Action Research 1 course content

1. Lecturer: Yee Bee Choo
IPGKTHO
Topic 13

2. Data Interpretation
• Interpretation in qualitative research means
that the researcher steps back and forms
some larger meaning about the phenomenon
based on personal views, comparisons with
past studies, or both (Creswell, 2012)

3. Data Interpretation
• Data interpretation is an attempt by the
teacher researcher to find meaning in the data
and to answer the question “So what?”
• Data analysis involves summarising what’s in
the data and data interpretation making sense
of – finding meaning in – that data.
(Mills, 2011)

4. Data Interpretation
• For quantitative research, this means comparing the
results with the initial research questions asked to
determine how the question or hypotheses were
answered in the study.
• It also means comparing the results with prior
prediction or explanations drawn from past research
studies or theories, which provide explanations for
what the researcher has found.

5. Data Interpretation
• In qualitative research, the interpretation provides
similar explanations about the results but with a few
differences.
• The researcher needs to address how the research
questions were answered by the qualitative findings.
• Also, comparisons can be made of the findings with
past research studies in the literature.
• The researchers may also bring in their personal
experiences and draw personal assessments of the
meanings of the findings.

6. Findings
1. • Extend the analysis with research questions
2. • Integrating various sources of data
3. • Connecting the data with literature
4. • Connecting findings with personal experience
5. • Summarising the results
6. • Drawing conclusions
Procedures of Findings:

7. Findings
1. Extend the analysis with research questions
• Extend the analysis of your study by connecting it to
the research questions of the study.
• Raise questions about the study noting implications
that might be drawn without actually drawing them.
• This is a strategy for pointing the way rather than
leading the way.

8. Findings
2. Integrating Various Sources Of Data
• Using data from different sources helps in cross-
checking the findings.
• For example, combine and compare data from
individual interviews with data from focus groups
and an analysis of written material on the topic.
• If the data from these different sources point to the
same conclusions, the findings are more reliable.

9. Findings
3. Connecting the Data with Literature
• Draw connections between your findings and those
you uncovered in your review of current research
literature.
• This also provides an opportunity for sharing what
the existing knowledge base has to offer along with
your own unique contribution.
• Turn to theory as it can provide a rationale or sense
of meaning to the work we do and can help us make
sense of our data.

10. Findings
4. Connecting Findings with Personal Experience
• Action research is very personal business. As the
researcher you know the study better than anybody
else.
• Share your interpretations based on your intimate
knowledge and understandings of schools and
classrooms and teaching and learning.

11. Findings
5. Summarising the Results
• This should be a summary of the results you have
reported.
• It should be aligned with your research questions
and research objectives.
• Reiterate the findings and show how well you.
supported them with evidences and literature.
(Goh, 2012, p.121)

12. Findings
6. Drawing Conclusions
• A conclusion is drawn based on the interpretation of
data.
• The findings of the study will be more credible if others
understand how the conclusions were drawn.
• Keep notes of all analytical decisions to help others
follow the reasoning.
• Document reasons for the focus, category labels created,
revisions to categories made and any observations noted
concerning the data while reading and re-reading the
text.

13. • In groups, prepare a 20-item survey questionnaire.
Then distribute the questionnaire to ten of your
friends. Interpret the survey data.
• Then, interview some friends based on the survey
items.
• Report the findings and make interpretation of the
data.
Tutorial 13

14. References
• Creswell, J.W. (2012). Educational research:
planning, conducting and evaluating
quantitative and qualitative research (4th ed.).
Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
• Goh, L. H. (2012). A practical guide to writing
your action research. Puchong: Penerbitan
Multimedia.
• Mills, G.E. (2007). Action research: A guide for
the teacher researcher. (3rd ed.).New Jersey:
Pearson.