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Data Collection and Analysis
Three data collection approaches are required for a capstone project. The first approach must be in the form of interviews. The second and third approaches may be selected at your discretion from among the optional approaches listed below. Organize this subsection with Level 2 headings according to the approach you choose. For example, your first Level 2 heading must be “Interviews” (see examples below).
Interviews This is a required approach for all capstone projects. No fewer than five participants will be acceptable without approval from the administrative team of Helms School of Government Doctoral Team.
Begin by restating sub-question one in statement form. For example, “The first sub-question for this project explored how administrators in an interview might improve information management processes within Campbell county, Virginia?” Clearly state, for example, “the interviews will consist of four assistant administrators and one administrator.” Interview data collection procedures should follow the recommendations of established protocol in the field. Interviews must be conducted synchronously: face-to-face, individual phone call, or e-conference. All interviews must be transcribed for data analysis.
Identify the data collection strategy, fully define it (with citation), explain the data collection strategy in layman’s terms (if appropriate), and justify its appropriateness for your project. Discuss any logistics (when/where/how/with whom data will be collected, recorded, etc.) and explicate which of your project questions will be answered by this data collection strategy. It is important to demonstrate that your interview questions are generated from and supported by the literature on your topic. Your interview questions must be included in a numbered list with an item-by-item discussion of each question, its basis in the literature, and how it aligns with the topic. A minimum of 10 open-ended interview questions are required and must be supported by the literature. An example of an interview question regarding efforts to identify best practices and challenges of local government that is supported by the literature is below. 1. What are some specific tasks and processes where you think technology could be utilized more strategically to attain your primary objective?
By explaining the purpose of each interview question in detail, you not only establish the validity of your questions, but also establish the basis for your discussion of findings in relation to the literature in Sections 3.0 and 4.0. The procedures should be described in chronological, step-by-step format. Finish this subsection by telling the reader how you plan to analyze the interview data. For example, the sentence could begin: “Interview data will be analyzed….” Clearly identify the data analysis procedures and provide a concise rationale for the analysis. Be sure that your analysis procedures are aligned with your approach. For qualitative data analysis, interviews must be transcribed in order to code and categorize information into themes. Tell the reader which of these tools you will use to analyze the data. Fully define each tool you will use (with appropriate citations), and explain why these are appropriate choices for the qualitative data analysis for your project.
Focus Group Begin by restating sub-question two in statement form. For example, “The second sub-question for this project explored how administrators in a focus group might solve issues related to information management processes within Campbell county, Virginia.” Focus groups must consist of no fewer than five persons. Clearly state for example, “the focus groups will consist of 00 assistant administrators and 00 administrators.” Focus groups are a qualitative data collection strategy that attempt to obtain information on a problem of practice through an involved discussion consisting of various participants who have gathered in one location at a specified time. Your focus group questions must be included in a numbered list with an item-by-item discussion of each question, its basis in the literature, and how it aligns with the topic. A minimum of 10 focus group questions are required and must be supported by the literature. An example of a focus group question that is supported by the literature is below.
1. What do you view as the primary objective of your department? Question one is designed to gain insight from the administrators regarding their perspective of the primary objective of their particular department. This information is necessary because it allows researchers to assess whether employees at differing levels within an organization have differing views on the organizational objectives. These differing views can prove to create a detrimental impact on the overall efforts by the organizational leadership in their efforts to achieve the organization’s primary objective(s).
By explaining the purpose of each focus group question in detail, you establish the validity of your questions and the basis for your discussion of findings in relation to the literature in Sections 3.0 and 4.0.
Finish this subsection by telling the reader how you plan to analyze the qualitative data. For example, the sentence could begin: “Focus group data will be analyzed….” Clearly identify the data analysis procedures and provide a concise rationale for the analysis. Be sure that your analysis procedures are aligned with your approach. For qualitative data analysis, focus group data must be transcribed in order to code and categorize information into themes. Tell the reader which of these tools you will use to analyze the data. Fully define each tool you will use (with appropriate citations), and explain why these are appropriate choices for the qualitative data analysis for your project.
Survey Begin by restating sub-question three in statement form. For example, “The third sub-question for this project explored how administrators’ observations might improve the information management processes within Campbell county, Virginia.” Clearly state how many surveys you will send out. Tell the reader how you plan to collect the quantitative data. Develop the survey questions based on the literature. Survey questions must be included in a numbered list with an item-by-item discussion of each question, its basis in the literature, and how it aligns with the topic. Survey questions may be open-ended or closed-ended. Survey questions must include 3-5 demographic questions which must be followed by a minimum of 10 survey questions that are supported by the literature. An example survey question including the discussion is below.
1. Data collected from administrators’ observations are used to plan future objectives.
1 2 3 4 5
Never Rarely Sometimes Often Always
This question helps to determine the manner in which assessment data are used to plan objectives. When formative, as well as summative, assessments are used to determine students’ understanding of concepts, instruction can be tailored to students’ needs, increasing performance on standardized assessments (William, 2018).
The survey may be in quantitative format (e.g., Likert scale, semantic differential scale, forced rank scale, etc.) or qualitative format (open-ended questions). Discuss any logistics (when/where/how/to whom the survey will be sent out, how the data will be collected, recorded, etc.) and explicate how your topic will be addressed by this data collection strategy. The procedures should be described in chronological, step-by-step format. Finish this subsection by telling the reader how you plan to analyze the quantitative or qualitative survey data. Clearly identify the data analysis procedures and provide a concise rationale for the analysis. Be sure that your analysis procedures are aligned with your approach. For example, the sentence could begin: “Survey data will be analyzed….” If appropriate, use descriiptive statistics such as means and/or frequency counts. Include the type of figures that will be used such as trend charts, bar charts, pie graphs, etc….
Document Analysis
Document analysis may be applied to a variety of sources including, but not limited to legal documents, records, meeting minutes, letters, diaries, etc. Every effort should be made to incorporate primary, as opposed to secondary sources. Identify and describe the specific documents collected. Provide a specific rationale for why each type of document was selected.
Observations
If conducting observations, develop and include in the appendices your observation protocol (examples are provided in most qualitative research texts), and be sure to address both descriiptive and reflective field notes. Be sure to discuss whether observations will be scheduled or unscheduled, and whether you will be a participant or non-participant observer. Identify frequency and duration of observations. A minimum of five observations must be conducted.
Summary
Provide a section summary. The Summary includes a succinct conclusion to the section.
Please use the attached document for reference of the study and location. Please use references.