11.

Data analysis

Overview
 Overview
• Reduction techniques according to Blaikie (2000: 236)
• Qualitative data
• Coding: Open and axial coding
• Developing themes
• Typology construction
• Quantitative data
• Coding: pre –coding and post coding
• Index construction
• Scaling: eg Likert
• Factor analysis
• Cluster analysis
 Role of computers in data analysis
read pg 24 -27
• Main instrument for quantifying and analysing data but
needs coded data especially for open ended questions
• Process involves 1. determine codes in advance or later
2. keep a code book 3. Clean data for errors ie inputting
errors and coding errors
• Statistical analysis using specific software eg SPSS or
Excel SPSS can produce regression analysis and also
test for significance Excel can provide graphical
presentation
• Data storage
• Data transfer and presentation
• New engineering techniques tried through simulation
 Qualitative data analysis
• Qualitative data
• Coding: Open and axial coding
• Developing themes
• Typology construction
 Over view on qualitative data
• This refers to all non-numerical data such as words,
images, sounds, and so on found in things like
interviews tapes, researchers notes and diaries,
company documents,
• For instance in zoology e.g. ethology a study of
animal behaviour requires understanding
interpretation of sounds, signs, colours and packing
orders, to enable communication, breeding behaviours
for example spawning if fish
• It is the main evidence or type of data that is
generated by case studies, ethnography, and the kind
of data analysed by interpretive and critical
researchers
 Qualitative vs quantitative
• Refer to differences in the handout
• Main feature: quantitative data analysis utilises tried and
tested, well established mathematical and statistical
procedures, but qualitative has fewer procedures and is
dependent on the skills of the researcher to establish
patterns and themes within the data
• But qualitative data can be interpreted quantitatively eg
• Counting the number of times a particular word occurs in
some text
• Counting the number of pages dedicated to a certain
policy in a corporate strategy document eg
environmental policy or numbers of words in relationship
to the whole document
 Analysing of qualitative data
• Analysing Textual data
• Data preparation: get all your data in the same
format eg same size paper for easy of filing and
audio tapes must be transcribed, leave wide
margins on the left hand side for codes, device
a filing scheme, make duplicate or copies of
your originals for safe keeping, if computer
based keep backups
• Data analysis: read through the data and
identify themes: first three top themes would be:
– Segment what is not relevant to your studies
– Segment that which provides background data
– Segment that with relevant content to the study
 Analysing textual data
• Focusing on relevant segment
• Sub topics: Check subtopics
• Eg Check action plan, Check implementation plan,
Check indicators
• Cross check indicators on reports
• Look for interconnection between themes
• Interpret the connection between themes say planning
theme and action plan or reports if studying minutes of
an organisation check action plan and count how
many items are not put into action and how many
have been postponed and, how many times
• Keep notes of the stages or your taxonomy, analyse
your finding and make conclusions
Computer aided qualitative analysis
• There are software products that can be used to
analyse data especially textually based data
through:
• Text search
• Coding
• Data organisation
• Visual display
• Hyperlink
• Eg of software CAQDS
Evaluating qualitative data analysis
• Advantages
• Can produce rich detailed finding
• Can provide alternative explanation which can
be equally valuable or valid
• Disadvantages
• Danger of being overwhelmed by the amount of
data leading to failure to find patterns
• Results are tied to the identity of the researcher
hence difficult to replicate