LEGAL RESEARCH REPORT
height, weight, age,
I. Good evening everyone, good evening sir. I am
Glesa May Saliente. I am going to continue with the
discussion on data analysis.
Methodology chapter of your research should
include discussions about the methods of data
analysis. You have to explain in a brief manner how
you are going to analyze the primary data you will
collect employing the methods explained in this
chapter.
II. Definition:
Data analysis is a process that involves examining,
and molding collected data for interpretation to discover
relevant information, draw or propose conclusions and
support decision-making to solve a research problem.
This involves interpreting data to answer research
questions and making research findings be ready for
dissemination. Data analysis also serves as a reference
for future data collection and other research activities.
III. What’s with data analysis:
During data analysis (Bala, 2005):
a. data collected is transformed into information and
knowledge about a research performed
b. relationships between variables are explored
c. meanings are identified and information is interpreted.
IV. Different research analysis procedures base on
research method
Like other research methods, data analysis
procedures in quantitative research approach are
different from those in qualitative research approach.
The general differences of data analysis procedures
between these two approaches are summarized in the
Chart (Bala, 2005) and a Table that follows:
A. Quantitative Research Approach – Data Analysis
Data analysis for quantitative studies, on the other
hand, involves critical analysis and interpretation of
figures and numbers, and attempts to find rationale
behind the emergence of main findings. Comparisons of
primary research findings to the findings of the
literature review are critically important for both types
of studies – qualitative and quantitative.
Statistical analysis is the usual method used in
quantitative research approach. However, quantitative
data can be analyzed in several ways.
1. Data collected has a certain level of measurements
which initially influences the analysis. The
identification of a particular level of measurement is
usually the first step in quantitative data analysis.
The four levels of measurements include (Yamashita &
Espinosa, 2015):
 nominal data: basic classification data; lack
logical order - e.g. male or female
 ordinal data: has logical order but lack constant
differences between values – e.g. Pizza size
(large, medium, small)
 interval data: has logical order, is continuous,
has standardized differences between values
but lacks natural zero – e.g. Celsius degrees
 ratio data: has logical order, is continuous, has
standardized differences between values, and
has a natural zero – e.g.
length
2. After identifying a level of measurement, the next
step is now to use a specific analysis technique in
analyzing data.
There are several procedures that can be used to
analyze data. Main ones include (Yamashita & Espinosa,
2015):
1. Data tabulation (e.g. frequency distributions &
percent distributions)
2. Data descriptives (e.g. Mean, medium, mode,
minimum and maximum values, etc.)
3. Data disaggregation (tabulation of data across
multiple categories)
4. Moderate and advanced analytical methods
(regression, correlation, variance analysis)
The above methods can be used invariably by all
different true experimental, quasi-experimental and
non-experimental quantitative research strategies.
B. Qualitative Research Approach – Data Analysis
In qualitative researches using interviews, focus
groups, experiments etc. data analysis is going to
involve identifying common patterns within the
responses and critically analyzing them in order to
achieve research aims and objectives.
Textual data analysis is the usual method used in
qualitative research approach. This involves identifying
patterns and themes in data collected and then
examining and interpreting these patterns and themes to
draw meaning and answer research questions.
The five strategies of qualitative research mentioned–
ethnography, phenomenological, grounded theory,
narrative and case studies–employ different
analytical procedures. However, preliminary and some
general steps in data analysis are common to all. These
include (Yamashita & Espinosa, 2015):
1.Immediate processing and recording of data (important
information, date/time details, observations, etc)
2. Commencement of data analysis soon after collection
3. Reduction of data to meaningful information
4. Identification of meaningful patterns and themes” via
a. Content analysis achieved by:
>Coding the data for certain words or content
>Identifying their patterns
>Interpreting their meanings.
b. Thematic analysis achieved by “grouping data into
themes that answers research problem”
5. Display of data which include organizing data in forms
of graphics, maps, tables, etc., to draw conclusions
6. Drawing of conclusion and verification”
All the steps are should usually be accompanied by
references to literature, triangulation, keeping the
research purpose on focus and constant back-and-
forth analysis between and among the steps.