Data Flow Diagrams as Audit of Qualitative Data Analysis Methods

Location

DeSantis Room 1053

Format Type

Plenary

Format Type

Paper

Start Date

17-1-2020 9:45 AM

End Date

17-1-2020 10:05 AM

Abstract

I recently completed a course offered through Chemistry Education (Discipline-based Education Research) where I critiqued a dissertation written as partial completion for a Doctor of Education project. The researcher conducted a case study to explore the extent to which constructivist learning was present in the interactions present in an online geology graduate class. As part of this critique, I analyzed the text in the researcher's Data Analysis section, and developed data flow diagrams as an audit of the completness of the method description and information used.

Data Flow Diagrams are a visualization of how data and information flow through processes. They have been used in Information Technology for decades. It is easy to learn to read and creat them as there are four primary symbols. Because they do not imply a sequence or order in which the processes must be done, they are appropriate for use in qualitative methods, which are often recursive processes.

I concluded Data Flow Diagrams can be used to audit the data analysis process in qualitative studies. Not only do they show where triangulation occurs (as they show how similar information is obtained through different data and analysis processes), they also highlight gaps in data and weak descriptions of the processes.

I origninally presented this as a class project, and believe it fits the teaching and learning track.

Keywords

Qualitative Data Analysis, Audit Trail, Data Flow Diagrams, Information and Process Flow

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Jan 17th, 9:45 AM Jan 17th, 10:05 AM

Data Flow Diagrams as Audit of Qualitative Data Analysis Methods

DeSantis Room 1053

I recently completed a course offered through Chemistry Education (Discipline-based Education Research) where I critiqued a dissertation written as partial completion for a Doctor of Education project. The researcher conducted a case study to explore the extent to which constructivist learning was present in the interactions present in an online geology graduate class. As part of this critique, I analyzed the text in the researcher's Data Analysis section, and developed data flow diagrams as an audit of the completness of the method description and information used.

Data Flow Diagrams are a visualization of how data and information flow through processes. They have been used in Information Technology for decades. It is easy to learn to read and creat them as there are four primary symbols. Because they do not imply a sequence or order in which the processes must be done, they are appropriate for use in qualitative methods, which are often recursive processes.

I concluded Data Flow Diagrams can be used to audit the data analysis process in qualitative studies. Not only do they show where triangulation occurs (as they show how similar information is obtained through different data and analysis processes), they also highlight gaps in data and weak descriptions of the processes.

I origninally presented this as a class project, and believe it fits the teaching and learning track.