AEE
578--
Scientific Inquiry in Agricultural and Extension Education
Scientific Inquiry in Agricultural and Extension Education
| AEE
578--
Scientific Inquiry in Agricultural and Extension Education |
Class 12:
 |
The Analysis of Data in Agricultural and Extension Education Research |
Introduction:  |
By now you should be able to tell if a research study was conducted properly or not. But do you know if the proper statistics were used? The average person just shakes their head when they think of statistics. However, learning about basic statistical tests is not that hard. The development of computer software has made using statistics much easier. In this lesson we will try to simplify statistics and cover some of the basic statistical tests used in conducting research. |
Learning
Objectives:  |
 Describe the purpose
of
data analysis in research; Describe the general
approach
to analyzing qualitative data; Describe the general
approach
to analyzing quantitative data; Compare and contrast
descriptive
and inferential statistics; and Describe the
conceptual
meaning of significance in statistical
analysis. Given research
data,
select
the appropriate statistical test to use. |
| Instructional Activities:  |
Why
use statistics in educational research? This simple question is
succinctly
answered in the short article "When
do you need statistical calculations?" from the GraphPad web site. The
GraphPad web site has several other short articles that provide a good
foundation
for the use statistics in research. Please read the following:
Read Chapter 10 "Descriptive Statistics",
Chapter
11 "Inferential Statistics" and Chapter 12 "Statistics in
Perspective"
in How to Design and Evaluate Research in
Education
(Fraenkel & Wallen). I don't expect you to
become
an expert in statistics but you should have a general understanding
about
why we use research statistics and how they are used. Which statistic should be used in a given situation? The web
site WhichTest.info
will lead
you through a series of decisions to help you decide which statistical
test
to use. Go to this site and play around. After deciding
which statistical test to use from the previous two web sites,
the StatCrunch web site
allows
you to load data from an excel spreadsheet (or you can type it in) and
perform
the various statistical tests. A variety of statistical tests are found
on
this web site. Go to this web site and browse around. View a PowerPoint
presentation on Data Analysis. This presentation
can
also be downloaded. |
Preparation: |
View the PowerPoint
presentation
for: Chapter 10- (View or download) Chapter 11- (View or download) Chapter 12- (View or download) IF you want to see more (NOT required): From the text site: CHAPTER 11Main Points- Key Terms- Questions- Interactive Activities- Additional Web Links From the text site: CHAPTER 12Main Points- Key Terms- Questions- Interactive Activities- Additional Web Links The text's url is: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073525960/student_view0/.
|
Assignments:
 |
Complete
Worksheet
12 and submit it to Vista.
|