Analysis
The analysis of data
This material is designed to help the reader to develop a critical understanding educational data analysis and its evaluation. In doing this it covers several methods of analysis and drawing conclusions:
Resources for programme evaluation and social research methods description [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]
The focus of this site is on the evaluation and analysis of social research. It was created by Dr Gene Shackman.
This is the Analysis section of William M. Trochim’s ‘The Research Methods Knowledge Base’, (2006). This is a comprehensive web-based textbook and gives a detailed, well written, account of issues in quantitative analysis.
Statistical Analysis- Online Statistics Textbooks
There are several online statistical textbooks, which may prove useful in addressing specific issues in analysis. Some useful examples are given by the Social Psychology Network (see Online Statistics Textbooks section)
Practical Exemplars on the Analysis of Surveys
This resource has been created mainly for survey researchers by a team at Napier University (Edinburgh) and at the National Centre for Social Research (London) funded by the ESRC Research Methods Programme.
This website, created by the Longitudinal Data Analysis project, has a focus on the quantitative longitudinal analysis of large scale secondary survey data.
Learning Qualitative Data Analysis on the Web
This resource presents a range of resources (texts, video and software) concerning qualitative analysis.
In this video Stephanie Taylor talks about the nature of Discourse Analysis, illustrates an example of analysing discourses about nations.
This material comes from e-Source and although based on examples of medical data the analytical approach itself is applicable to educational research.
New Methods for the Analysis of Media Content
The focus of these resources is on methods of analysis of news media. They will have particular relevance for educational researchers examining policy representation and dissemination.
Approaches for Mixed Methods analysis.
WarwickUniversity provide a range of resources, which have links to further information and extended readings in the field of mixed methods research.
A User-Friendly Handbook for Mixed Method Evaluations
This handbook is edited by Joy Frechtling and Laure Sharp Westat. It considers several research approaches and their use within mixed methods analysis.
Data analysis: online manuals and guides to software packages
Data analysis often requires the use of software. This collection of online resources was created by the British Library (http://www.bl.uk/ reshelp/ findhelpsubject/ socsci/ topbib/ methsocial/ methodsresearch.pdf) and includes the following:
ATLAS.TI is also a CAQDA. This developer site includes video guides and instructive tutorials and offers a free trial.
UCLA SPSS resource site
SPSS is a statistical data management and analysis package. The University of California have developed extensive online guides regarding the use of SPSS
The Computer assisted qualitative data analysis (CAQDAS) project offers a range of resources about using software for data analysis.
This includes a guide to choosing the correct type of CAQDAS software for your research
Learning qualitative data analysis on the web
This site provides support and teaching for researchers who wish to use qualitative data analysis and computer assisted qualitative data analysis. It offers a range of video and text tutorials, tailored for different levels of research experience.
Qualitative software
This resource contains information on different types of qualitative analysis software.
The analysis of talk as data in educational settings
The analysis of talk can be carried out in different ways and this material includes discussion of ‘linguistic’ discourse analysis and sociocultural discourse analysis.
- What is discourse analysis?: In this presentation Stephanie Taylor talks about discourse analysis using two working definitions, illustrated by discourses about nations.
- Discourse analysis: a bibliographic guide: This documents introduces some of the methodological literature on discourse analysis.
Making sense out of all that quantitative data
These two audio podcasts are designed to support research students in writing up a quantitative analysis.
Research in specific contexts