3.3 Processing and analysing data Flashcards
How quantitative data is processed and analysed
- quantitative data from close-ended questionnaires surveys are processed and analysed using
1. Measures of frequency
2. Measures of central tendency
Measures of frequency
- we can use counts and percentages to measure frequency
Count:
- total number of times something occurs
Percentage:
- proportion of smth expressed as a fraction out of 100
- Data/Total Data x 100%
Measures of central tendency
- Mean
- Median
- Mode
Measures of central tendency
- Mean
- Median
- Mode
Mean
- average average
- sum of all values in data set divided by number of values
- advantages: includes every value & no data is left out to show its central location
- disadvantages: subjected to influence of outliers, which can skew it, & thus not provide central location
Median
- middle average
- middles value of a set of data that has been arranged in ascending order
- advantage: less affected by outliers
- disadvantages: not as sensitive as mean in showing central location in data set
Mode
- not very average average
- most frequent value in data set
- advantages: Useful for categorical data like the different modes of transport and is not affected by outliers
- disadvantage: Not very useful for continuous data because there may be 2 or more values that share same highest frequency
How qualitative data from mental maps be processed and analysed
Qualitative data from mental maps are processed to:
- verify how well they represent real world
- examine a mapper’s sense of place
Can analyse and process qualitative data by:
- analysing how well maps represent reality and how features and labels are drawn or added
- examine how memories of experiences are represented on maps and described during semi-structured interviews
Aspects of mental maps:
- centering and borders
- scale of map elements
- labelling
- colours, legends and symbols
- perspective orientation
Centering and borders
- Features drawn at the centre capture attention, and might signal greater importance to the mapper compared with those drawn at the borders.
- However, this may not represent reality. The positions of the different features drawn may not match reality.
Scale of map elements
- Comparing the scale of different map features within the map and with reality can provide insights into a mapper’s familiarity and activity within the space
- Larger features could indicate greater familiarity and more frequent activity done there.
- However these may not represent reality. Larger features drawn by the mapper may be smaller than other features in reality.
Labelling
- Labelled and annotated places indicate mappers’ familiarity.
- The content and choice of words, positive or negative, used in labelling provide information on the mappers’ knowledge and emotions of the places experienced.
Colours, legends and symbols
- Colours used in maps can differentiate places and convey emotions, like red representing anger.
- A legend may be included to explain the symbols that the mapper uses.
- Symbols like hearts and stars convey personal experiences or information about places, such as a favourite or an important location to the mapper.
Perspective and orientation
Mental maps may present different perspectives:
- Aerial view captures a large area with less details.
- Street view captures a small area with greater details.
Places are positioned or oriented in relation to the surroundings reveals the mapper’s experiences.
- A place that is important to the mapper could be depicted on the map as closer to their home.
Other features
- Paths, nodes, or intersections, may be added to mental maps to show the mapper’s personal history of the places such as a route that was often taken.
What else can we do with mental maps
- can compare actual maps with peeps’ mental maps to analyse the differences or inaccuracies portrayed
- Drawn map features can appear as distortions, mislabellings and miscations. They are key in understanding factors that infuence mapper’s perceived space.
- further verification can be made with the mapper through open-ended questions asked during semi-structured interview.
- Duing the interview, the mapper may also be asked why some spaces are prominent and others are absent or ignored.