Chapter 4: Data Analysis and Evaluating Introduction

Results  Minimum two to four

 The purpose of this chapter is to paragraphs or approximately
summarize the collected data, one page.
how it was analyzed and then to  Reintroduces the purpose of the
present the results research study
 Chapter 4 should present the  Briefly describes the research
results of the study as clearly as methodology and/or research
possible, leaving the questions/hypotheses tested.
interpretation of the results for  Provides an orienting statement
Chapter 5. about what will be covered in
 To ensure readability and clarity the chapter.
of findings, structure is of the Descriptive Findings
utmost importance in this
chapter.  This section provides a
narrative summary of the
Ask the following general questions population or sample
before starting this chapter: characteristics and
 Is there sufficient data to demographics of the
answer each of the research participants in the study.
question(s)/hypothesis(es)  It establishes the number of
asked in the study? subjects, gender, age,
 Is there sufficient data to education level or employee
support the conclusions made classification, (if
in Chapter 5? appropriate), organization,
 Is the study written in the third or setting (if appropriate),
person? Never Use the first and other appropriate
person. sample characteristics (e.g.,
 Are the data clearly explained education level, program of
using a table, graph, chart, or study, employee
text? classification, etc.).
 For numbers, equations, and
Make sure your dissertation is statistics, spell out any
changed to past tense and reflects number that begins a
how the study was actually conducted. sentence, title, or heading –
or reword the sentence to
Introduction
place the number later in the
-This section of Chapter 4 briefly narrative.
restates the problem statement, the  In general, use Arabic
methodology, the research numerals (10, 11, 12) when
question(s), hypothesis(es) or referring to whole numbers
phenomena, and then offers a 10 and above, and spell out
statement about what will be covered whole numbers below 10.
in this chapter.
There are some exceptions to this
rule:
  If small numbers are hypotheses or research
grouped with large numbers question(s) guided the study,
in a comparison, use data analysis procedures can
numerals (e.g., 7, 8, 10, and be framed relative to each
13 trials); but, do not do this research question or
when numbers are used for hypothesis.
different purposes (e.g., 10  Data can also be organized by
items on each of four chronology of phenomena, by
surveys). themes and patterns, or by
 Numbers in a measurement other approaches as deemed
with units (e.g., 6 cm, 5-mg appropriate according for a
dose, 2%). qualitative study.
 Numbers that represent
Evaluating Data Analysis Procedure
time, dates, ages, sample or
population size, scores, or Describes in detail the data analysis
exact sums of money. procedures.
 Numbers that represent a
Qualitative Studies:
specific item in a numbered
series (e.g., Table 1).  Describes coding process,
description of how codes were
Evaluating Descriptive Findings
developed, how categories
 Provides a narrative summary were developed, how these are
of the population or sample related to themes.
characteristics and  Provides examples of codes
demographics. and themes with corresponding
 Presents the "Sample (or quotations, demonstrating how
Population) profile," using codes were developed into
statistics for the demographics themes.
collected from or retrieved for
Quantitative Studies:
the actual sample or population.
 Includes a narrative summary of  If the analysis is run as planned,
data collected (e.g., for the learner will present the
qualitative studies, samples of results of the statistical
collected data should be procedures per RQ.
included in an Appendix.)  If the analysis had to be
 Uses visual graphic organizers, changed, the learner will
such as tables, histograms, present the results of the new
graphs, and/or bar charts, to procedure(s) per RQ.
effectively organize and display  For each question, the learner
coded data and descriptive will comment on the relevant
data. statistics and will draw a
conclusion in terms of accepting
Data Analysis Procedures
the null or the alternative
 This section presents a hypothesis stated for that
description of the process that question.
was used to analyze the data. If
Explains and justifies any differences Results
in why data analysis section does not
 This section, which is the
match what was approved in Chapter
primary section of this chapter,
3 (if appropriate).
presents a summary and
Quantitative Studies: analysis of the data in a
nonevaluative, unbiased,
 Changes in the analysis
organized manner that relates
have to be justified earlier
to the research question(s)
(as recommended above).
and/or hypothesis(es).
 Provides validity and
reliability of the data in Evaluating Results
statistical terms for
 Data and the analysis of that
quantitative research OR
data are presented in a
describes approaches used
narrative, non-evaluative,
to ensure validity and
unbiased, organized manner.
reliability for qualitative data
including expert panel Quantitative data
review of questions, practice
interviews, member are organized by research question
checking, and triangulation and/or hypothesis. Findings are
of data, as appropriate. presented by hypothesis using section
titles. They are presented in order of
 Identifies sources of error,
significance if appropriate.
missing data, or outliers and
potential effects on the data. Qualitative data
Discuss the limitations this
places on the study results. may be organized by theme,
participant and/or research question.
 Describes Power Analysis
and Test(s) of Assumptions Qualitative Studies:
(as appropriate) for
statistical tests. Results of analysis are presented in
appropriate narrative, tabular,
Quantitative Studies: graphical and/or visual format.
Justifies how the analysis aligns with Integration of quotes in the results
the research question(s) and presentation to substantiate the stated
hypothesis(es) and is appropriate for findings and build a narrative picture is
the research design. required.
Qualitative Studies: Results
Justifies how the analysis aligns with  Learner describes thematic
the research question(s), and how findings mostly in own words in
data and findings were organized by narrative form as if they are
chronology of phenomena, by themes telling their story or
and patterns, or by other approaches summarizing their experiences,
as deemed appropriate. and then use selected quotes
(ideally one or few sentences,
 no longer than one paragraph)  Control variables (if part of the
to illustrate design) are reported and
discussed.
Includes appropriate graphic
 Secondary data treatment of
organizers such as tables, charts,
missing values is fully
graphs, and figures.
described.
Quantitative Studies: Results of each  Outlier responses are explained
statistical test are presented in as appropriate.
appropriate statistical format with
tables, graphs, and charts. Qualitative Studies:
Qualitative data analysis
 Tables and/or figures are
included for descriptive findings.  is fully described and displayed
 Tables and/or figures are using techniques specific to the
included for assumption checks. design and analytic method
 Tables and/or figures are used.
included for and results.
Data sets
Qualitative Studies: As appropriate,
tables are presented for initial codes,  are summarized including
themes and theme meanings, along counts AND examples of
with sample quotes. participant’s responses for
thematic analysis. For other
 Sufficient quantity and quality of approaches to qualitative
the data or information analysis, results may be
appropriate to the research summarized in matrices r visual
design is presented in the formats appropriate to the form
analyses to answer the of analysis.
research question(s) and or
Outlier responses
hypotheses. Evidence for this
must be clearly presented in  are explained as appropriate.
this section and in an appendix
as appropriate. Results

