Purpose of data collection
Why do we collect data on our performance levels in a factor?
Why is it important that we undertake this process before all other aspects of the cycle of analysis?
We can answer this in terms of the following three areas:
- strengths and weaknesses
- measurement
- targets
Strengths and weaknesses
It's important to choose an appropriate factor to develop through the cycle of analysis. For this reason, data collection is helpful:
- It identifies your strengths and weaknesses...
- ...so that you can create an appropriate development plan around a weakness...
- ...and select relevant approaches to use.
Measurement
Measurement is a key part of data collection as it will help reflect your progress:
- It gives you a baseline measurement...
- ...so that you can compare future re-test results to starting results...
- ...and measure improvements.
Targets
Initial data collection helps you put appropriate targets in place:
- It provides you with results that you can use to set targets...
- ...so that you can make these targets specific and realistic...
- ...and this gives you a motivation boost to get started.
Think about how you would answer the following question. Remember, the cause and effects must fit together like a lock (the cause) and a key (the effect).
Question
Explain why we collect data before starting a physical development plan.
Take strengths and weaknesses as an example.
We collect data because it helps us identify our physical strengths and weaknesses. This means we can create a relevant development plan for our physical weaknesses and include approaches that develop our weakness.
Look at how sentence one causes the effect in sentence two. If we know our strengths and weaknesses, that causes us to create a development plan that includes approaches for our weaknesses.
However, consider if the key
did not fit into the lock
. If sentence two, in the above example, was:
This means we can compare re-test results to our initial results to measure improvements in the physical factor.
This would not get a mark as sentence one would not cause this effect. This sentence refers to measurements, not strengths and weaknesses. The shape of the key does not complement the shape of the lock and therefore the mark remains locked.