1. Data: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Making Sense of It All Dr
Data: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Making Sense of It All Dr. Cheryl Burleigh

2. You may be asking…
How do I collect data?
Once I have start collecting data, how do I organize the information so that data makes sense later on?
Learn tips and tricks of organizing and analyzing data that will make sense for your research study.

3. Topics Data Collecting Data Recruiting Participants Data…Now What
How to Collected Organize Data
Interpretation of Data
Programs for Data Manipulation
Analysis
Validation of Data

4. Data What is data? Used as the basis of reasoning or calculation
Data is measured, collected, reported, and analyzed
Visualized using graphs, images or other analysis tools  
Refers to the fact that some existing information or knowledge is available
Represented or coded in some form suitable for better understanding

6. Data can be in the form of Raw
Data (more data)
Data can be in the form of
Raw
collection of numbers or characters before it has been "cleaned" and corrected by researchers
Field
collected in an environment, generally uncontrolled
Experimental
context of a scientific investigation by observation and recording

7. Prior to collecting data, you need to determine your data sources.
What types of sources are you planning to use?
Primary
the researcher is the first person to obtain the data
Secondary
the researcher obtains the data that has already
been collected by other sources, such as data
disseminated in a scientific journal

8. Recruiting Participants
Where to find participants
Networks: Professional, personal
Social Media
Workplace
Recruiting mechanisms
Professional Snowball
Word of mouth

9. Collecting Data Surveys Survey Monkey Demographic Open-ended
Interviews
Face-to-Face
Telephone
Semi-structured, open-ended
Tape Recording, Field Notes
One-on-One, Focus Groups; Live or virtually

10. Collecting Data (continued)
Observations
Can be done during interviews
Documents
Journal, Personal/Professional/Public Documents, Autobiographies, Biographies
Audiovisual
Photos, Videos, Film, Websites, Social Media
Statistical
Professional Snowball

11. Data….Now What
You have collected your data, now what!?!
Organize your data
Use of tools to help review emerging themes
Interpretation of the data

12. How to Organize Collected Data
Find a system that works best for you
Google Docs
Word
Hard Copies
Binders, File Folders, File Cabinet
Chronological Order
Site Based or Organization Based

13. Programs for Data Manipulation
NVivo
organize and analyze non-numerical or unstructured data. The software allows users to classify, sort and arrange information; examine relationships in the data; and combine analysis with linking, shaping, searching and modeling.
Can be used with various research methodologies
14 day free trial
$85 to /24 months for student
Requires practice

15. Programs for Data Manipulation
DeDoose
Alternative to NVivo
Mixed Methods, Import Articles, Research Notes, Images
Collaborative Research
Inexpensive
Developed from EthnoNotes
30 day free trial
$10.95/active month for student
Requires practice

17. Programs for Data Manipulation
Using what you may have
Word and Excel
Word
Use ctrl + F to find; Navigation
Words
Short Phrases
Excel
Keep tables of data: words, phrases, numerical
Translate to visuals
Process maps, basic flowchart program, PivotTables

18. Interpretation of Data
Making sense of it all
Time to share you findings and draw conclusions from your research data
How do you relate the data collected to chapters 4 of you dissertation?

20. Reading and Noting Emerging Themes
Analysis
Reading and Noting Emerging Themes
Coding: Describing and Classifying Themes
Developing and Assessing Interpretations
Representing and Visualizing Data
Depending on Methodology-Determines the level of detail needed
Grounded Theory and Phenomenology most detailed
Narrative least structured (Creswell & Poth, 2018)

21. Analysis (continued) Key Words or Phrases Themes Subthemes
Awareness, Connections, Relationships, Empowerment
Subthemes
Empathy, Compassion, Healthy Relationships
Overarching theme
Building Bridges: Looking Back, Looking Forward

22. Data analysis methodologies vary
Validation of Data
Data analysis methodologies vary
Researcher’s Lens: Check the accuracy and use validation strategies (Creswell & Poth, 2018)
Triangulation
Discovering negative case analysis
Clarifying researcher bias or engaging in reflexivity

23. Validation (continued)
Participant’s Lens
Member checking or seeking participant feedback
Reviewing transcripts for accuracy
Prolonged engagement and persistent observation in the field
Prior to data collection, familiar with site and participants
Collaborating with participants
Community based participatory research practices

24. Validation (continued)
Reader’s Lens
Enabling external audits
Create tracking document at beginning of study detail key decisions; rationale and potential consequences
Generating a rich, thick description
Review raw data to add further descriptions; ie. Context descriptions
Peer review or debriefing of data and research process
Colleagues, friends in the role as “devil’s advocate”
Keeps the researcher honest

25. Triangulation Data triangulation, most frequently used Commonly used:
method of collecting, classifying and analyzing data using five possible angles of analysis (at least three) in order to maximize the research's objectivity and permit an understanding of the phenomena under investigation as complete as possible
Commonly used:
Semi-structured Interviews
Observations
Documents
Member checking

26. QUESTIONS
Thank you for attending the workshop!

27. References
Creswell, J.W. & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

28. Contact Information
Dr. Cheryl Burleigh
Associate Faculty, College of Humanities and Sciences
Lead Faculty Area Chair College of Humanities and Sciences, Mathematics and Science
Faculty Supervisor, College of Education
Research Fellow-CEITR and Associate Faculty, School of Advanced Studies
Certified Advanced Facilitator
direct