Quantitative Studies:  Findings may be presented as

themes using section titles for
• Discuss quantity in relation to the thematic analysis, as stories for
actual sample (or population) size, narrative designs, as models or
• Discuss quality in relation to sampling theories for grounded theory,
method, data collection process, and and as visual models or
data completion/accuracy. narrative stories for case
studies.
 Inferential statistics, require  Appendices must include
tests of normality, tests of qualitative or quantitative data
assumptions, test statistics and analysis that supports results in
p-value reported for each Chapter 4 as appropriate.
hypothesis.
Summary the reference page according to
APA standards.
 This section provides a concise
 Section is written in a way that
summary of what was found in
is well structured, has a logical
the study.
flow, uses correct paragraph
 Briefly restates essential data
structure, uses correct sentence
and the data analysis presented structure, uses correct
in this chapter, and it helps the punctuation, and uses correct
reader see and understand the APA format.
relevance of the data and
analysis to the research
questions or hypotheses.
Evaluating Summary
Presents a clear and logical summary
of data.
Quantitative Studies:
 Summarizes the statistical data
and results of statistical tests in
relation to the research
questions/hypotheses.
Qualitative Studies:
 Summarizes the data and data
analysis results in relation to the
research questions.
 Discusses limitations that
emerged based on data
analysis and how the
interpretation of results may be
affected by the limitations.
 Provides a concluding section
and transition to Chapter 5.
 The Chapter is correctly
formatted to dissertation
template using the Word Style
Tool and APA standards.
 All research presented in the
Chapter is scholarly, topic-
related, and obtained from
highly respected academic,
professional, original sources.
 In-text citations are accurate,
correctly cited and included in