ABSTRACT
This chapter provides practical advice about data-collection instruments, and explores issues associated with managing evaluation studies, and generating and analysing data. It presents an overview of the issues associated with collecting, analysing and interpreting data from an e-learning evaluation-research study. A critical component of any e-learning investigation is choosing appropriate data-collection techniques or methods. Most e-learning environments will be accompanied by some sort of documentation, developed through a baseline analysis or design evaluation. A classic usability technique, individual observation can be used to gather a great deal of information about how a learner uses an e-learning environment - in ways that are both expected and unexpected by the researcher. Many e-learning artefacts automatically record electronic measures of learner activity within the system. The chapter examines practical advice about how to analyse and interpret data that have been collected as part of an evaluation-research study.
