Meeting Three: Analyzing Research Data
Session 12: Our Preliminary Findings

Activity 1: Presenting the Preliminary Findings: (2 hrs) Small group activity. Participants present and discuss their initial research findings in small groups, following a three-hour period of individual data analysis.
Planning to Complete the Data Analysis: (1 1/2 hrs) Whole group activity. Participants identify the data analysis tasks remaining and create time lines for the accomplishing their individual work at home. Conclusion of Meeting Three.

Activity 1: Presenting the Preliminary Findings

Purpose:	For participants to present some early findings, substantiate them with examples from the data, consider alternative perspectives about what they are finding in the data.
Time:	2 hrs plus breaks
Materials:	Participants’ research data

Group Process:

Divide participants into groups of four - six. Participants have prepared one or two preliminary findings and the supporting data for this activity. Explain to participants that this is also an opportunity for them to share their thinking with fellow researchers who in turn might be able to offer some alternative perspectives on their reading of the data. Some participants may have also prepared a visual/graphic representation to help explain what they think is going on in the data. Participants will present what they have found in data and produce some evidence to substantiate the initial findings. Spend twenty minutes on each person’s project allowing ten minutes for each researcher’s presentation and ten minutes for a follow-up discussion. Ideally, a “facilitator” would be identified to guide each group’s process, or group members can share the responsibility for keeping time, remembering the ground rules, etc.

Use these questions to frame the group discussion that follows each person’s presentation:

Are there any clarifying questions for the researcher?

How do the findings provide an answer to the research question?

Does anyone in the group have a different view of the data presented?

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Activity 2: Planning to Complete the Data Analysis

Purpose:	To schedule the tasks that lie ahead in the individual data analysis process and review what’s expected from the participants and facilitator(s) before the final meeting is held.
Time:	1 ½ hrs
Materials:	Personal calendars/daily planners

Process:

After a short break, participants reconvene to debrief the group discussions and presentations of their preliminary research findings. Use these questions to help facilitate the process:

How do participants feel about what happened in the presentations/discussions?
What do they understand better now, as a result?
What did the activity suggest to them about the data analysis process?
What did the activity suggest to them about continuing their own work?

Respond to remaining participant questions and comments. (20 minutes)

Now explain the purpose of this next/final activity to the participants: They will use this time to think through all the steps remaining in their own data analysis processes and they will then draft a plan with a timeline for completing the process at home.

Between now and their next meeting, tell participants they are expected to complete the mechanics of the analysis process as well as the thinking needed to form responses to the research questions. In that period of time, they will also have to pull out the evidence from their data necessary to substantiate their findings. Tell everyone to be sure to bring all their data to Meeting Four in its analyzed form (whatever that might be.) The group will hold their final research meeting in approximately six weeks.

Explain that their action plans should define the tasks remaining in their individual data analysis process, including the smaller steps and specific strategies, and a timeline for accomplishing them. In their plans, participants should provide as much detail as possible about how they will carry out these activities. Remind them of the basic steps in data analysis, all of which they need to consider in their planning:

Read, reread, and reread.
Develop the categories.
Code and sort.
Identify findings.
Form responses to the research questions.
Pull out the evidence to substantiate the findings.

Participants will work on their plans until the close of Meeting Three. If needed, participants can complete the action plans as homework.

Ask the group to email their plans to you in a week to ten days. Assign a due date on your calendars for this. Tell participants they can expect your feedback by email or phone, by a certain date as well.

While the group works, facilitators should meet briefly with each participant to see where they are in their data analysis, how comfortable they are with the process, and what kind of support they need to complete the work.

Respond to the group’s remaining questions/comments and evaluate Meeting Three. Ask them to respond in writing to these questions:

In general, what worked at this meeting/retreat?

What are your suggestions for planning the next practitioner research meeting?

What special assistance or support, if any, would you like between now and then?

View Meeting Three Evaluations from participants in the 1999-2000 Virginia Adult Education Research Network.

Conclusion of Meeting Three: Analyzing Research Data

Meeting Four: Making Our Research Knowledge Public

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The VALRC, located at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU School of Education), is funded primarily through the VA Department of Education.

Meeting Three: Analyzing Research Data Session 12: Our Preliminary Findings

Meeting Three: Analyzing Research Data
Session 12: Our Preliminary Findings