Data Analysis and Research Communication

Question 1

Broadly, what types of data analysis are there?

Answer 1

• Quantitative
  
  • Numerical continuous or categorical data that is analysed through statistical techniques
• Qualitative
  
  • Qualitative and textual data that is analysed through content analysis e.g. interview data
  • Qualitative data can be converted into categorical numeric data and can be analysed through statistical techniques

Question 2

What are the components of the circle of analysis?

Answer 2

• Description
• Interpretation
• Conclusion
• Theorisation

Question 3

What are the steps to preparing quantitive data?

Answer 3

• 1. Editing
• 2. Data entry and coding
• 3. Data checking and verification
• 4. Handling missing data

Question 4

What is editing when preparing quantitive data?

Answer 4

The process of checking the completeness, consistency and legibility of data and making the data ready for coding

Question 5

What are the components of data entry and coding when preparing quantitive data?

Answer 5

• Coding
• Codes
• Code book

Question 6

What is coding?

Answer 6

The process of assigning a numerical score to other character symbols to previously edited data

Question 7

What are codes?

Answer 7

• Rules for interpreting, classifying, and recording data in the coding process
  
  • The actual numerical or other character symbols assigned to the raw data

Question 8

What is a code book?

Answer 8

Identifies each variable in a study and gives the variable’s description, code name, code for each response and position in the data matrix

Question 9

How can missing data be handled?

Answer 9

• List wise deletion
  
  • The entire record for a respondent that has left a response missing is excluded from use in statistical analysis
• Pure-wise deletion
  
  • Only the actual variables for a respondent that do not contain information are eliminated from use in statistical analysis
• Imputation of values (various means)

Question 10

What is the unit of measurement in quantitative research?

Answer 10

In quantitative analysis the unit of measurement is the variable

Question 11

Why is the variable level important?

Answer 11

The different levels of variables (nominal, ordinal and interval) are important because they determine the kind of analysis that can be carried out on each variable or with each variable

Question 12

What kinds of data analysis statistics are there?

Answer 12

• Descriptive Statistics

* Inferential Statistics

Question 13

What are descriptive statistics?

Answer 13

• Summarising statistics
• Each variable in the data gathered can be described using them
• Each variable can be described in a number of different ways
• Most generally used are frequencies, ranges, means, modes, medians and std.

Question 14

What are inferential statistics?

Answer 14

• Statistical inference uses the data gathered from a sample population to draw conclusions (or inferences) about the population form which the sample was drawn
• When a researcher engages in quantitative analysis using inferential statistics, the sampling method used in selecting participants for the research project becomes critical
• Probability sampling methods must be used. These sampling methods are designed to minimise biases and to ensure that the sample is as representative as possible of the population of the study

Question 15

In hypothesis testing what is the hypothesis?

Answer 15

The hypothesis is an unproven proposition or supposition that tentatively explains certain facts or phenomena - it is a statements of assumption about the nature of the world

Question 16

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 16

• A null hypothesis is a statement about the status quo that asserts that any change form what has been thought to be true will be due entirely to random sampling error
• The true purpose of setting up the null hypothesis is to provide an opportunity for nullifying it - we can never prove something to be true but we can always prove something to be false

Question 17

What is an alternative hypothesis?

Answer 17

• The alternative hypothsis states the opposite of the null hypothesis
• These are stated in research articles and proposals

Question 18

What are the steps to hypothesis testing?

Answer 18

• Hypotheses are dervied from the research objectives as per the hypothetic-deductive method
• A sample is obtained and the relevant variables are measured
• The measured sample value is compared to the value either stated explicitly or implied in the hypothesis
  
  • If the value is consistent with the hypothesis, the hypothesis is supported

Question 19

What types of hypothesis testing are there?

Answer 19

• Hypothesis about differences
  
  • Examining the differences between two or more variables (multivariate tests of differences)
  • Tests of hypotheses involving two variables (bivariate tests of differences)
• Hypotheses about relationships
  
  • Examining the relationship between two or more variables (multivariate tests of association)
  • Tests of hypotheses involving two variables (bivariate tests of association)

Question 20

What kinds of analysis are there?

Answer 20

• Univariate analysis
• Bivariate analysis
• Multivariate analysis

Question 21

What is univariate analysis?

Answer 21

• The use of one variables in analysis i.e. analysis conducted on one variable
• e.g. frequencies

Question 22

What is bivariate analysis?

Answer 22

• The use of two variables in analysis i.e. analysis conducted on two variables
• e.g. chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA, t-tests, correlation and simple regression

Question 23

What is multivariate analysis?

Answer 23

• The use of three or more variables in analysis i.e. analysis conducted on more than two variables
• e.g. multiple regression analysis

Question 24

What is most important about qualitative research data analysis?

Answer 24

Analysis is continuous, occurs during data collection

Question 25

What questions are asked in qualitative research data analysis?

Answer 25

• How am I going to make sense of these data?
• Why do people behave as they do
• What else do i need to know?
• What are the patterns from the data collected

Question 26

What is the method to qualitative research data analysis?

Answer 26

• Transcribe data
• Organise data
• Codes to field notes
• Marginal reflections
• Sort and sift
• Define patterns, processes, differences
• Generalise
• Relate to our construct theories

Question 27

What are the three important steps to qualitative research data analysis?

Answer 27

• 1. Familiarity with the data
     - Reading
     - Memo writing
• 2. Examine the data in depth
     - Provide detailed descriptions
• 3. Categorise and code data into themes
     - Note repetitive events
     - Define criteria for classifying events into categories

Question 28

What are the important aspects about communicating research?

Answer 28

• Each report will have a different purpose which will influence the style
• Some reports are descriptive in nature. The purpose of these is to provide descriptive details on a particular area of interest
• Some reports can be both diagnostic and prescriptive in nature. The purpose of these is to ‘sell and idea’ and identify or determine the nature of the problem and provide the final solution

Question 29

What is a dichotomous variable?

Answer 29

a variable with only two values

Question 30

What is an intervening variable?

Answer 30

the means by which the independent variable affects the dependent