Research Basics
The Research Steps
The Research Steps
The Data Analysis
Once you have collected your data, you will need to organize it and interpret it so that you can present your main findings to the reader. Your method of analysis will vary with your method of data collection, whether it is quantitative or qualitative.
For Quantitative methods, your main method of analysis will be through statistics (Ah, this is why it is a requirement for most social science majors). You address the following statistics:
- Measures of central tendency (mean, mode, median)
- Measures of dispersion (range, frequency distributions, standard deviations)
- Measures of association (Chi-squared, Pearson’s R, Lambda, Gamma, Somer’s D, just to name a few).
[
,"Analyzing Data"
Professor Bruno Breitmeyer]
Learn more about the analysis of quantitative data in our statistical analysis section.
For Qualitative methods, your main method of analysis may vary but a most common strategy is through coding and writing memos.
- Coding is the process of reading and labeling of field notes, transcribed interviews, documents or visual images in order to begin to compile themes.
- Writing Memos is where researchers begin to draw out initial analyses, connections, and interpretations of their codes.
[,"Analyzing Qualitative Data"
Professor Janis Hutchinson]
Learn more about the analysis of qualitative data in our qualitative analysis section.
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