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Data analysis in Action Research
Action Research
Student Name:
Institution:
Date:
Action ResearchData analysis would be the most difficult step in the action research process to carry out. This step requires a lot of reasoning and judgment. The data analysts have a huge workload to begin with and the analysis has to be done in a sociotechnical environment. There is also the issue of time pressure. The huge workload must be analyzed within a short period yet the quality of analysis should not be affected by this. The analyst must be aware that these data are not necessarily true. Deception might have occurred during the collection of the data or wrong inferences might have been made. The analyst has to verify the data and this will be added on to their list of challenges. There is also high pressure that the analyst should not miss anything during their analysis. They must produce timely and actionable results from their analysis.
Analysts are discouraged from making generalizations. Rules have exceptions as they do not always apply to every situation. Before drawing conclusions, they must ensure that the rubrics of the rules they are subscribing to are all met to the latter. Analysis is a highly iterative cycle that involves Requirements, collection, specification, dissemination, and production. The analyst needs to view the data from very different perspectives so that they can examine the competing hypotheses and be able to understand a complex issue. Their primary role is to add value to the raw data they presented with and make meaning of the jargons. They have to integrate disparate information and provide an interpretation that would make sense to those who will need to use their analyses.
I think it would be more feasible to conduct action research in small groups. It would be advantageous to carry out the research in small groups since more data will be collected this way as more people will be interviewed and more ground will be covered. It would however be disadvantageous since when researchers are many then information is more likely to be distorted. An advantage of conducting the research as an individual is that the information is more likely to be accurate since it does not pass through a lot hands. One disadvantage is that an individual will take a lot time to collect enough data.
The possible benefits of communicating the results of action research studies with various educational audiences are that sharing the information would help the researcher know where they went wrong. Subjecting the information to the scrutiny of the educational audiences would help bring out the errors and weaknesses of the judgments made. This will help build on the effectiveness of the solution that will be formulated based on the action research. When one communicates the results of action research studies with various educational audiences then chances are that the researcher might meet an audience that has experienced or researched on the same problem before and had come up with either a better solution or a solution that was an improvement of the current solution. This would save the researcher a lot of time and money as they will not waste these resources trying to implement a policy or solution that cannot be rated as the best. Sharing information can also result in invention of more efficient research techniques and the audience together with the researcher can gain additional information during the discussion.
Using the four-stage procedure for action research as presented in the chapter, I would systematically examine the problem as follows:
The Planning Stage
First of all, I have identified the topic of research to be low mathematics scores in the school. The next step would be to gather preliminary information about the research topic. I will conduct interviews with the students and teachers to assess their opinions on the research topic. I will then visit the library and review books that shed light on this matter. Lastly, I will come up with a research methodology.
The acting stage
In this stage I will implement the research methodology and analyze the data that I will have collected. I will decide on the type of data that I want to collect and the best ways of collecting it. I will use both qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods to analyze the data collected.
The developing stage
I will then develop an action plan that will be based on the data I would have collected and the analysis that I will have made from the data.
The reflecting stage
Lastly, I will summarize my study results, create a strategy that I will to share the results with the teachers and students, and reflect on the process of the action research. Sharing the information will help in solving the problem we have in school of low mathematics score.
Action research study that I might conduct conforming to the nine-step process as presented in the chapter is:
Identifying and Limiting the Topic
My first decision will be deciding to study the low mathematics scores in the school. I am curious to know why the students in my school have relatively lower scores in mathematics than in other subjects.
Gathering information
My next move would be to gather information on the low mathematics scores in the school. I will rely on description, self-reflection and explanation when am conducting my reconnaissance study.
Reviewing the Related Literature
I will refer to professional books, complete websites, research journals, teacher resource manuals, district or school documents, and discussions between me and my colleagues to gather additional information.
Developing a Research plan
I will focus on my research question which is low mathematics scores in the school to formulate my research methodology.
Implementing the Plan and Collecting Data
I will choose interviews and referring to books in the library as my method of data collection. I will interview the teachers, parents and students.
Analyzing the Data
I will analyze the data I have collected soon as I have finished with the collection. These data to be analyzed will be both qualitative and quantitative.
Developing an Action Plan
After interpreting the results of the analysis I will develop a plan of action. I will come up tangible ideas that could help solve the problem in hand.
Sharing and Communicating the Results
I will then share the information by posting it on the school website and inviting anyone who has an addition or subtractions to feel free to comment on my pot.
Reflecting on the Process
I will engage in a systematic reflection of the research process so that I can critically examine my practice.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Name:
Institution:
Date:
Complementary and alternative medicine has gained popularity over the past few years as more people turn to this form of medicine to treat various ailments. In some cases, CAM is used in conjunction with conventional medicine, while in other instances, it is the last resort when conventional treatment methods have failed. There are forms of CAM, including acupuncture, chiropractic medicine, Ayurveda, homeopathy, among many others. Treatments classified under CAM are any of those that do not fall under conventional treatment methods. CAM differs from conventional methods in many ways, with the most significant being regulation. In examining Complementary and alternative medicine, some significant areas of interest include regulation, relationship with conventional medicine and the effectiveness of different types of CAM.
