Developing a data collection plan

1. Developing a data collection plan TIIICL Workshop Summer 2005

2. Types of data: Existing and archival • Lesson plans • Student work • Other artifacts

3. Types of data: Generated data • Surveys • Checklists • Interviews • Outside observers • Photo evidence • Tape/video recordings

4. Developing a data collection plan First write down a statement of your question. Then answer the following questions:

5. Developing a data collection plan • What do you need to know? • What types of data will provide you with the information that you need? • What types of data are already available to you (existing archival sources and other artifacts)?

6. Developing a data collection plan • What types of data do you need to generate? • What instruments will you need to generate and collect data?

8. Guidelines and Recommendations for Data Collection • Use multiple data sources. • Collect existing archival data immediately, then move to conventional and inventive sources. • Collect data regularly. • Seek technical assistance

9. Points to keep in mind • Keep it simple; • Pay attention to both quantitative and qualitative data; • Schedule time to organize data; • Discuss the data with “critical friends”; and • Seek technical assistance.

10. Check of data collection plan • Is there congruence between your question and the data sources that you identified? • Are you using multiple data sources to clarify the picture being developed? • Are you gathering data frequently enough so that it can be used to inform your current practice as well as your future actions?

11. Check of data collection plan • Are you collecting data about how students/faculty/administration/parents feel and perceive their experiences? • Are you collecting data about how you feel and perceive your experiences?

12. Triangulation • Triangulate with multiple sources of data • Triangulate with multiple explanations