By Vanessa Allen & Joshua Bullock EDRS 662 Action Research July 23, 2009

Qualitative Research identifies problems or features which can make an impact on an issue currently being studied. The process by which researchers use to identify these key elements and make selection of events is the analysis process. Data Analysis requires the researcher to sort through a large amount of data to identify which information is important to the issue being studied. Framework from data gathering to data analysis can be described as the “look-think-act cycle” of action research. Look (Information) Act Think Data Analysis (Action) (Reflection)

Part 1: Vanessa Indentifying Significant Experiences And Their Events. Part 2: Joshua Categorizing And Coding.

Analysis is a tool in which the features and elements provide valuable means in forming action to solve problems within a study. Researchers believe through the use of Data Analysis each individual or participant will have a clear understanding of natural events, which become the focus of the process of analysis.

Part 1: Vanessa

Transformational Moments are the conceptualization of key experiences in research literature that reveal the particular ways in which researchers understand the underlined dynamics of a particular group of events. Key Experiences emerge as moments of clarity or “ah-ha” experiences in the life of the participants involved within the study. These experiences do not have to have occurred during a life-shattering time or a moment of joy, but any instance in which the participant is experiencing a natural occurrence in the research process. Illuminative are turning points or experiences, of interactional moments in which participants lives can become transformational. Some believe illuminative can develop out of the least likely places such as a book, a conversation or an email. Analyzing Key Experiences between teachers, students and parents viewing the same situation from various points of view. The next slide shows how data is related to the viewpoints of the various participants concerning a school issue.

Individuals are isolated if their perspectives or experience are seen as being typical of others within a particular setting or with significant perspectives. For example: A student in a classroom whose behavior is disruptive, or a teacher who constantly complains about school administration, may have a significant effect on ongoing events in the classroom or school environment. Selecting key people should be from the following stakeholding group: Represent diverse perspectives from within the group. Are likely to have a significant impact on the group. Have seemingly typical experiences and perspectives. Have particularly unusual or significant experiences or perspectives.

Acquired information from stakeholders for review during the data gathering stage. Participant’s data should have identified key experiences. Breakdown events with great detailed elements & features in which key experiences are constructed. Use the features to construct individual accounts describing how some individual experiences & interpret the researched problems. Using features & elements of individual accounts construct joint accounts, which reveal experiences of each stakeholder group. Lastly, use the joint account information to form collective accounts. These accounts list the events by comparing and contrasting perspectives of the various stakeholding group within a setting.

“True or Real” illuminative are revealed during the research process which derive from significant events. “True or Real” illuminative are most revealed in participant’s interviews where they provide valuable & nonverbal clues expressed through emotions, which suggest to researchers further researching is needed. Researchers should focus on a participant’s: Tone of Voice Terminology Body Language Emphasis Given to Certain Events

Key events have complex range of intensity and meaning to the participants, and can be expressed by the following expressions listed on pg. 93. I passed! I passed! I passed! Oh, Jane. That is just wonderful. That is the best work I’ve seen from you in a long time. I knew you had it in you. If he does that one more time I’ll scream!

Key experiences do not occur just in large events, but can happen in the most easily and insignificant way. These moments are illuminative reflections of clarity for the participants. Researchers need to identify the information to enable them to build accounts in assisting them to understand the way in which experiences impact a participant’s life. Participant’s experiences can be collected in a journal or a researcher’s field notes from interviews or natural observations. When “unpacking” researchers need to ask the following questions: What type of phenomena is used in the features of experiences? i.e. acts, activities, events, times, places, purposes & emotions. Ask framework questions beginning with who, what, when, where how & why. How is this event significant for each participant? What are the features of this event they would see as being significant?

Significant events are used to provide follow-up interviews, which enable participants to breakdown & explore the meanings within a single event. A single event can provide enough insight for researchers to start understanding the behavioral patterns of the subjects involved. Using participant’s terms & concepts: Researchers should always use participant’s own talk to label important concepts and categories during data analysis. Researchers might need terminology which allows researchers to describe events using similar terms or phases. These words would focus on the central features of the action research.

Some of the sources information is acquired through are observations & artifact reviews such as: test results, records, documents, materials and equipment. Also literature reviews are used to enhance research conclusions for the participants. Examples of reviewed information related to children’s events & activities: Obs. of children’s activities, their participation in events in classrooms, the school year, or other relevant settings. Visual recordings of their activities, including verbal interactions. Drawings and artwork. Class written work. Letters. Stories, verbal & written. Play. Drama.

Participants share accounts deriving out of individual interviews, creating a joint account, which in turn, researchers come back to the interviewing phase to reflect on the accounts of the participants. Stakeholders come together and share information from their own experiences & perspectives. This allows collaboration between members to build a framework which starts the production of new ideas which lead to more research into an individual’s experiences & perspectives.

Data Analysis is a way to process large amounts of qualitative and quantitative data which uncovers the central themes, perspectives and experiences that clarify information to researchers and their participants.

Part 2: Joshua