In the United States and many other countries across the world, CAM is largely unregulated. Some CAM treatments are recognized under government regulations, but most are not. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for regulating conventional medicine, especially drugs and equipment used in medical procedures (Darrow et al., 2020). Before any drug or equipment is approved for use, there should be rigorous testing and a strict approval process designed to protect the safety of users. Complementary medicine must be proven to be effective for the conditions they treat through extensive and rigorous procedures. For this reason, conventional medicine is a trusted and reliable treatment for most illnesses. In contrast, CAM relies on history and opinions of practitioners and users, without any clinical trials that prove their efficiency. This leaves people who use CAM at risk due to a lack of regulation. For example, the FDA classifies most drugs and supplements under CAM as food, meaning risk falls on the consumers. Many people who choose CAM do so because they are looking for a more natural way to treat their illness (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2021). However, natural is not always safe, which is why it is best to use drugs and treatments that have been scientifically tested.
The National Institute of Cancer, which falls under the National Institute of Health, gives useful definitions of the terms alternative, complementary, and integrative used in CAM. Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional treatments. Complementary medicine is used in conjunction with conventional medicine and is not considered a standard form of treatment. Integrative medicine combines conventional medicine with CAM treatments that have been scientifically tested and proven based on patients’ wishes (National Institute of Cancer). Conventional medicine plays a role in complementary and integrative medicine, but not in alternative medicine since it is not used. In integrative medicine, conventional medicine plays a central role as it is used with proven CAM treatments. In complementary medicine, conventional treatments also play a central role as CAM is only used to supplement them.
The main philosophy underlying complementary medicine is holistic care, which involves treating patients based on the idea of a whole person. If one part of the whole is unwell, it causes problems in other parts. When treating patients, CAM practitioners look at the whole body rather than just specific parts of the body. CAM also explores the relationship between the physical, spiritual, psychological, social, emotional and other aspects of a person.
Chronic pain is a major problem that is difficult for many patients to deal with. Chronic pain is also a characteristic of terminal and incurable illnesses such as cancer and arthritis. Alternative medicine procedures such as acupuncture can be quite helpful in lessening the pain and suffering that comes with such conditions. Osteoarthritis is a serious medical condition that affects joints and bones that worsens over time. Acupuncture can be effective in addressing this pain and make the patients more comfortable. Acupuncture is used as an integrative treatment as patients use both conventional medicine and acupuncture together. Vickers et al. conducted a secondary study that examined the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic pain. They examined the results from 39 trials that involved 20 827 patients (Vickers et al. 2018). They concluded that acupuncture is effective for the treatment fi chronic pain, and its effects persisted over time.
In summary, complementary and alternative medicine is a noteworthy form of treatment that more people are taking note of. These practices have been in use for hundreds of years and proved to be effective, especially before conventional medicine was established. There are both pros and cons of CAM, and patients must take these into account before choosing CAM. One major challenge is the lack of regulation that leaves patients vulnerable in case of any accidents or dangerous side effects. CAM can be beneficial in case of chronic and terminal illnesses. The government should put in place regulations for CAM so that patients can get the benefits of these treatments and be sure that they are safe.
References
Darrow, J. J., Avorn, J., & Kesselheim, A. S. (2020). FDA approval and regulation of pharmaceuticals, 1983-2018. Jama, 323(2), 164-176.
Vickers, A. J., Vertosick, E. A., Lewith, G., MacPherson, H., Foster, N. E., Sherman, K. J., … & Acupuncture Trialists’ Collaboration. (2018). Acupuncture for chronic pain: update of an individual patient data meta-analysis. The Journal of Pain, 19(5), 455-474.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2021, 6 June). “Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better.” https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/know-science/natural-doesnt-mean-betterNational Cancer Institute. (2021, 5 May). “Complementary and Alternative Medicine.” https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam
Data Analysis Evaluation of Dissertation
Data Analysis Evaluation of Dissertation
Were the data analysis methods used appropriately for the qualitative tradition or research design (e.g., case study, ethnography, grounded theory, etc.)? Why or why not?
The design of the project conducted by the researcher is a rhetorical assumption of qualitative study via a phenomenological lens. This is to mean that the study in question is based on a research design called phenomenology. Phenomenology is a traditional research design in German philosophy that emphasizes on the essence of an experienced experience. Those involved in a phenomenological study put a lot of emphasis on the meaning of a certain aspect of the experience, assuming that through reflection and dialogue the quintessential meaning of that lived experience will be remembered and reviewed, language is usually viewed as the central symbol system via which meaning is conveyed and constructed. The aims and objectives of a phenomenological study are interpretation, description and critical self- evaluation and reflection into the world as it is. Central are the ideologies of caring and intentionality; the researcher inquires about the importance of such an experience (Holstein & Gubrium, 1994).
