Introduction to Data Analysis Handbook - AED Center for Early Care ...

Classroom Quality (continued)
Process Components Content Information
Interpretation
continued
Permission granted to copy for non-commercial uses only.
obviously, this initial look at classroom quality, focused
on the Language-Reasoning sub-scale, is not particularly
uplifting. Unfortunately, when we look at data, we often
“discover” bad news. However, while the data considered
above are nothing to cheer over, there are some positive
aspects.
1. The worst is over.
2. Planning is straightforward.
3. The lower we start, the only place to go is up.
ECERS Example: 10 Classrooms
one advantage of looking at classroom quality data
by individual classroom is that we can focus upon the
individual strengths and need for improvement for that
particular classroom. However, in large-size programs with
many classrooms, there are several potential disadvantages to
looking at individual classroom data. First, the process can
become very time consuming, as classroom data is reviewed
and analyzed separately. Second, someone reviewing the
data can get “lost” in the details, and not able to focus on the
“big picture.”
one way around these disadvantages is to aggregate
(combine, put together) data from different classrooms.
The graphic below presents hypothetical data for all ECERS
sub-scales for ten classrooms. By aggregating the data,
everything now fits into one place and is available for
analysis.