Data Collection Instruments And Procedures For Action Resear
Data Collection Instruments And Procedures Action Research Proposa
Data Collection, Instruments, and Procedures – Action Research Proposal As we have discussed so far in this course, we are using a mixed-method approach for your proposed action research study so you gain experience and skills in using both approaches to collecting data. If you plan to implement your action research in the future, you may need to further consider if your research question lends itself to a more qualitative or quantitative approach to data collection. The mixed-methods design for your proposed study allows you to consider how each method of data collection can support a deeper understanding of your area of focus, the effectiveness of your intervention, and the answer to your research question.
This week you will work on the next section that will contribute to your Final Action Research Proposal by examining both qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection, generating one instrument you can use to collect data in your study, considering how you will establish trustworthiness in your study, and planning your procedures for data collection. Please be sure to carefully review the Instructor Guidance, the course Anchor Paper, and course readings for this week to inform the development of this assignment. * Reminder to Students: Remember to save all copies of your work throughout the course as you will use each assignment as part of the Final Action Research Proposal. For many of the discussions and assignments, you are building on your work each week, so it is appropriate to use content from your discussions in your weekly assignments, generally expanding and extending concepts and sections as you progress from week to week.
You will have the opportunity to make revisions to each section of your proposal based on instructor and peer feedback prior to your final version in the Final Action Research Proposal, so be sure to revisit the feedback you have received from your instructor and classmates each week to continuously refine your proposal throughout the course.
Content Expectations
Data Collection – Qualitative: In one to two paragraphs, justify one qualitative (experience-based) instrument that would be used in your proposed study to collect data on the effectiveness of your intervention in answering your research question(s). Provide support from the research, literature, and textbook to explain why this would be an effective method for collecting data.
Data Collection – Quantitative: In one to two paragraphs, justify one quantitative (number-based) instrument that would be used in your proposed study to collect data on the effectiveness of your intervention in answering your research question(s). Provide support from the research, literature, and textbook to explain why this would be an effective method for collecting data.
Instrument: Design one instrument, either quantitative or qualitative, that you could use to collect data to answer your research question(s) and to determine the effectiveness of your intervention. Remember to review the data collection technique sections in the text and in this week’s guidance to choose appropriate instruments to answer your research question.
Data Collection Considerations – Credibility, Transferability, Dependability, and Confirmability: Using Guba’s Criteria of Validity of Qualitative Research, determine how you will establish trustworthiness of your action research study.
Data Collection Procedures: In conjunction with your intervention plan, formulate your procedures for collecting data in your proposed action research study. You may use the chart you created for your intervention plan to add in the data collection procedures, or provide a narrative description of your procedures. Be sure to also address how your data collection will reflect trustworthiness and the ethical considerations related to anonymity and confidentiality.
Research and Resource Expectations
A minimum of two scholarly, peer-reviewed sources, in addition to the course textbook, are required.
Writing and Formatting Expectations
Title Page: Must include a separate title page with the following: Title of paper, Student’s name, Course name and number, Instructor’s name, Date submitted
Academic Voice: Academic Voice is used (avoids casual language, limited use of “I” or first person, it is declarative).
Purpose and Organization: Demonstrates logical progression of ideas. Syntax and Mechanics: Writing displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
APA Formatting: Papers are formatted properly and all sources are cited and referenced in APA style as outlined.
Suggested Assignment Length
This assignment should be four double-spaced pages in length (not including title and reference pages).
Paper For Above instruction
In this action research proposal, the focus is on integrating both qualitative and quantitative data collection instruments to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention in an educational or organizational setting. Employing a mixed-methods approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of the intervention's impact, drawing on the depth of qualitative insights and the breadth of quantitative data. This section will detail the rationale for selecting one qualitative and one quantitative instrument, describe the development of a specific data collection tool, and outline procedures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical considerations.
