Application Assignment: Data Interpretation

Researchers rely not only on the integrity of their data-collection procedures, but also on the accurate analysis of their data to support their conclusions. Imagine that you have just collected results from a focus group or survey. What would you do with those results? How would you make sense of all of that data? You will need to use analytical techniques to help you clarify the data and determine the implications of the data for your research questions.

During the past three weeks of this course, you have examined quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods of collecting data. In this Assignment, you will go a step further and examine the process of analyzing and interpreting data by examining two research studies.

To prepare for this Assignment:

• Review the following from the Creswell text:

o Chapter 8, "Quantitative Methods" (pp. 151-153; 166-167)
o Chapter 9, "Qualitative Methods" (pp. 183-190)
o Chapter 10, "Mixed Methods Procedures" (pp. 218-220)

• Select two articles from your literature review in Week 3. These articles must address the same research topic. They must also represent different research approaches (e.g., one quantitative and one qualitative). Additionally, one of the articles should be a scholarly, research-based study, and the other one must be a practitioner-based study.

Note: If you do not have two suitable articles in your review of the literature, conduct a search on the same topic or a similar topic from the Walden Library.

Write a 3- to 4-page analysis of the articles and compare them in terms of the following questions:

• What comprises the data presented in each article?

• How are the data presented and interpreted?

• Are the data summarized for the reader, or does the article include appendices or tables that present the data for the reader's own interpretation?

• Are there other ways in which the data could be interpreted?

• Are there other variables or factors that appear to have been excluded from consideration?

• Is the argumentation sound and convincing?

• Does each article include limitations of the study or approach?

• Does each put the findings into a larger context, in terms of current and future research?

• Are the implications of the article presented in terms of research, practice, or both?