Having established that, it is easy to see that the researcher in this case appropriately made use of the research design essential for carrying out a phenomenology study. The reason why the paper makes this conclusion is that the researcher made use of all or almost all of the relevant steps in data analysis of phenomenological data. The researcher identifies the essential statements, created meaning units, clustered themes, and advanced structural and textural designs, in addition to, making a composite description of the structural and textural descriptions into an exhaustive description of the crucial invariant structure. Next, the researcher compared different transcript responses for the purposes of finding themes and pinpointing the essential phrases give an understanding of how the subjects experienced or lived the experience. Next, the researcher coded the responses by assigning them a symbol. Finally, the researcher clustered the similar responses under one category.
This is the most appropriate manner of data analysis when it comes to this kind of study. According to a number of experts on the issue, transcripts are coded into significant details with emphasis shifting forth and back from the main claims of the subjects, to the interpretation of the researcher of the meaning of such claims. The researcher comes up with codes from the collected data. After transcribing this data, the researcher then works intensely and closely with the text annotating or coding it closely for insights into the experiences of the participants. As the analysis develops, the researcher catalogues the codes that have emerged and consequently starts to look for patterns in the codes. These are what are referred to as themes. Some themes will eventually be categorized under larger categories called – ordinate themes (Patton, 1990).
The above paragraph describes what has already been established as the proper design for analyzing data in a phenomenological research. According to the report generated by the researcher, the documented study utilized the appropriate data analysis design.
Were all aspects of the data analysis methods described or justified sufficiently? If not, what could have the author said and why? If sufficient, explain why you think so.
According to Patton (1990), the emphasis of a phenomenological research lies in the descriptions of what the participants experience and how it their experience. The aim is to pin point the importance of shared experience that underlies all the differences in this certain experience. The importance is seen as commonalities in most experiences of humans. According to Patton (1990), the elements of data analysis in a phenomenological study are five. The five is called epoche and it is the stage which the researcher clarifies or eliminates a preconception. The researchers, therefore, have to be aware of prejudices and preconceptions made of the phenomenon in question (Schwandt, 2000). The second step is phenomenological reduction in which the researcher singles out the presuppositions and the world to identify the data in its purest forms, uncontaminated by other intrusions. Bracketing is the third stage, which involves identification of the main phrases, interpretation of the phrases, identifying the participant’s interpretation, inspecting the meaning of their implications and offering a tentative statement or definition. The fourth stage is the textural portrayal of each theme, or the description of the experience. The final and fifth stage involves the establishment of a structural synthesis.
According to the steps narrated above, it is clear that the researcher tried to follow the design and format of data analysis of a phenomenological study but failed to execute all of the essential elements or steps. Though the major steps in analysis were followed and identified in the study, it is also clear that the researcher left out a few. For instance, the research data analysis did not include the first phase of a phenomenological data analysis. The researcher also left out the second step or touched on it lightly. It is evident that the study emphasized more on the third stage and all of its steps. For the research to be more appropriate, the study should have included all of the steps described above.
Do you think the data needed to answer the research questions could have been analyzed as effectively using other data analysis methods? If so, what other methods would you recommend and why? If not, why not/ this includes data analysis methods, as well as, how they were conducted or implemented.
Yes. The study could have been conducted using another more efficient form of data analysis other that the phenomenological approach. One of the most appropriate and effective approaches in studying and interpreting common themes and human behavior is called constant comparative analysis. Many qualitative analysis approaches depend on a general strategy referred to as constant comparative analysis. This strategy involves taking one piece of data and comparing it with other pieces of data that may be different or similar for developing conceptualizations of the possible connections between different kinds of data. For instance, by comparing the experiences or accounts of two individuals who experienced similar situations, a researcher might be able to come up with certain analytical questions that might be helpful in comparing experiences. In most qualitative surveys whose objective is to generate information about similar themes and patterns within human experiences, this approach continues with comparing each new account or interview until all have been compared (Glaser & Straus, 1967). The study could have benefited more with such a thorough approach of data analysis, since a constant comparative analysis approach is a more superior way of comparing similar or different pieces of information generated from a study.
References
Glaser, G. & Strauss, L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory. Hawthorne, NY: Aldine.
Holstein, A. & Gubrium, F. (1994). Phenomenology, ethnomethodology, and interpretive practice. In N. Denzin & S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Patton, Q. (1990). Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Schwandt, A. (2000). Three epistemological stances for qualitative inquiry: Interpretivism, hermeneutics, and social construction. In K. Denzin & S. Lincoln, (Eds). Handbook of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.