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Data Collection and Triangulation

Data Collection and Triangulation. Edwin D. Bell Winston-Salem State University. What Do You Want to Know?. Your data collection method is determined by the questions that you wish to ask.

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Data Collection and Triangulation

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  1. Data Collection and Triangulation Edwin D. Bell Winston-Salem State University

  2. What Do You Want to Know? • Your data collection method is determined by the questions that you wish to ask. • You need to identify a data source, i.e., where you want to get the information from, which may be people or things, e.g. records, minutes, or newspapers.

  3. How Do You Get It? • How you get the data that you wish from the data source is called the data collection method. • The methods may include: tests, surveys, interviews, attitude scales, observations, and journals (see Mills, 2003, Chapter 3)

  4. Triangulation • It is generally accepted in action research “that researchers should not rely on any single source of data, interview, observation, or instrument” (Mills, 2003, p. 52) • “In research terms, this desire to use multiple sources of data is referred to as triangulation.” ( Mills, 2003, p. 52)

  5. Sample Triangulation Matrix • On the following slide is a sample triangulation matrix for an action research project of a teacher that wanted to see if some new instructional software would improve students keyboarding skills

  6. Research Question Data Sources Students Students Students Parents Records 1. Pre-existing knowledge Student Survey Computer Knowledge Pretest 2. Keyboarding Speed Pretest Posttest Teacher help 3. Appropriate use of WP Pretest software Posttest software Timed typing Teacher constructed Test 4. Time on Computers Student survey Parent Survey School Lab records Figure 1. Triangulation Matrix Example ( Mills, 2003)

  7. Data Collection Considerations • Reliability and validity • Golafshani (2003) made the point that in qualitative research reliability and validity is replaced by the idea of trustworthiness, which is defensible and recommended triangulation as a way to establish this trustworthiness of the results of a study.

  8. References • Golafshani, N. (2003). Understanding reliability and validity in qualitative Research. The Qualitative Report, 8(4), 597-607. Retrieved 8/24/07 from http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR8-4/golafshani.pdf • Mills, G. E. (2003), Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher, 2nd Edition, Merrill/Prentice-Hall: Upper saddle River, NJ.

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