Introduction to Data Analysis Handbook

Introduction to Data Analysis Handbook

"If I knew what you were going to use the information for I would have done a better job of collecting it."

--Famous quote from a Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) staff

person to MSHS director at a Community Assessment Training.

Migrant & Seasonal Head Start Technical Assistance Center

Academy for Educational Development

AED's Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Technical Assistance Center (TAC-12)

Mission Statement

The Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Technical Assistance Center (TAC-12) is committed to supporting Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs in their continuing effort to provide the highest quality early childhood services to farm worker families. TAC-12 fosters quality technical assistance by capitalizing on strengths and working collaboratively with programs.

AED's Center for Early Care and Education

Mission Statement

AED's Center for Early Care and Education strives to enhance the lives of all under represented, at-risk children and families through research, technical assistance support, knowledge and provision of innovative strategies within early childhood programs throughout the United States. We are committed to supporting special populations within Head Start and the larger child care community in their continual process to improve services to low-income children and families. We strive to help all children enter school ready to learn.

Acknowledgments

The development of this Handbook is an outcome of our work with Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs across the country, particularly in the areas of community assessment and child outcomes. Many programs expressed a desire to improve their abilities to more fully utilize the data they collect. We are grateful to East Coast Migrant Head Start Project staff who provided important input into suggested content and format of this workbook at a staff training in November 2005. In addition we want to thank Brian Richmond of the American Indian Technical Assistance Network at AED for sharing his knowledge by contributing Appendix

B: Using Excel to Help Analyze Your Quantitative Data.

? AED/TAC-12 Spring 2006.

Introduction to Data Analysis Handbook

Migrant & Seasonal Head Start Technical Assistance Center

Academy for Educational Development Contract with DHHS/ACF/OHS/Migrant and Seasonal Program Branch

? AED/TAC-12 Spring 2006. Permission granted to copy for non-commercial uses only.

Table of Contents

I. Introduction...................................................................... 1 Introduction to the Handbook....................................... 1 Learning Objectives................................................... 2 Guiding Principles..................................................... 2

What This Handbook Does Not Do.............................. 2 Why Do We Need Data Analysis?................................... 3

II. Ways of Thinking About Data......................................... 5 Data is.............................................................................. 5 Qualitative Data.............................................................. 7 Quantitative Data............................................................ 8 Data Strategies................................................................. 9

III. Conceptualizing Data Analysis as a Process................ 13 The "Problem" with Data Analysis............................... 13 Data Analysis as a Linear Process................................. 14 Data Analysis as a Cycle................................................ 15

IV. Managing the Data Analysis Process ......................... 22 Developing a Team........................................................ 22 Planning......................................................................... 24 Data Management......................................................... 25 Writing........................................................................... 26 Evaluation...................................................................... 26

Permission granted to copy for non-commercial uses only.

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