These links are organized to demonstrate the breadth of work that can be done on SoTL topics and to provide help with range of different kinds of SoTL studies.
1. Gathering and Analyzing Evidence
Creative/Professional Work
Qualitative versus Quantitative Measures
Qualitative Evidence
Quantitative Evidence
Mixed-Methods
Evaluation Research
Writing Surveys
2. Obtaining IRB Approval
3. Applying for Grants
1. Gathering and Analyzing Evidence
How to Write About Creative/Professional Work
How to present information on any kind or genre of work.
Qualitative versus Quantitative Measures
A link to a website that explains the difference between these two types of data and critically examines the utility of this distinction.
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Qualitative Research
- Research Creating Theory and Hypotheses – An explanation of the difference between inductive (exploratory) and deductive (confirmatory) research and questions to guide the formation of an inductve SoTL project.
- Qualitative Research Issues - A link with questions and answers on when to conduct qualitative research, the costs and benefits, and funding possibilities for this type of work.
- Qualitative Research Types - Categories and description of ways that qualitative evidence can be analyzed. Different theoretical positions are described and examples for further reading are provided.
- Qualitative Research Analysis - Techniques that can be used to describe and summarize qualitative evidence.
- Qualitative Research Validity - Alternative criteria that can be used to address concerns with validity when using qualitative methods with examples.
- Unobtrusive Measures - A link to information on three different kinds of unobtrusive measures; indirect measures, content analysis, and secondary analysis of data, and the advantages and disadvantages of their use.
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Quantitative Research
- Collecting Quantitative Data - Link to information on how to categorize and quantify observations and other collected evidence.
- Analyzing Quantitative Data - Link to an external site with information about the use of statistics and other analytic techniques.
- Visit RITE for further help with statistics
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Mixed Methods
Using Mixed Methods - explanation of the use of mixed methods in data collection and analysis and the different kinds that exist.
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Evaluation Research
Evaluation Research - External link explaining strategies and types of research for examining larger goals like program evaluation.
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Writing Surveys
- Writing your own Survey items - General level guidance for writing questionnaire surveys for any discipline, including information on writing items, responses, and pre-testing.
- The UCF Office of Operational Excellence and Assessment Support (OEAS) offers further professional assistance in designing, writing, and administering surveys.
- Analyzing your Survey Items - Link to an online text book on IRT (Item Response Theory) with other helpful links. IRT is the statistical analysis of individual items- the extent to which they are good indicators of the trait/ability/attitude your test is attempting to measure.
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2. Obtaining IRB Approval
FCTL's IRB information page with links on how to apply for and gain approval from the U.C.F. Institutional Review Board for your SoTL project.
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3. Applying for Grants
information on grants available for SoTL projects and how to apply for them.
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