Qualitative Data Collection Instrument
A suitable qualitative instrument for this study is semi-structured interviews. These interviews enable the researcher to gather rich, experience-based data from participants about their perceptions, feelings, and contextual insights related to the intervention's impact. According to Creswell (2014), semi-structured interviews are effective in exploring complex phenomena because they allow flexibility in questioning while maintaining focus on key topics. Such interviews provide depth and detail that can uncover nuanced understanding, making them ideal for capturing subjective experiences and perceptions that quantitative measures may not reveal. Furthermore, interviews can be tailored to suit the specific context of the study, enhancing the relevance and validity of the data collected (Merriam & Tisdell, 2015). Utilizing open-ended questions ensures that participants' voices are prioritized, allowing for emergent themes that enrich the interpretive analysis of the intervention's effectiveness.
Quantitative Data Collection Instrument
The quantitative instrument proposed is a standardized Likert-scale survey designed to measure participant attitudes, perceptions, or self-reported behaviors related to the intervention. Such surveys produce numerical data that can be statistically analyzed to determine trends, differences, or correlations (Cohen, Manion, & Morrison, 2018). The use of a Likert scale allows for capturing the intensity of participants' responses across specific constructs relevant to the research questions, such as engagement levels, satisfaction, or behavioral changes. This instrument's strength lies in its ability to provide measurable data that complements qualitative insights, facilitating a comprehensive evaluation of the intervention's effectiveness (Creswell, 2019). Validating the survey through existing literature and ensuring reliability through pilot testing enhances its appropriateness for the study context.
Instrument Design
The instrument designed for this study is a Likert-scale survey consisting of 10 items. These items measure key variables such as engagement, satisfaction, and perceived efficacy of the intervention. Participants will respond using a 5-point scale ranging from "Strongly Disagree" to "Strongly Agree." The survey items are constructed based on existing validated instruments and tailored to reflect the specific focus of the intervention. The survey will be administered electronically to facilitate ease of distribution and collection, ensuring accessibility for all participants. This tool aligns with the research questions by providing quantifiable data to assess changes attributable to the intervention and supporting statistical analysis to determine significance.
Establishing Trustworthiness
To establish trustworthiness in this qualitative component, Guba’s criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability will be employed. Credibility will be enhanced through member checking, where participants review and verify the accuracy of their interview transcripts and interpretations (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Transferability will be addressed by providing rich, detailed descriptions of the context and participant experiences, allowing others to determine applicability to different settings. Dependability will be ensured by maintaining an audit trail that documents all research decisions, procedures, and data analysis processes, promoting transparency and reproducibility (Shenton, 2004). Confirmability will be achieved by triangulating data sources and maintaining reflective journal entries to minimize researcher bias. Ethical considerations, including confidentiality and anonymity, will be safeguarded by assigning pseudonyms and securing data in password-protected files, adhering to institutional review board (IRB) standards.
Data Collection Procedures
The data collection procedures will follow a systematic plan aligned with the intervention timeline. Initially, participants will be informed about the study's purpose and consent will be obtained. For qualitative data, semi-structured interviews will be scheduled at convenient times, either face-to-face or via virtual platforms, and will be audio-recorded with permission. Transcriptions will be analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes and insights related to the intervention's impact. For quantitative data, the Likert-scale survey will be distributed electronically through a secure survey platform, with reminders sent to maximize response rates. Data will be collected at multiple points: pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and at follow-up to evaluate short-term and lasting effects. Throughout the process, confidentiality will be maintained by removing identifying information, and data will be stored securely.
Trustworthiness will be further reinforced through consistent application of coding procedures and peer debriefing during analysis, ensuring reliability. Ethical practices will involve informing participants of their right to withdraw without penalty and ensuring data privacy, aligning with ethical research standards. The triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data will strengthen the validity of findings by providing multiple perspectives on the intervention’s effectiveness.
References
- Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage.
- Creswell, J. W. (2019). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. Sage.
- Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018). Research Methods in Education. Routledge.
- Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. Sage.
- Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2015). Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation. Jossey-Bass.
- Shenton, A. K. (2004). Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information, 22(2), 63-75.
- Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods. Sage.
- Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods. Sage.
- Maxwell, J. A. (2013). Qualitative Research Design: An Interactive Approach. Sage.
- Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods. Sage.