Part 2 of a Research Paper by Prof. Carl Edwin Lindgren, D.Ed. (Part 1)

SECTION 1 SECTION 2 SECTION 3 SECTION  4

CHAPTER IV

 PRESENTATION OF THE DATA

 This chapter presents the data resulting from the survey. The data consists of three parts: 1) a mean rating (i.e., greatest value - little value) on each of the 23 survey questions, 2) comparisons of percentage ratings (i.e., greatest value 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 little value) of each question, and 3) individual comments and suggestions relating to the writing of a photographic manual.

Questions receiving a rating of $ 3 are to be included in a section in the proposed text. Generally, the lower the rating, the less amount of information that will be presented in the manual. This would eliminate those areas of photography that most of the respondents felt to be of little value. 

History & Philosophy

 Table 1 shows the mean value respondents attributed to each of the questions in the History and Philosophy section.  Table 2 presents a tally of individual scores and percent ratings for each of the 1-5 scale possibilities. 

Photography, Pre-1839

Question one asked participants to indicate the value of pre-1839 history of photography as an item for inclusion in a teacher's manual. On a scale of 1-5, this question rated 3.06. Although not as valuable as other points in this section, educators felt that photography's history before 1839 was of potential value to the student. 

 Photography, 1839-Present

Question two, which is also historical in nature, brought photography from the 1840s to the present. This period of photographic history was more relevant to the respondents in that the mean value was 3.85. Twenty-five respondents (38.4 percent) scored the question five, while four individuals (6.2 percent) ranked it a value of one. 

Photography in the Future

Question three, relates to photography's uses, purpose, and benefits in the future. This area, (surprisingly) did not interest educators significantly more than the previous sections. With a mean value of 3.83, future developments in photography were considered of no more importance than the history of photography. However, nineteen participants  (29.2 percent) ranked the question a five while only two respondents (3.1 percent) scored the inquiry a one.

Table 1

Mean Responses on Questions Dealing with the History and Philosophy of Photography on a Scale of 1-5

where 1 is of Little Value and 5 is Greatest Value * **

Pre-1839             1839-Pres.                 Future                   Art Form             Color vs B&W 

 Overall Responses

 

   3.06

 

3.85

 

3.83

 

4.37

 

2.74

 Teachers of Grades 1-5 Responses

 

2.67

 

3.41

 

3.89

 

4.41

 

 2.70    

 Teachers of Grades 6-8 Responses

 

3.05

 

3.88

 

3.65

 

3.82

 

 3.17

 Teachers of Grades 9-12 Responses

 

3.57

 

4.38

 

3.90

 

4.76

 

2.43

 

* On this and tables following that deal with averages, the mean was determined by assigning five points to the areas, defined by the questions, that possess the greatest value and one point to the ones with the little value. The numbers 4 (greater), 3 (of value), and 2 (some value) represent descending importance.

 ** See Appendix C for listing of each score per question and its statistical analysis in relation to standard deviation, variance, coefficient variance, etc.

Table 2

Responses and Percentages to Questions under the Section on History and Philosophy of

Photography: A Ranking for each on a 1-5 Scale where 1 is of Little Value and 5 is Greatest Value

 Photography, Pre-1839

 

Value

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

Responses

 

11

 

6

 

23

 

18

 

7

 

Percent

 

16.9

 

9.2

 

35.4

 

27.7

 

10.8

  Photography, 1839-Present

 

Value

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

Responses

 

4

 

6

 

11

 

19

 

25

 

Percent

 

6.2

 

.2

 

16.9

 

29.2

 

38.5

 Photography in the Future

 

Value

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

Responses

 

2

 

2

 

20

 

22

 

19

 

Percent

 

3.1

 

3.1

 

30.8

 

33.8

 

29.2

Photography as an Art Form

 

Value

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

Responses

 

2

 

1

 

5

 

20

 

37

 

Percent

 

3.1

 

1.5

 

7.7

 

30.8

 

56.9

 Color vs. Black & White Still Photography

 

Value

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

Responses

 

11

 

22

 

15

 

7

 

10

 

Percent

 

16.9

 

33.8

 

23.1

 

10.8

 

15.4

  Photography  as an Art Form

Individuals responding to question four ranked its importance much higher than questions on history or future developments. The mean score was 4.37 and showed the extent to which educators believe that photography is an art form. Thirty-seven educators (56.9 percent) ranked the question a five while only two (3.1 percent) gave the question a one. Fifty-seven respondents (88.6 percent) gave the  question values of four and five.

 Color vs. Black & White (Still Photos)

In the final question of this section, relating to color vs. the black and white print, teachers showed little interest. With a 2.74, this area received the lowest value of the section. The percentage of fives was low, with only 10 participants (15.4 percent) valuing the question a five while thirty-three individuals (16.9 and 33.8 percent respectively) marked one and two.

Uses of Photography

 Table 3 illustrates the mean value respondents attributed to each of the five questions in Uses of the Camera. Table 4 presents a tally of individual responses and percentages for each of the 1-5 possibilities, where 1 is of little value and 5 is greatest value.

Travel and Nature Photography

In this section, question six asked the respondents to indicate their preference (little or greatest value) for including travel and nature photography in a manual. The mean score in this question was 3.34. Thirteen respondents (20 percent) scored this question a five while only five (7.7 percent) provided a value of one.

Trick, Abstract, and Infra-red Photography

Question seven, pertaining to trick, abstract and infra-red photography, had a mean value of 3.14. This value was the lowest in the section on Uses of Photography. Twenty-seven responses fell toward the center (over 41.5 percent marking three) while only five (7.7 percent) gave the question a value of one and eight (12.3 percent) a value of five.

Table 3

 Mean Responses on Questions Dealing with the Uses of Photography on a Scale of

1-5 where 1 is of Little Value and 5 is Greatest Value

Travel                    Trick                  Recording                  Hobby                   Career

Overall Responses

 

3.34

 

3.14

 

3.51  

 

 3.85     

 

4.03

 Teachers of Grades 1-5 Responses

 

 3.30

 

 3.11

 

3.50

 

3.62

 

3.52

 Teachers of Grade 6-8 Responses

 

 3.71

 

3.23

 

3.35

 

3.88

 

4.06

 Teachers of Grades 9-12 Responses

 

3.10

 

3.10

 

3.67

 

4.10

 

4.67

 Table 4

Responses and Percentages to Questions under the Section on Uses of Photography: A Ranking

for each on a 1-5 Scale where 1 is of Little Value and 5 is Greatest Value

 Travel and Nature Photography

 

Value

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

Responses

 

5

 

11

 

19

 

17

 

13

 

Percent

 

7.7

 

16.9

 

29.2

 

26.2

 

20.0

 Trick, Abstract and Infra-red Photography

 

Value

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

Responses

 

5

 

11

 

27

 

14

 

8

 

Percent

 

7.7

 

16.9

 

41.5

 

21.5

 

12.3

 Recording Events and Documentation

 

Value

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

 

Responses

 

4

 

11

 

14

 

20

 

16

 

Percent

 

6.2

 

19.9

 

21.5

 

30.8