Existing data

(Easiest to gather)

Records

• Student grades*
• Attendance
• Teaching evaluations
• Retention rate
• % of students in school-sponsored organizations
• Standardized test results
• Demographics

Archival data

• Research literature*
• Local policies, rules, and regulations about education
• Syllabi and curriculum
• Accreditation reports

Conventional sources

(Require selection or development of data-collection instruments. Still relatively easy to acquire.)

Behavioral data (best)

• Teacher journal, or field notes*
• Number of books read
• Library use
• Writing samples
• Grades on classroom tests*
• Variety of materials used
• Teacher observations of student participation, interaction, etc.*
• Outside observations of classroom$
• Student journals 
• Minutes from meetings
• Staff development (hours, types)
• Audio or videotapes of classroom$

Perceptual data (attitudes, opinions)

• Surveys
• Simple interviews

Inventive sources

(Products or performances. May be  difficult to acquire and can be difficult to evaluate)

• Exhibits$
• Portfolios$
• Expositions$
• Videotapes$