Module 6

Module 6 contained a plethora of information regarding quantitative research.  Both readings, the videos about statistics, and the video regarding Bennett Reimer were very informational and explained things in a very clear manner.

The Phillips (2008) reading focused upon experimental quantitative research.  The reading provided three examples of research studies (quasi-experimental and true experimental).  Each study was broken down into sections with a commentary at the end of each section to help the reader understand the information that has been stated.  Being quantitative data, there are a variety of numbers, formulas, and tables that are introduced and explained to the reader in regards to how they fit with the research.  I found the reading to be very helpful, especially since there were three different studies.  This provided me with three different viewpoints of experimental research.

The Mertler (2012) reading focused on data analysis.  Mertler goes into great detail in regards to data analysis for both qualitative and quantitative research.  As always, he breaks everything down into sections, bold-faced words, provides examples, and provides many tables for study.  Mertler (2012) provides explanation to different types of quantitative data types that can be utilized in such a study.  He also does a great job explaining what each of the symbols in the different formulas mean.  Although I am trained on Excel, I found his suggestions for the “StatCrunch” program to be a very helpful alternative if conducting research.  Again, he provides screen shots to help explain the process of using this program.

Mertler’s videos are always short but provide great knowledge within them and I found it to be very helpful.  The videos regarding statistics were particularly helpful.  Actually, I am familiar the videos of the formulas because the 6^th grade math teacher at my school utilizes that YouTube channel with his students.  One of my band students showed me one time.  I watched the video and thought to myself “Hey! I know that voice!”.  I am not of the “math-mind” so I appreciated the explanation of what I am trying to figure out.  The excel videos were also a very helpful reminder.  Although we used excel in Dr. Brophy’s class, the videos were a nice refresher course! I thoroughly enjoyed the video regarding Bennet Reimer.  As a music education major at U of I, that is a name that was used quite often during my time there.  I enjoyed hearing about his struggles and triumphs with his life as a musician.  These were definitely things I did not know about him.  It really opened my eyes because you never know when you are teaching a child what they could end up doing with their lives.