Getting Started
CEDS can help researchers find existing research, define concepts and elements relevant to the research, identify potential data sources, and develop analysis plans. Select one of the phases below to see how CEDS can help.
Phase I: Developing Research Questions and Reviewing Existing Research
Researchers can use existing questions or build their own.
Researchers can use Connect to find out what questions states are asking, and use
that information as a starting point or to help guide their own question development.
Connect is a CEDS tool that provides a selection of questions developed by CEDS
users. Researchers can also provide feedback and dialogue on existing Connections.
To get started, go to Connect and explore existing Connections
by conducting a keyword search for a particular state.
Researchers can find information about how others have defined similar questions
by exploring existing Connections. Researchers can also provide feedback and dialogue
on existing Connections. To find out what information already exists on a topic,
go to Connect and conduct a keyword search for a topic or by selecting a category
to view all related Connections.
Phase II: Operationalizing Research Questions
Researchers can use CEDS to help operationalize the concepts in their research question.
To find out how others operationalized a concept, explore existing
Connections by conducting a keyword search or by selecting
a category to view all related Connections.
Review the CEDS Domain Entity Schema, which
is logically organized, to find related elements based on the context. Use these
elements to help define concepts in your research question.
Phase III: Analytic Plans
CEDS helps researchers develop an analytic plan for research questions. Researchers
can build a Connection to define the elements, selection criteria, and suggested
computations for analysis. The Connection can then be shared for others to use as
a starting point, and other CEDS users can provide feedback on the Connection. To
get started, go to Connect and select "Create a Connection"
under Build.
Phase IV: Gathering Potential Data Sources
CEDS helps researchers gather potential data sources by connecting the elements
for the research question with education entities who collect the data.
Use myConnect to determine if the data necessary
to conduct the analysis can be found in your own data system. Note: To use
myConnect, you need to use a shared Connection and a shared Align map.
Use myConnect with multiple Align maps to determine
if you have access to all of the data necessary to conduct the analysis. Keep in
mind that data may reside in different datasets, offices, or agencies.
Note: To
use myConnect, you need to use a shared Connection and a shared Align map.
By sharing a Connection, you can use myConnect to identify
any shared maps and compare them with the data for your research to determine if
states of interest collect the appropriate data.
Use the element-based report in Align to select one or
more elements and find education entities whose data systems align to those elements.
To access support from your peers, join the CEDS Community.