​​​​​​​Assessments
for Exceptional Children
Asking the right questions, using appropriate tools and classifying information according to percieved and identified problems are necessary elements of data analysis. The solution of a problem is foremost in the analysis of collected information to efficiently, consistently and effectively translate data into improved performance in the learning and adaptive domains of students with special needs.
"Data analysis is defined as a practice in which, unorganized or unfinished data is ordered and organized, so that useful information can be highlighted. It involves processing and working on data, in order to understand what all is present in the data and vice-versa.
To understand what is involved in data analysis, take a look at this example:
Between 1800 and 2000, United States' population increased from 5 million to 255 million people, i.e., growth of 250 million. So, these figures illustrate the facts. But, to conclude that the population rose at an average rate of 1.25 million people per year (250 million divided by 200 years), would be wrong. The information would be correct and so would be the arithmetic, but the interpretation, "an average growth rate of 1.25 million people per year", would be dead wrong. The analysis would not correctly interpret facts, as population of the US did not grow in that fashion, not even approximately.
Here's where correct data analysis methods and procedures come into picture. Charts, graphs, and write-ups in text form, are various methods to analyze data. These methods are designed to polish and refine the data, so that the end users can reap interesting or useful information, without any need of going through the entire data themselves" (Gode, 2013).