Day 19: Types of Data

Authentic data can be generated in a number of ways. In this research class, data is generated with surveys, interviews, and experiments. Surveys measure opinions and trends; interviews collect expert information; experiments measure cause and effect. One or more of these data collection techniques are used to get authentic, real time, information that proves or disproves existing information about a topic.

For example, a survey of all the teachers in two different schools would gather information about diaries (a type of a Book of Days). With the right questions, I would find out among gender who kept diaries, for how long, perhaps why, and what happened to the diaries now that the person being surveyed is an adult OR! Or, or if the person STILL keeps a personal Book of Days!  This information may coincide with information about diary/journal keeping in the country.

I could interview some middle school students and some adults to find out why they keep a diary, and do a comparison of their first-hand, expert information...that would give me personal knowledge but not a large population of numbers for percentages.

Mistakes happen, but making them public is another thing!

An experiment?  I do not see an immediate purpose for that in this particular topic, unless I was testing papers or inks. I could experiment with construction techniques which would demonstrate the strengths and pitfalls of various ways of building my own book of research book.

In any event, any type of data needs to be reviewed before it is released to the public to ensure there are no mistakes and that it makes sense. It is far better to make corrections BEFORE than after!