ISCM8380 - Analyzing & Interpreting Data

This course is designed to enable students to analyze and interpret data that they have collected for their dissertation. The course does not cover the technical details of quantitative/statistical data analysis or qualitative/coding data analysis. Rather, it focuses on taking the results from such analyses and reporting them in a way that adequately conveys the findings and the researcher's interpretations of those findings. Attention is given to the best ways to represent different types of findings, to include narrative descriptions as well as tables, figures, and infographics. Students will be taught the structure and necessary elements that should be included in the results/findings chapter (typically Chapter 4) and the discussion chapter (typically Chapter 5) of a dissertation. Emphasis will also be given to best practices for writing the discussion chapter, including elements that should be included in a scholarly discussion of findings, such as recommendations, key findings, theoretical implications, practical implications, limitations, and directions for future research. The aim of this course is to aid students in writing their results/findings chapter and the discussion chapter of their dissertation. Students who have not successfully collected data before entering this course may be required to use sample data for class assignments.
3 Credits