Reflection
During this course, we conducted an Evaluation Research to learn if sending five activities home to 99 families would find out if family fun time activities would improve family involvement. From this course, we have learned how to thoroughly conduct and implement survey design by questionnaire construction. We have gained experience in collecting data from our surveys, analyzing the data by using analytical software, and organizing data to present clearly to an audience. We now leave this course with new analytical thinking and new techniques to bring into future research.
Coursework One
Coming into this course we became researchers and learned how to accurately conduct evaluation survey research. We worked on this survey research all year splitting it into two class courses. In the first course, we collected data from surrounding schools by sending five activities home to 99 families. Our research question was do family fun time activities improve family involvement? With that, we created surveys to then be sent home to families to see if there was a change in involvement from the participants. From this first course, we collected the data we received from the surveys and organized it to thoroughly display the responses from the families. During the research, we experienced many aspects to be a researcher. We experienced the ups and downs of collecting data. Such as, not receiving the number of survey responses we hoped for. However, with the results we did receive we were able to organize them into analytical software to later be analyzed.
Coursework two
In the second part of this course, we began to learn the in-depth part of examining our evaluation research. We learned how to analyze the data responses we received from the surrounding schools. From the data collection, we used inferential statistical models such as; RStudio Cloud, SPSS, and Excel to thoroughly analyze the data feedback. These statistical models were beneficial when examining the data by simplifying math that would require time by hand. We learned how to analyze the data by hand but also learn the simpler way through the analytical models. The models created the ability for us to recognize how complex the statistical information we were receiving was and displayed it to us in a simple manageable way. From analyzing the data, we received we learned new analytical thinking methods to examine survey results. The data results were quantitative and qualitative data descriptions where we experienced how to explore analyzing techniques when dissecting the sociological data.
Outcomes
From this course, we learned valuable information on collecting, analyzing, and organizing survey data results. This coursework was a unique experience in how to conduct survey design and research. Survey research is a unique on-demand job skill and is an asset to have on resumes. Especially with experience in using data sets, probability testing, hypothesis conducting, and theoretical modeling in analytical work. Having evaluation research under our belt is useful for the competitive job market and future employers to know we have used inferential statistical models such as; RStudio Cloud, SPSS, and Excel. These models are accommodating and can be used in future research by having experience in survey research and the ability to illustrate complex statistical data to a diverse audience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, through the exposure gained from our evaluation research, we have gained an understanding of coursework survey research and gained transferable job skills for future careers. We have gained experience in collecting data, analyzing data using analytical software, and organizing data that is transparent for a divergent audience. We now leave this course with new analytical thinking and new techniques to bring into future research.