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S-010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative Data Class #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module

Everywhere In Our Professional Lives, Questions Are Addressed And Decisions Made By The Systematic Collection And Processing Of Evidence. If the universe is expanding, will it be easier to find a parking space in Harvard Square?. Have SAT scores declined? By how much?.

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S-010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative Data Class #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module

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  1. Everywhere In Our Professional Lives, Questions Are Addressed And Decisions Made By The Systematic Collection And Processing Of Evidence. If the universe is expanding, will it be easier to find a parking space in Harvard Square? Have SAT scores declined? By how much? In elementary school, are smaller classes better? Are early-exit bilingual programs effective? Has no child been left behind? Different questions demand different evidence … there is no universal methodological panacea! Answering Complex Questions In Education requires A Partnership Of Methodologies!!! S-010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative DataClass #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module

  2. A Quantitative Approach: A Qualitative Approach: S010Y: Answering Questions With Quantitative DataClass #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module Complementary Approaches In The Partnership Are: Start with: S010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative Data • S-504: Introduction to Qualitative Research. • S-710B: Observation and Participation in Qualitative Research • S-710C: Interviewing in Qualitative Research • Continue the sequence: • 2. S-030: Intermediate Statistics • 3. S-052: Applied Data Analysis • 4. S-061: Methods of Educational Measurement • 4. S-077: Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis • 5. S-290: Methods for Causal Inference • 6. Other courses, at HGSE and across Harvard • S-531: Qualitative Research Seminar. • S-522: Analyzing Culture: Dialogue, Discourse & Theme • S-508: Methods of Research in the History of Education • A-162: Portraiture in Social Science • S560: Moving from Data Collection to Analysis of Qualitative Data More details can be found in the “Objectives and Content” handout on the module website.

  3. S010Y: Answering Questions With Quantitative DataClass #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module In S-010Y, Statistical Methods Are Learned By Cognitive Apprenticeship … • Learn New Skills Actively … • By doing things – acquiring new skills by applying new methods to real data and answering real questions. • By participating in a communitywhose members display differing expertise, who model responsible behavior, and who offer feedback and mutual support. • Do What Humans Do Best … • By planning data-analyses to address research questions explicitly and appropriately. • By guiding the computer as it does the legwork, and making sure that it completes the work correctly. • By checking the constraints (assumptions) under which the work has been conducted, have been met. • By interpretingandcommunicating work products for members of your own, and nearby, communities. More details can be found in the “Objectives and Content” handout on the course website.

  4. Perhaps relatively recent events provide an incentive for acquiring complete research skills while you are a member of the HGSE doctoral program … ??? “The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and provides billions of dollars in federal aid, contains111 referencestoscientifically-based research… In all areas of the law’s broad reach, including the big ticket items – teacher quality, safe and drug-free schools, and Title I – states and localities will have to demonstrate that they plan to spend those funds on programs with ascientific track record” Feuer, Towne & Shavelson (Ed. Researcher, 31, 2002) S-010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative DataClass #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module • What is “scientific research”? • Can both quantitative and qualitative research be “scientific”? • What are the unique strengths of the quantitative and qualitative research methodologies?

  5. ‘The ‘Education Sciences Reform Act Of 2002” Says • That Research Is “Scientific” If It … • Uses methodsappropriate to the research question that was posed. • Employs systematic empirical methods that draw on either observation or experiment. • Relies on measurements or observations that provide valid and reliable data. • Involves data analyses that can support the findings. • Makes causal claims only in random assignment experiments or in researchdesigns that eliminate plausible competing explanations for the obtained results. • Is presented with sufficient clarity and detail to permit replication or, at a minimum, to permit others to build systematically on the research. • Obtains acceptance through a comparably rigorous, objective, and scientific review. S-010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative DataClass #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module

  6. “Measurement” “Analysis” “Design” • Where will you conduct your research? • What population of people will you examine? • How will you select the sample of people you will study, from this population? • What variables will be your outcome, which your predictors, and which your controls? • ….? • By what methods will you collect data on your key variables? • How will you ensure your observations and measurements are valid? • How will you ensure your observations and measurements are precise and reliable? • How will you code and format your data for data-analysis? • ….? • How will you analyze your data so that your research question is addressed? • How will you present and displaythe results of your analyses? • How will you interpret and communicate your findings to researchers, to practitioners, to policy-makers and to parents? • …? In All Research, Once You Have Stated A Research Question, There Are Three Critical FacetsOf Any Project… S-010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative DataClass #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module

  7. Some that are just labels … Categorical Data Some that are regular numbers … Continuous Data Some that are part label, part number … Ordinal Data What Types Of Data Are Typically Collected In Quantitative Research? S-010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative DataClass #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module Any self-respecting analytic method must be able to deal with each of these!

  8. What Types Of Data Are Collected? Research Is A Partnership Of Questions And Data “Categorical” Data “Continuous” Data S-010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative DataClass #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module What Kinds Of Question Can Be Asked Of Those Data? Questions That Require Us To Describe Attributes of the Participants, One by One. • How many members of the class are women? • What proportion of the class is fulltime? • …. ? • How tall are class members, on average? • How many hours a week do class members report that they study? • …. ? Questions that Require Us To ExamineRelationships Between Two or More Attributes of the Participants. • Are men more likely to study part-time? • Are women more likely to enroll in CCE? • …. ? • Do people who say they study for more hours also think they’ll finish their doctorate earlier? • Are computer literates less anxious about statistics? • …. ?

  9. Content of the module focuses on Analysis of Quantitative Data, and is organized by: • Type of Data. • Type of Question. S-010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative DataClass #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module

  10. Content of the module focuses on Analysis of Quantitative Data, and is organized by: • Type of Data. • Type of Question. S-010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative DataClass #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module

  11. You need to begin the first of these today … let’s take a look! To succeed in the S-010Y module, you must … Attend, And Participate Fully In, All Classes: • Digitized video of each class is available on the module website for review. Use The Computer To Conduct Statistical Analysis: • Program your analyses with the PC-SAS software. Complete Required Data-Analytic Memoranda (DAMs): • Consists of structured data-analysis and written interpretation. • Complete the DAM thing by collaborating with a partner. • Weekly or bi-weekly, total of two memos. Complete Required Research-Design Memoranda (RDMs): • Readings on research design, applied in the critique of a published study. • Complete the RDM by collaborating with a team. • Weekly or bi-weekly, a total of three memos. Complete The Required Final Examination: • Covers all course content, including readings. • Work alone, take-home, open-book, time-limited (2 days). • Based on professor-supplied “evidentiary materials.” S-010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative DataClass #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module

  12. So, before our next class, you should … • Access the module website, and make sure you check out the Announcements and the eMailbag before you come to the next class. • Read the Announcements and download/print the Materials required for the next class. • Establish a collaborative group – of about four people – to work on the Research Design Memos. • Begin Research Design Memo #1 – you have until next Tuesday, beginning of class. • Identify a partner with whom you will work on future Data-Analytic Memos. S-010Y: Answering Questions with Quantitative DataClass #1: Introducing the S-010Y Module Are there are any questions remaining, about … • Access to, and navigation of, module website? • Details of the module syllabus, organization & logistics? • Details of the schedule of classes/memos/examination? • Anything else … forms, petitions, small personal loans ?

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