ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on collecting, analyzing, and presenting evidence. It stresses using writing to code, recode, and analyze to draft the Findings/Results chapter.
Section 5.1 Overview of quantitative vs. qualitative approaches. This section details the activities and challenges of these two approaches.
Section 5.2 Assessing processes. This section addresses how to avoid weak data, how to write about data analysis, how to review one’s protocols should they be producing weak data, what to do if participants drop out or if one’s response rate is low, when to begin analyzing data, and how to keep track of data and code data.
Section 5.3 Writing the Findings chapter. This section helps writers move from codes to initial writing. It identifies the role of one’s Chair in this process. It also advises on openings, context, telling one’s story, the temptation of too much data, and summarizing for key themes – all using examples from student work.
Section 5.4 Organization strategies. This section emphasizes choice and latitude, based on significance, in determining the order of presentation. The revised draft will also offer some criteria to determine what findings would best be presented as text and what as a table or figure.
Section 5.5 Revising drafts of Findings. This section reminds writers that first drafts of Findings/Results typically are rough drafts. It offers some examples of possible missteps to avoid, and it emphasizes telling one’s story. While all writers face similar challenges and make “missteps,” anticipating some of the typical quagmires can smooth the process.
Section 5.6 Using revision to deepen the analysis of one’s evidence. This section helps writers deepen their analysis through revision. Writers need help with distinguishing analysis from interpretation and also in heightening their evidence and ties of evidence to claims.
Section 5.7 Writing headings to organize Findings for readers. This section examines how headings can be used to guide readers’ response, in terms of clarifying logic. They also serve as writing signposts to help the writer structure the chapter.
