Here is an example of a student’s quantitative data analysis. (And here is another.) What are they missing? What do they do well? What does the use of quantitative data do for the claims they are making? (Note: Remember that this student was working on a different assignment than the ERP we are doing in this class.)

Part I. – Reading and Analyzing

Before I ask you to think about how you might use this kind of research in your ERP, I’d like us to work through an example together. Take a look at this CNN Facebook post. Read through the article, then skim the through the comments. 

• What can we say about the way the author(s) handle the topic in the article? (What rhetorical moves do we see? What information do they emphasize/deemphasize? What does their tone or language choice say?
• How could we start to talk about public reaction to that rhetoric?

Part II. – Identifying Data Possibilities

Let’s say, just for the purposes of our exercise, that we’re writing an ERP on the ways professional sports are being perceived during a time of political unrest (whether you’re conservative or liberal) Working in groups, identify areas of possible quantitative data collection. Once you have some ideas, list them in this collaborative Google doc.

• Given our main idea, what quantitative evidence could we provide? What, in the article or the comments, can be counted (or quantified)?
• What would each of those bits of data help us say?
• What other contextual elements might we have to consider in order to be able to say those things? (e.g. We may want to look at other articles on the CNN Facebook to see how many comments or likes they get vs. this sports-related article.)

Part III. – Collecting Data

Each group will work in one of the areas we’ve identified as a class as a source of quantifiable data. Using the article and the most recent 50 comments, start quantifying. Add your data to this spreadsheet. When we’re finished, we’ll start analyzing the data as a class.

Part IV. – Your Turn

Think about the claims you are making in your ERP.

• How might you use quantitative data to supplement the qualitative data (your observations) that you’ve gathered already?
• What would the use of quantitative data bring to your project?
• What data is quantifiable and useful for your project?

If we have time, take about 10 minutes to write reflectively on the questions above. Post your reflections in your in-class writing folder.

• Exercises and Links, 3/6/17
• Empirical Research Project – Quantitative Data Component

Categories: In Class Writing and Exercises

Tags: CNN, empirical research project, Facebook, in class writing, primary research, quantitative data