POST-FIELD TASK

• Data processing • Reaching • Writing the

and analysis. conclusions report and
completing the
research

1. Data processing and analysis. Processing and Analysis of data plays an important role in
the achievement of research aim and objectives. Data analysis methods vary between
secondary and primary studies, as well as, between qualitative and quantitative studies.

2. Reaching conclusions. Conclusions relate to the level of achievement of research aims

and objectives. In this final part of your dissertation you will have to justify why you think
that research aims and objectives have been achieved. Conclusions also need to
cover research limitations and suggestions for future research.

3. Completing the research. Following all of the stages described above, and organizing
separate chapters into one file leads to the completion of the first draft. The first draft of your
dissertation needs to be prepared at least one month before the submission deadline. This is
because you will need to have sufficient amount of time to address feedback of your
supervisor.

Data processing and Analysis

Data processing
Data processing generally begins with the editing and coding of data. Data are edited to ensure
consistency across respondents and to locate omissions, if any.

In survey data, editing reduces errors in the recording, improves legibility, and clarifies unclear
and inappropriate responses. In addition to editing, the data also need coding.

Because it is impractical to place raw data into a report, alphanumeric codes are used to reduce
the responses to a more manageable form for storage and future processing.
This coding process facilitates processing the data. The personal computer offers an excellent
opportunity in data editing and coding processes.

Data analysis usually involves reducing accumulated data to a manageable size, developing
summaries, searching for patterns, and applying statistical techniques for understanding and
interpreting the findings in the light of the research questions.

Further, the researcher, based on his analysis, determines if his findings are consistent with the
formulated hypotheses and theories.

The techniques to be used in analyzing data may range from simple graphical technique to very
complex multivariate analysis depending on the objectives of the study, research design
employed, and the nature of data collected.

As in the case of methods of data collection, an analytical technique appropriate in one situation
may not be appropriate for another.

Analysis:
Methodology chapter of your dissertation 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.

There are differences between qualitative data analysis and quantitative 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.

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.

Data analysis methods in the absence of primary data collection can involve discussing
common patterns, as well as, controversies within secondary data directly related to the
research area.

Qualitative Data Analysis

Qualitative data refers to non-numeric information such as interview transcripts, notes, video
and audio recordings, images and text documents. Qualitative data analysis can be divided
into the following five categories:

1. Content analysis. This refers to the process of categorizing verbal or behavioural data to
classify, summarize and tabulate the data.

2. Narrative analysis: This method involves the reformulation of stories presented by

respondents taking into account context of each case and different experiences of each
respondent. In other words, narrative analysis is the revision of primary qualitative data by
researcher.
3. Discourse analysis: A method of analysis of naturally occurring talks and all types of
written text.

4. Framework analysis: This is more advanced method that consists of several stages such
as familiarization, identifying a thematic framework, coding, charting, mapping and
interpretation.

Quantitative Data Analysis

In quantitative data analysis you are expected to turn raw numbers into meaningful data
through the application of rational and critical thinking. Quantitative data analysis may
include the calculation of frequencies of variables and differences between variables. A
quantitative approach is usually associated with finding evidence to either support or reject
hypotheses you have formulated at the earlier stages of your research process.

The same figure within data set can be interpreted in many different ways; therefore it is
important to apply fair and careful judgement.

Reaching conclusions

Definition
The conclusion is intended to help the reader understand why your research should matter to
them after they have finished reading the paper. A conclusion is not merely a summary of
your points or a re-statement of your research problem but a synthesis of key points. For most
essays, one well-developed paragraph is sufficient for a conclusion, although in some cases, a
two-or-three paragraph conclusion may be required.
Importance of a Good Conclusion
A well-written conclusion provides you with several important opportunities to demonstrate
your overall understanding of the research problem to the reader. These include:

1. Presenting the last word on the issues you raised in your paper. Just as the
introduction gives a first impression to your reader, the conclusion offers a chance to
leave a lasting impression. Do this, for example, by highlighting key points in your
analysis or findings.
2. Summarizing your thoughts and conveying the larger implications of your study.
The conclusion is an opportunity to succinctly answer the "so what?" question by
placing the study within the context of past research about the topic you've
investigated.
3. Demonstrating the importance of your ideas. Don't be shy. The conclusion offers
you a chance to elaborate on the significance of your findings.
4. Introducing possible new or expanded ways of thinking about the research
problem. This does not refer to introducing new information [which should be
 avoided], but to offer new insight and creative approaches for framing/contextualizing
the research problem based on the results of your study.

Structure and Writing Style

I. General Rules
When writing the conclusion to your paper, follow these general rules:

 State your conclusions in clear, simple language.

 Do not simply reiterate your results or the discussion.
 Indicate opportunities for future research, as long as you haven't already done so in
the discussion section of your paper.

