BTAR chap. 6

This chapter begins simply by helping the reader define "interpretation". Reading the following passages, I thought more about my insecurities regarding action research. Through the process of learning about how to be a consistent and reliable researcher, I have learned more about how the data we collect can influence our own perspectives regarding our research. Near the beginning of the chapter the text cites the words of Tilden who said that "information, as such, is not interpretation." I get the feeling that a great deal of researchers have fallen prey to this aspect of research and attempted to make meaning from the information alone. I agree with the authors who discuss how interpreting data can be a daunting task to even the most seasoned of researchers. I have no doubt that I will have a hard time with this aspect of data interpretation. It almost seems wrong making a judgment about a population based on my observations. Who's to say that my data collection was flawed or skewed in any way? I think that is what will worry me the most when I perform my action research in the fall. Even later in the chapter the authors discuss the voice in your head that says that you don't know enough. What put my mind slightly at ease was reading about the steps of data collection. I figure if I successfully perform the steps, I should have enough information to make a basic inference.  

Chapter 5 BTAR

I know that during my action research, I am going to have a great deal of issues when finally looking at my data and working out what it is telling me. I think that might be why the questions posed regarding the analysis and reconstruction of my data on pages 118 and 119 are going to help me considerably when taking a look at my own data. It is important for a researcher to be able to communicate and understand their study's data so to make it more accessible to a common reader. The questions in the following pages up until 122 will also help me realize what my own limitation are the limitations of my data. Late in the chapter, the text discusses the importance of ongoing analysis and taking reflective pauses during research. This would help a researcher by forcing them the constantly rethink about their research process and the implications the data makes, rather than waiting until the very end when all the data has been collected and seems so distant and disconnected. This will have to be something that I focus on as well just so I don't lose sight of early data collections and what they imply. A lot can be lost in a matter of weeks when distracted by other happenings in research.

Gersten article reflection

It's important to consistently look at how we teach and how different methods are implemented in the classroom. This article was hard to digest and overly descriptive to suit anyone who isn't in the field of research, education, or involved in both. Despite it's value to your average bystander, it's the thought that counts. Things became much clearer in the section titled Measuring the Independent Variable when the author discusses the difference between observing the implementation or the lack thereof. I think it became clearer because Gersten used a contextual example. I appreciate how the article stresses the importance of using a lesson model consistently so to better obtain an idea of how effective that model actually is. I enjoyed one of the following sections titled Implementation Fidelity because, right at the beginning, Gersten maps out what should be observed while judging the effectiveness of a lesson model. Gersten talks about aspects such as level of training provided , length of lessons, etc. Though there is a checklist that helps define what should be looked for in any implementation, I appreciate the fact that the author admits that there are aspects that can be difficult to quantify during an observation. The article brings more points to light, but overall, it reminds me that it's important to observe my own teaching and planning. That way I can consistently better my teaching methods.