Data Management:

Quantifying Data & Planning Your

Analysis

Dr. Zahid Hameed

Department of Management Sciences,
KFUEIT
Planning for Analysis

Type of Type of
Data Formatting

Type of
Analysis
Planning for Analysis

 A sound research plan successfully matches

these elements with the proper techniques

 Collect the type of data that is most appropriate

to answering your question and fits the other
parameters of your project (budget, personnel,
etc.)
Type of Data & Analysis

 Quantitative Data
– Counts, frequencies, tallies
– Statistical analyses (as appropriate)
 Qualitative Data
– Coding
– Patterns, themes, theory building
 Combination
– Process each element as appropriate
Quantifying Data

Coding
Processing
Quantifying Data

 Before we can do any kind of analysis, we

need to quantify our data

 “Quantification” is the process of converting

data to a numeric format
– Convert social science data into a “machine-
readable” form, a form that can be read &
manipulated by computer programs
Quantifying Data

Some transformations are simple:

 Assign numeric representations to nominal or
ordinal variables:
– Turning male into “1” and female into “2”
– Assigning “3” to Very Interested, “2” to Somewhat
Interested, “1” to Not Interested
 Assign numeric values to continuous variables:
– Turning born in 1973 to “35”
– Number of children = “02”
Developing Code Categories

Some data are more challenging. Open-ended

responses must be coded.

 Two basic approaches:

– Begin with a coding scheme derived from the
research purpose.
– Generate codes from the data.
Coding Quantitative Data
 Goal – reduce a wide variety of information to a
more limited set of variable attributes:
– “What is your occupation?”
 Use pre-established scheme: Professional, Managerial,
Clerical, Semi-skilled, etc.
 Create a scheme after reviewing the data
 Assign value to each category in the scheme: Professional
= 1, Managerial = 2, etc.
 Classify the response: “Secretary” is “clerical” and is coded
as “3”
Coding Quantitative Data

 Points to remember:
– If the data are coded to maintain a good amount of
detail, they can always be combined (reduced) later
– However, if you start off with too little detail, you
can’t get it back
– If you’re using a survey / questionnaire, it’s a good
idea to do your coding on the form so that it can be
entered properly (i.e. create a “codebook”)
Codebook Construction

Purposes:
 Primary guide used in the coding process.
– Should note the value assigned to each variable
attribute (response)
 Guide for locating variables and interpreting
codes in the data file during analysis.
 If you’re doing your own input, this will also
guide data set construction
Planning your analysis

 Proper planning will make things easier later

 Take good notes on any transformations, etc.

that you do
 Save all the elements of your analysis
programs