Wrapping Up
Last week we talked about analyzing data. I created this "Sketch Notes" of the things I learned. Overall, the most important things I learned are that
1) Coding is important to reduce bias, draw out themes, and help the researcher come to a deeper understanding of the data.
2) There are many different coding techniques. Researchers often will find a good one that works for their research and stick with it for most of their career. Knowing all the different types of coding isn't important. Knowing where to look for your coding techniques, making sure you cite your sources or explain your methods clearly, and using the right kind for your research are important.
This current week we reflected on what we'd learned throughout the semester. When asked, "what is research to you?" at the start of the semester I responded with this image:
I thought of a person, at a desk, on a computer, crunching numbers. I thought of people talking and collaborating. I thought of observations and I thought of experiments.
Now, looking back, I wouldn't say that I was incorrect. I like my depiction of research more now than I did then. Looking at my picture the four different scenarios I drew have even deeper meaning for me.
The person at a computer reminds me of all the deep effort a qualitative researcher puts into the literature review, gathering data, organizing the data, planning the research process and getting it approved, coding and delving deep into the data, writing the final paper, and presenting it.
The people collaborating reminds me of how important it is to collaborate with your librarian, your faculty mentor, colleagues, administrators, and other researchers.
The person observing reminds me of how fascinating qualitative research is. it is subjective. You need to interpret the data within the context. It is prone to bias, which is to be recognized and admitted openly. It's a research process where you get to delve in and try to understand from an inside perspective. It is inductive. It is important.
Finally, the last picture reminds me of what a trial and error process research is. You learn what to do better next time. You adjust as you go through the process. You can apply it to your classrooms and many practical settings.
Now when I think of qualitative research I think of the image below. I think of people learning, making connections, and ultimately coming to deeper understandings of people, emotions, circumstances, situations, and phenomenons.
(retrieved from https://www.gtac.edu.au/teacher/programs/making-connections-at-gtac/)
1) Coding is important to reduce bias, draw out themes, and help the researcher come to a deeper understanding of the data.
2) There are many different coding techniques. Researchers often will find a good one that works for their research and stick with it for most of their career. Knowing all the different types of coding isn't important. Knowing where to look for your coding techniques, making sure you cite your sources or explain your methods clearly, and using the right kind for your research are important.
This current week we reflected on what we'd learned throughout the semester. When asked, "what is research to you?" at the start of the semester I responded with this image:
I thought of a person, at a desk, on a computer, crunching numbers. I thought of people talking and collaborating. I thought of observations and I thought of experiments.
Now, looking back, I wouldn't say that I was incorrect. I like my depiction of research more now than I did then. Looking at my picture the four different scenarios I drew have even deeper meaning for me.
The person at a computer reminds me of all the deep effort a qualitative researcher puts into the literature review, gathering data, organizing the data, planning the research process and getting it approved, coding and delving deep into the data, writing the final paper, and presenting it.
The people collaborating reminds me of how important it is to collaborate with your librarian, your faculty mentor, colleagues, administrators, and other researchers.
The person observing reminds me of how fascinating qualitative research is. it is subjective. You need to interpret the data within the context. It is prone to bias, which is to be recognized and admitted openly. It's a research process where you get to delve in and try to understand from an inside perspective. It is inductive. It is important.
Finally, the last picture reminds me of what a trial and error process research is. You learn what to do better next time. You adjust as you go through the process. You can apply it to your classrooms and many practical settings.
Now when I think of qualitative research I think of the image below. I think of people learning, making connections, and ultimately coming to deeper understandings of people, emotions, circumstances, situations, and phenomenons.
(retrieved from https://www.gtac.edu.au/teacher/programs/making-connections-at-gtac/)
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