What is the abstract of the article?
In this project, students asked and attempted to answer questions about themselves by collecting and analyzing data. With the prevalence of big data and business analytics, managers have data and quantitative information available more immediately than ever. However, managers need to understand how to use this information. In this project, students developed questions in an area of their choice such as fitness, health, or academics. For 8 weeks students then collected data that was designed to answer these questions. Finally, students applied descriptive analytics, regression, and data visualization techniques to answer their posed questions. Students have been positive about the assignment, and we share lessons learned from both the students and the faculty.
Was the study experimental or non-experimental?
The study was non-experimental. No treatment was used for the study. Instead, observations were made after 8 weeks of reviewing student’s answers to how they view themselves as it pertains to data analysis.
Was the research qualitative or quantitative?
The research used mixed methods. Students were asked to complete surveys about their experience with the assignment and this gave researchers quantitative information about the success of the project. Qualitative research was also used as students were asked to answer questions about lessons that were learned while participating and what they thought of the process.
What was the population studied? Why do you say that?
The study was on the population of college students with a major in Information Technology. I say this because it was mentioned in the article and reading it from the beginning I could tell that the work they were asked to do(apply data analytics, use data visualization techniques) was more complicated than what would be asked of high school students. Being an information major, the details of the assignment were very familiar to me which helped me understand the population even better.
What sample was used for this study? Explain.
The sample was a business analytics class consisting of 10-20 students. The author mentioned this in the article.
What was the method of measurement?
For this study, researchers used questions and surveys to understand how successful the project was.
If the research was quantitative, was the measurement scale used, Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, or Ratio?
The quantitative research used was measured at a ratio level. Surveys were used to determine how students felt about the project from a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest.
If the research was qualitative, what data was collected?
The qualitative data was in the form of questions and answers, like an interview. Students were asked various question about their experience with the project and researchers determined the success of the assignment based on the answers.
What was the method of analysis?
For the most part, an inductive method was used to collect data and analyze participants. Throughout the process, observations were made to help researchers understand how students reacted to each level of the data analytics project. The questions and answers helped them create a scalable assignment to be used in the upcoming years as more students enroll in this course.
If the research was quantitative, what statistical tools were used to analyze the data?
There was little statistical technique used in this research, however, surveys were conducted to help understand the level of difficulty of the project.
If the research was qualitative, in what manner was the data analyzed?
Researchers requested multiple deliverables with feedback. They asked students to analyze the assignment and include their feedback in the conclusion of their project. Instructors were asked to provide feedback also and this helped improve the study.
What was the conclusion of the study?
The project’s goal was to create a learning space where students would be comfortable turning data into information. Because of the extensive research done, this college program will be revised to better suit the needs of the student. Instructors will continue to use this assignment as it has shown to be valuable for both students and faculty.
Why is this study useful to you? Explain in detail.
I’m an information major and am always intrigued by the different ways people use data. It is my passion to easily turn data into information and this article interestingly applied a different twist on the use of data by having personal experiences integrated into data manipulation. I usually use company data to perform analysis and this article makes me want to do a similar project taking data out of the work field and applying it into my personal life. The article was well written and I appreciate the takeaways I received from it.
What would be the next logical step in extending this study?
The project explained in this article has been participated in by different student groups for over 6 years. Researchers should take the feedback they received from students and instructors and use it to create other studies as they pertain to the information age. Technology is a very broad topic and I think this study can help improve many Information courses to help students better understand what they’re learning.
Works Cited:
Anderson, J., & Williams, S. (2019). Turning Data into Better Decision Making: Asking Questions, Collecting and Analyzing Data in a Personal Analytics Project. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, 17(2), 126-145. https://web-b-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.fhsu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=73f8ae25-595b-48d8-ad0c-a2529ad6e9c4%40pdc-v-sessmgr01
I like how students were able to develop questions in their own area of choice. By gathering data for questions in an area of choice 8 weeks and then applying descriptive analytics, regression, and data visualization techniques, I’m sure there were interesting results. It makes me wonder what areas in my own I could develop questions for, gather data for, and then visualize the resulting information in a meaningful way.
I believe you did well in clarifying that the study was utilizing mixed methods, both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study makes it seem like most of the data would lean on the quantitative side, however that is not the case. There were also qualitative methods such as the open-ended responses that allowed for more insight beyond the quantitative data. The open-ended responses portion did allow for individuals to express their thoughts on the project itself, which would have been unknown if the study went only by the quantitative data. I believe you did well by investigating your study further to find out that it was not just quantitative data.
It is easy to get lost in the numbers and think that the study is one thing, but then it turns out to be something entirely different. I like that you took the time to review the study thoroughly to catch this and utilized your topic presentation knowledge to identify that it was a mixed methods design. I noticed the study did utilize something similar to the Likert scale to gauge how students felt about the project, but it was also nice that the student’s insight on how they felt about the project was included in the study. Overall, I think you did well with this review and provided a good example of a mixed methods design that shows off both quantitative and qualitative data in a study.