Purposes of This SiteTeach Skills To Help Extension

Faculty Learn HOW to Collect Information to◦Evaluate Programs◦Establish Evidence Based Programs◦Publish in Top Tiered Journals◦Publish in Bulletins etc.◦Apply for Grants◦Inform/Educate Public/Policy Makers

Collecting InformationThree Methods People Generally

Use

◦Analyze Content (Content Analysis)

◦Ask Questions (Surveys etc.)

◦Observe Behavior (Participant Observation)

Collecting InformationMethod One

◦Content Analysis Step 1 – Select an Object/Event Step 2 – Look for Patterns

(Similarities/Differences) Step 3 – Draw Generalizations Through

the Process of Induction

Collecting InformationMethod One - Example

◦Content Analysis Step 1 – Select newspaper headlines from

newspapers across times. Step 2 – Are there any patterns in

headlines looking across time? Step 3 – Draw Generalizations Through

the Process of Induction

Collecting InformationMethod One - Example

◦Content Analysis Step 1 – Select Newspaper Headlines Step 2 – Notice way people of color are

described varies across time. Step 3 – Description of people of color is

getting more positive across time.

Collecting InformationMethod Two

◦Asking Questions Step 1 – Select type

Survey Pre-test/post-test survey Intensive Interview etc.

Step 2 – Construct indicators Step 3 – Collect data by asking questions Step 4 – Analysis data

Collecting InformationMethod Two

◦Asking Questions Step 1 – Do pre-/post-test surveys Step 2 – Construct questions to ask about

attitudes toward education Step 3 – Collect questions about attitudes

toward education before participation in program and after participation

Step 4 – Use computer program (SAS) to compare differences in attitudes before and after

Collecting InformationMethod Three

◦Participant Observation Step 1 - Observe behavior Step 2 – Observe patterns of behavior Step 3 - Draw Generalizations based on

the Process of Induction

Collecting InformationMethod Three - Example

◦Participant Observation Step 1 – Observe boys and girls playing Step 2 – Notice that boys play with

building blocks and girls play with dolls Step 3 – Boys play with toys that lead to

more achievement oriented activities while girls play with toys that lead to more nurturing oriented activites.

Overall View of Research Process