What’s Next?

Session 3M.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

It is likely that there is a real difference

Degrees of freedom (typically n-1)

Value calculated by the t-test

Probability that this difference is due to chance alone

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 differenceStandardized 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. DONE!

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