses; add score
Completely satisfied 5
Mostly
Satisfied  4
Unsure 3
Dissatisfied  2
Completely 1
Completely satisfied
Mostly
Satisfied 
Unsure
Dissatisfied 
Completely
6/10/2017
Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

8. Descriptive Statistics
Mean, standard deviation, and range
For every continuous level variable
Correlation
Linear relationship of two continuous variables
t-test
Difference between two related groups on a continuous level variable
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Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

9. Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research
Statistics
Excel
SPSS
SAS R
Degree of User
Difficulty
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Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

10. Common Statistical Errors
Differences considered significant when they are not
Why not significant?
Small sample size
Sample not representative of population
Selected wrong statistic
Error in calculation
Error in interpretation
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Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

11. Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research
Statistics
Laws of probability
Randomness
Normal curve
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Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

12. Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research
Statistics for Small n
Analogous to making astronomical observations with binoculars 
You’ll find the big things
Miss the smaller things
Two sample t-test
Confidence intervals
Statistical Strategies for Small Sample Research
Nonparametric statistics
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Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

13. Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research
Focus Groups
Focus group schedule (or questions)
Selection and training of moderator
Selection of focus group participants
Conducting the focus group
Analyzing the data
Drawing conclusions
6/10/2017
Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

14. Selecting Focus Group Participants
The ideal group
They share a characteristic important to the RQ
But don’t know one another
Enough similarity but with different perspectives
How many?
3 to 5 groups better than one big group
Conducting the focus group
Take advantage of the group dynamic
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Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

15. Analyzing Focus Group Data
Create seating map
Create a transcription
Do not tidy up participants’ talk
No o-o-o-o is not the same as No
Notate transcription with nonverbal behaviors
Do the data present?
Similarities or contradictions
Expected or unexpected findings
Caution about accepting your first ah-ha
6/10/2017
Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

16. What question do you want to answer?
Who is best for answering the question?
What data will you collect?
How will the data be analyzed?
6/10/2017
Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research

17. Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research
Dr. Joann Keyton
Professor, Communication, North Carolina State University
Editor, Small Group Research
Author, Communication Research Methods
Conducts research with qualitative, quantitative, and textual approaches
6/10/2017
Joann Keyton: Analyzing Small Group Research