Data Sources and Analysis
In this research three data sources were used. The primary data source consisted
a set of open ended questions; Process Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ)
developed by the researcher. PEQ was administered to prospective science
teachers after the projects performed and presented to explore prospective
science teachers’ experiences and perceptions about PBL. It was also designed to
have the prospective science teachers to perform a self evaluation for project
process with totally six open ended questions. A sample question from PEQ is
given below:
• Which skills and attitudes one should have to conduct a project effectively
do you think? Please explain your answer in detail.
The project portfolios prospective science teachers prepared before their final
presentation in class constituted the secondary data source. After PEQ responses
analysed the project portfolios of prospective science teachers for their driving
questions, planning, organization, data sources, data analysis, conclusions driven
and sources used were examined in parallel with PEQ and prospective science
teachers responses were questioned for their accuracy per project group. The
third data source was the notes taken by the instructor while project presentations
in each step and used to interpret the responses given to PEQ more accurately.
Data from PEQ were analysed qualitatively through a process of open coding
(Strauss & Corbin, 1998) in order to identify important concepts and categories.
Open coding process is established on labelling and categorizing of phenomena