Collecting and Analyzing Data

Collecting and Analyzing Data:
Process
There are five activities required in data collection and analysis;

1. Set up the database.
The database is using a statistical software package you have chosen to set up the database to capture information or transfer information from other sources.
2. Develop an evaluation plan.
The are several considerations used to evaluate performance and are used for developing tests:
* Number of participants and the amount of data to be collected
* Types of sampling method
* Confidentiality
* Costs
3. Collect and compile the data.
Capture data from the measurement instruments. Capture as much as possible.
4. Interpret the data.
Determine whether the results match the goals or not
IF the goals match the results decide to do a full-scale implementation
If results do not match goals you may
* Revise the course
* Revise the measurement instruments and tests
* Rerun the study with our without revisions
* Choose another representative sample and rerun the evaluation
* Discard the product
5. Document your findings.
Record the findings in an evaluation reprt.

Before you can analyze the data, you must set up an evaluation plan that allows you to collect the data quickly and easily. After collecting the data, you must analyze every piece according to your evaluation plan.