Data Collection & Triangulation

1. Data Collection & Triangulation By Leah Woerner

2. Something to think about… • “Sometimes teachers create great research designs and plan to collect amazing amounts of data in diverse and creative ways, but when they actually begin their study, the data process feels overwhelming and uncomfortable. Try to select sources that will fit not only into your research questions, but also the constraints of the school day and you school life” (Falk & Blumenreich, 2005, p. 91).

3. Ways to Collect Data • Observations • Interviews • Student Work Samples • Field Notes • Surveys • Journals • Photographs • Audio tapes/ Video tapes

4. Observations/ Field Notes • “Field notes of observations in the classroom are a staple of qualitative research methods. They should contain detailed and concrete descriptive information about the setting, context, and the personal interactions of what/ who is being observed” (Falk & Blumenreich, 2005, p. 92). • Advantages: a chronological account of your observations are documented and specific behaviors of students are observed • Disadvantages: Material can contain biases and sometimes all accounts are not fully documented (pieces may be missing)

5. Interviews & Surveys • Provides the researchers with an understanding of their participants perspectives on the issues they are studying. • Open-ended questions are used to generate explicit in-depth explanations from the participants. • Advantages: gather different perspectives, first hand account of what participants feel, and the information can be confidential • Disadvantages: Information may be missing, results can be skewed by the participant, and there may be a lack of desire to participate by students

6. Student Work Samples • Work samples provide teachers with real-life work that is performed within the classroom. It “uncovers nuances of how students approach their learning, and reveal students’ strengths and recurring interests” ” (Falk & Blumenreich, 2005, p. 102). • Use of photographs are highly beneficial because a picture can capture a students learning and provide examples of how students execute their work. • Advantages: Work samples show what you have been doing in the classroom • Disadvantages: Can be limited, work samples do not always show what researchers are looking for

7. Professional Journal • By keeping a journal throughout research, teacher researchers are able to record their thoughts, ideas, questions, frustrations, and plan from their observations. • Having a reflective journal as a teacher researcher is very important because it allows teachers to track their findings each day and begin analyzing material as an ongoing process. • Advantages: All memories during research are documented and easily accessible to analyze • Disadvantages: Information written in personal journals can sometimes be biased, therefore teachers must “openly admit to them and continually reflect on how these biases may effect what you conclude” ” (Falk & Blumenreich, 2005, p. 29)

8. Importance of Data Triangulation • “One observation or one piece of evidence may not be representative of the trend that numerous observations or pieces of evidence might reveal” (Falk & Blumenreich, 2005, p. 121). • Therefore, by triangulating data, researchers offer multiple ways of showing how conclusions have been made during research. By showing more than one source of data your research becomes valid and reliable for readers. • Falk & Blumenreich (2005) describe the concept of triangulation in qualitative research as “trends and themes needed to be confirmed in more than one data source to ensure that the findings of a study are not merely happenstance” (p.122).

9. According to Fellow Teacher Researchers Data Triangulation… • “Makes your research credible and shows multiple pieces of evidence to back up theories.” • “Backs-up and supports what ever you say with research based evidence.” • “Just makes sense…having multiple angles provides researchers with much more ah-ha moments.”

10. My Current Research on Self-Regulated Strategy Development Instruction for Struggling Writers • As a participant-observer in the literacy clinic, I will analyze data collected while performing remedial procedures to assist a student that struggles with writing. • A personal reflective journal will be used to help centralize my learning and planning throughout the process. • My procedure for collecting data will include: student interviews, student work, observations, photographs, and pre- and post-assessments. • By collecting multiple forms of data during research, I will be able to triangulate my research data and support my findings by using various different samples of work. Connections will be made based on different forms of data collected.

11. Throughout this course: • I have learned valuable methods to use as a future teacher researcher. I have been exposed to multiple different genres used for writing qualitative research papers and the benefits and disadvantages each form has to offer. This course has opened my eyes to all of the different possible ways to collect data, analyze data, and present it to the community.

12. My Future as a Teacher Researcher • In the future, I plan to use educational research within my own classroom to support and direct my instruction. Also, I hope to have the opportunity to perform my own teacher research as a way to open the door to new learning possibilities for my students. Overall, my main goal is to perform research that will guide my future classroom practices and inform the greater educational community on ways to successfully meet the needs of all students. • I hope that my fellow colleagues will do the same and strive to make the educational system better for both students and other teachers. I would like to end by wishing everyone the best of luck in all their future endeavors.