ACTION RESEARCH 1

Interpreting Data
Topic 13

Objectives:
Integrating various sources of data
Connecting the data with literature
review
Summarising the results and

Integrating various sources of

data
Firstly, what are your possible sources
of data when you conducted your AR?
Secondly, What is the need for
integrating the data you get from
various sources?

Possible data sources

Tests
Observations
Checklists
Interviews
Documents
Videos
Field notes

What is the need for integrating the data you

get from various sources?
For the purpose of answering your research
questions and also to look for triangulation.
Why is triangulation important in a research?

Why do you need to interpret

data?
We interpret data to answer the
research questions
To test hypotheses
To draw conclusions
To look at implications

Integrating various sources of data

Quantitative
Qualitative
*** mixed methods

How would you combine two types of data?

Qualitative
Text Data
This is a sample of a
text file of words that
might be collected on
interview transcripts,
observation fieldnotes,
or optically-scanned
documents.

Quantitative Numeric Data

234252311234
233211153412
314455412143
351423155221
535131532251
324431242241
554215

Framework for viewing

perspectives on mixed methods
Quantitative
Data

Qualitative Data
Mixed Methods

A mixed methods researcher

Collects both quantitative and qualitative

data
Mixes them
Mixes them at the same time
(concurrently) or one after the other
(sequentially)
Emphasizes both equally or unequally

How do you interpret the results?

Mixed-methods research design
explanatory mixed-methods designwhereby quantitative data are collected
first , followed by collection of qualitative
data.
The analysis of the data follow the same
sequence.

How do you interpret the results?

Mixed-methods research design
exploratory mixed-methods designwhereby qualitative data are collected and
analysed to provide an initial exploration of the
topic of interest.
Once the data are analysed , the results may
be used to develop some sort of instrument ,
designed to collect numerical data.

How do you interpret the results?

Mixed-methods research design
triangulation mixed-methods design-whereby both the
data are weighed equally. Both the data are collected at about
at the same time.
The results are interpreted simultaneously in a convergent
manner- almost being informally compared in order to
indicate and verify similar sets of results.
This method provides a more comprehensive and convincing
view of the topic being investigated. It reduces biasness and
increases confidence in reporting your research.
(Mertler, 2014:187)

How do you interpret the results?

Show how the results provide answers to the
research questions and interpret the findings.
Explain your findings by relating to the
findings of other studies, models or theories.
Explain why the results turn out the way they
did
Summarise and conclude credibly and
persuasively

SAMPLE 1

THE USE OF SONGS TO INCREASE YEAR 4 BESTARI

STUDENTSMOTIVATION IN THE LANGUAGE ARTS
LESSON OF A PRIMARY ESL CLASSROOM

BY THEEVHIYAA A/P CHANDRASEKARAM

SAMPLE 2

IMPROVING YEAR 5 PRIHATIN

STUDENTS WRITING THROUGH
SHARED WRITING

BY SULAIMAN ALI

Summarising the results

Should be aligned with the research
questions and research
objectives
Main focus is to reiterate your findings
Support your results well with relevant
evidences and literature

Drawing conclusions
Avoid general statements or conclusions
Draw your conclusions from your results /action
research
Conclude if your findings agree with or contradict
with the published research
Relate your results to relevant concepts and
literature review as discussed in the Introduction
Did your findings/results produce new
understanding?-relate and discuss

Gentle reminder
Use the active voice (Mom read the novel in one
day. (active). The novel was read by Mom in one day
(passive).

Be concise, make your points clear

Avoid wordy phrases
Refer to past research work done in past
tense
Refer to generally accepted facts and
principles in present tense

TUTORIAL TASK
Get into groups in your own class.
Select one set of quantitative data and one set of
qualitative data.
Interpret both the data sets.
Relate them to your research question.
Tie them to literature to support.