Module 5 – Analysis: Dealing with the data

Introduction

Welcome to Module 5 – Analysis: Dealing with the data.

Having decided the overall strategy and appropriate methods of data collection it is time to consider how you will analyse your data.

This is quite a lengthy Module with two long chapters to read. Again the temptation is to skip one chapter because it does not seem appropriate to the overall strategy you have chosen, however, it is important that you have a broad overview. By all means spend more time on the chapter that is of particular relevance (Eg. Robson, Chpt 14.)but it is worth investing some time reading both chapters. Remember it is not unusual for a flexible design to incorporate some quantitative data although the opposite is more unlikely.

Dealing with the data

After data has been collected it needs to be analysed and interpreted. Traditionally, for fixed designs, this happens after the data have been safely gathered. With flexible designs, analysis usually happens at various stages throughout the project.

It is not enough to simply present the data and leave interpretation to the reader. As Robson (2002) points out. …

data in their raw form do not speak for themselves (p387).

The hidden messages need to be teased out and this is a process of analysis and interpretation. Thinking about how you might deal with the data is an integral part of designing an enquiry.

The data you collect will come in all sorts of shapes and sizes – audio and video tapes, test results, answers to questionnaires, transcripts of interviews, field notes, diary entries and so on. Much of it will either be

  • words – qualitative analysis
  • or numbers – quantitative analysis.

Robson (2002) recommends seeking advice about quantitative analysis at the design stage – not after you have collected the data. He also points out that you will have to do much of the qualitative analysis yourself (pp385-9)

A word about software. There are two software programs that will greatly assist in the analysis of data that you may wish to consider.

  1. SPSS is for the analysis of quantitative data
  2. NVIVO for the analysis of qualitative data.

Check the further reading section of this Module for more information. If you are going to use either piece of software then think about in what form the data is to be collected. NVIVO for example will require your qualitative data to be in a digital form for example a word processed document or an email. In designing your data collection methods think about ways in which you can collect the data digitally or how you will convert the data (for example a participant’s handwritten journal entry) into a digital form.

Preparatory tasks

  1. To help prepare you for assessment activity and to increase your understanding of how to analyse your data effectively you now need to read the following chapters in your textbook (Robson)

  • Chapter 13 - The Analysis of Quantitative Data
  • Chapter 14 - The Analysis of Qualitative Data

Assessment activities

Activity 5.1 – Dealing with the data

Please note: This activity is individual, assessable and should take you about 1 hour. It has a word limit of 450 words and is part of your final portfolio of activities, which is worth 40% of your total mark. It should be emailed to your teacher on or before week 10 of semester.

You now need to

    1. Think about how you might analyse the data. In Assessment Activity 4.1 you listed the tactics you are going to use to collect your data. It is now time to.
    2. Discuss the processes/procedures you are likely to use draw out the hidden messages the data will contain.

Activity 5.2 – Checking

You now need to check that you have

  1. Completed your folio of activities (which is worth 40% of your total mark) and sent them all to the teacher

    1.1 - Focus on 3 possible research topics
    2.1 - Your research question
    3.1 - Choosing a fixed or flexible design
    4.1 - Exploring tactics
    5.1 - Dealing with the data

References

  • Robson, C., 2002, Real World Research, 2nd Ed, Blackwell, Oxford

Further resources

If you are interested to find about more about this area then you can

  1. Read the following books

Analysis of quantitative data

  • Foster, J. J., 2001, Data analysis using SPSS for Windows versions 8 to 10: a beginner's guide, Sage Publications
  • Byrne, B. M., 1994, Structural equation modelling with EQS and EQS/Windows: basic concepts, applications, and programming, Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications
  • Marsh, C., 1998, Exploring data: an introduction to data analysis for social scientists, Cambridge, UK
  • Maxwell, S. E. & Delaney, H. D., 1990, Designing experiments and analysing data: a model comparison perspective, Wadsworth, Ca.

Analysis of qualitative data

  • Coffey, A. & Atkinson, P., 1996, Making sense of qualitative data: complementary research strategies, Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications
  • Hammersley, M. & Atkinson, P., 1989, Ethnography: principles in practice, London, Routledge
  • Miles, M. B. & Huberman, A.M., 1994, Qualitative data analysis: an expanded sourcebook, 2nd Ed, Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications
  • Silverman, D., 2000, Doing qualitative research: a practical handbook, Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications

You can also look at the extensive "Further Reading" sections at the end of each chapter in your textbook.

  1. Visit the following websites



    2. SPSS



    NVIVO