The function of your paper's conclusion is to restate the main argument. It reminds the
reader of the strengths of your main argument(s) and reiterates the most important evidence
supporting those argument(s). Make sure, however, that your conclusion is not simply a
repetitive summary of the findings because this reduces the impact of the argument(s) you
have developed in your essay.
Consider the following points to help ensure your conclusion is appropriate:

1. If the argument or point of your paper is complex, you may need to summarize the
argument for your reader.
2. If, prior to your conclusion, you have not yet explained the significance of your
findings or if you are proceeding inductively, use the end of your paper to describe
your main points and explain their significance.
3. Move from a detailed to a general level of consideration that returns the topic to the
context provided by the introduction or within a new context that emerges from the
data.

II. Developing a Compelling Conclusion

Strategies to help you move beyond merely summarizing the key points of your research
paper may include any of the following.

1. If your essay deals with a contemporary problem, warn readers of the possible
consequences of not attending to the problem.
2. Recommend a specific course or courses of action.
3. Cite a relevant quotation or expert opinion to lend authority to the conclusion you
have reached [a good place to look is research from your literature review].
4. Restate a key statistic, fact, or visual image to drive home the ultimate point of your
paper.
5. If your discipline encourages personal reflection, illustrate your concluding point with
a relevant narrative drawn from your own life experiences.
 6. Return to an anecdote, an example, or a quotation that you introduced in your
introduction, but add further insight that is derived from the findings of your study;
use your interpretation of results to reframe it in new ways.
7. Provide a "take-home" message in the form of a strong, succient statement that you
want the reader to remember about your study.

III.Problems to Avoid

*Failure to be concise
The conclusion section should be concise and to the point. Conclusions that are too long often
have unnecessary detail. The conclusion section is not the place for details about your
methodology or results. Although you should give a summary of what was learned from your
research, this summary should be relatively brief, since the emphasis in the conclusion is on
the implications, evaluations, insights, etc. that you make.

*Failure to comment on larger, more significant issues

In the introduction, your task was to move from general [the field of study] to specific [your
research problem]. However, in the conclusion, your task is to move from specific [your
research problem] back to general [your field, i.e., how your research contributes new
understanding or fills an important gap in the literature]. In other words, the conclusion is
where you place your research within a larger context.

*Failure to reveal problems and negative results

Negative aspects of the research process should never be ignored. Problems, drawbacks, and
challenges encountered during your study should be included as a way of qualifying your
overall conclusions. If you encountered negative results [findings that are validated outside
the research context in which they were generated], you must report them in the results
section of your paper. In the conclusion, use the negative results as an opportunity to explain
how they provide information on which future research can be based.

*Failure to provide a clear summary of what was learned

In order to be able to discuss how your research fits back into your field of study [and
possibly the world at large], you need to summarize it briefly and directly. Often this element
of your conclusion is only a few sentences long.

*Failure to match the objectives of your research

Often research objectives change while the research is being carried out. This is not a
problem unless you forget to go back and refine your original objectives in your introduction,
as these changes emerge they must be documented so that they accurately reflect what you
were trying to accomplish in your research [not what you thought you might accomplish
when you began].
 Writing the report and completing the research

– Developing Research Proposal, Writing Report, Disseminating and Utilizing Results

The entire task of a research study is accumulated in a document called a proposal.

A research proposal is a work plan, prospectus, outline, and an offer, a statement of intent or
commitment from an individual researcher or an organization to produce a product or render
a service to a potential client or sponsor.

The proposal will be prepared to keep in view the sequence presented in the research process.
The proposal tells us what, how, where, and to whom it will be done.

It must also show the benefit of doing it. It always includes an explanation of the purpose of
the study (the research objectives) or a definition of the problem.

It systematically outlines the particular research methodology and details the procedures that
will be utilized at each stage of the research process.

The end goal of a scientific study is to interpret the results and draw conclusions.

To this end, it is necessary to prepare a report and transmit the findings and recommendations
to administrators, policymakers, and program managers for the intended purpose of making a
decision.

There are various forms of research reports: term papers, dissertations, journal articles, papers
for presentation at professional conferences and seminars, books, and so on. The results of a
research investigation prepared in any form are of little utility if they are not communicated
to others.

The primary purpose of a dissemination strategy is to identify the most effective media
channels to reach different audience groups with study findings most relevant to their needs.

The dissemination may be made through a conference, a seminar, a report, or an oral or

poster presentation.

The style and organization of the report will differ according to the target audience, the
occasion, and the purpose of the research. Reports should be developed from the client’s
perspectives.

A report is an excellent means that helps to establish the researcher’s credibility. At a bare
minimum, a research report should contain sections on:

 An executive summary;

 Background of the problem;

 Literature review;
  Methodology;

 Findings;

 Discussion;

 Conclusions and

 Recommendations.

***The results of the study can also be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals
published by academic institutions and reputed publishers both at home and abroad.

These journals have their format and editorial policies. The contributors can submit their
manuscripts adhering to the policies and format for possible publications of their papers.

There are now ample opportunities for the researchers to publish one’s work online as well.

Many interesting studies have been conducted by the researchers without having any effect in
actual settings. Ideally, the concluding step of a scientific study is to plan for its utilization in
the real world.

Although researchers are often not themselves in a position to implement a plan for utilizing
research findings, they can contribute to the process by including in their research reports a
few recommendations regarding how the results of the study could be utilized for policy
formulation and program intervention.