A Presentation on

Data Analysis & Interpretation

By: Suchitra

PROCESSING OF DATA

The method of converting raw data into

meaningful statement; includes data processing,
data analysis, and data interpretation and
presentation.

Processing of data technically means

Editing of the data

Coding of data

Classification of data

Tabulation of data.

EDITING
The process of checking and adjusting responses in the
completed questionnaires for omissions, legibility,
and consistency and readying them for coding and
storage.
Editing also needs that data are relevant and
appropriate and errors are modified.
Eg. Occasionally, the investigator makes a mistake
and records and impossible answer. How much
red chilies do you use in a month The answer is
written as 4 kilos. Can a family of three members
use four kilo chilies in a month? The correct answer
could be 0.4 kilo.
Saying "no"toautomobileownershipbut "yes"to
anexpenditureonautomobile insurance,
mayappearon aquestionnaire------ a contradictory

Types of Editing
1.

Field Editing
Preliminary editing by a field supervisor on the same

day as the interview to catch technical omissions, check

legibility of handwriting, and clarify responses that are
logically or conceptually inconsistent.
Thenumber of"noanswers,"
orincompleteanswerscanbereducedwitharapid
follow-up simulatedby afieldedit.
Thedailyeditalsoallowsfieldworkersto re-contact the
respondent to fill in omissions before the situation has
changed.
USES
1 . Identify technical omissions such as a blank page on an
interview form
2. Check legibility of handwriting for open-ended responses
3. Clarify responses that are logically or conceptually

2. In-house Editing/ Central Editing.

Editing performed by a central office staff;
often done more rigorously than field editing
Such type of editing relates to the time when
all data collection process has been completed.
Here a single or common editor corrects
the errors like entry in the wrong place,
entry in wrong unit etc. As a rule all the
wrong answers should be dropped from the
final results.
Eg. Mail Questionnaire

Purpose of Editing
1.

For consistency between and among responses

2.
For completeness in responses:
Eg. Doesyourorganizationhave more than one
internet
website?
Yes____No._____
If a respondent checked neither yes nor No,
butindicatedthreeInternetWebsites,theedit
ormay
checkthe"yes"toensurethatthisanswerisnotmis
singfromthequestionnaire.
3. To better utilize questions answered out of order
4. To facilitate the coding process

EDITING REQUIRES SOME CAREFUL

CONSIDERATIONS

Editor must be familiar with the interviewers

mind set, objectives and everything related to

the study.
Different colors should be used when editors
make entry in the data collected.
They should initial all answers or changes
they make to the data.
The editors name and date of editing should
be placed on the data sheet.

CODING:

Coding is translating answers into numerical

values or assigning numbers to the various
categories of a variable to be used in data
analysis.

A systematic way to condense extensive

data sets into smaller analyzable units
through the creation of categories and concepts
derived from the data.

The process by which verbal data are converted

into variables and categories of variables using
numbers, so that the data can be used for
analysis.

CLASSIFICATION:
Classification of the data implies that the collected
raw data is categorized into common group
having common feature.
Data having common characteristics are placed in
a common group.
The entire data collected is categorized into
various groups or classes, which convey a
meaning to the researcher.

Classification is done in two ways:

1. Classification according to attributes:
. Here the data is classified on the basis of common

characteristics that can be descriptive like literacy, gender,

marital status etc. or numeral like weight, height, income
etc.
. Descriptive features are qualitative in nature and cannot be

measured quantitatively but are kindly considered while

making an analysis.
2. Classification according to the class intervals:
. Data relates to income, production, age, weight etc come

under this category. This type of data is known as statistics

of variables and the data is classified by way of intervals.

TABULATION:

Tabulation is an orderly arrangement of data in

rows and columns.

Tabulation summarizes the raw data and displays

data in form of some statistical tables.

OBJECTIVE OF TABULATION:
1. conserves space & minimizes explanation and
descriptive statements.
2. Facilitates process of comparison and
summarization.
3. Facilitates detection of errors and omissions.
4. Establish the basis of various statistical
computations.

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF TABULATION:

1. Tables should be clear, concise & adequately
titled.
2. Every table should be distinctly numbered for
easy reference.
3. Column headings & row headings of the table
should be clear & brief.
4. Units of measurement should be specified at
appropriate places.
5. Explanatory footnotes concerning the table
should be placed at appropriate places.
6. Source of information of data should be clearly
indicated.

7. The columns & rows should be clearly

separated with dark lines
8. Segregation should also be made between
data of one class and that of another.
9.

Comparable data should be put side by side.

10. The figures in percentage should be

approximated before tabulation.
11. Avoid Abbreviations .

ANALYSIS OF DATA

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

The important statistical measures that are

used to analyze the research or the survey are:
Measures of central tendency(mean, mean & mode)
Measures of dispersion(standard deviation, range,
mean deviation)
Measures of asymmetry(skewness)
Measures of relationship etc.(correlation and
regression)
Association in case of More Variable.(ANOVA)
Time series Analysis
T test, Z Test, Chi Square Test, etc., can be used
using SPSS/r Software in case of advanced
research.

TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS

Null hypothesis(H0): The null hypothesis is what
we are attempting to overturn by our hypothesis
test.
Alternative hypothesis(H1): The alternative or
experimental hypothesis reflects that there will be an
observed effect for our experiment.
Null hypothesis: xis equal toy. Alternative
hypothesis xis not equal toy.
The alternative hypothesis is what we are
attempting to demonstrate in an indirect way by the
use of our hypothesis test.
If the null hypothesis is rejected, then we accept the
alternative hypothesis. If the null hypothesis is not
rejected, then we do not accept the alternative

INTERPRETATION
Interpretation is the relationship amongst the
collected data, with analysis.
Interpretation looks beyond the data of the research
and includes researches, theory and hypothesis.
Interpretation in a way act as a tool to explain the
observations of the researcher during the
research period and it acts as a guide for future
researches.
WHY Interpretation?
-the researcher understands the abstract principle
underlying the findings.
-Interpretation links up the findings with those of
other similar studies.
-The researcher is able to make others understand

PRECAUTIONS IN INTERPRETATION
1. Researcher must ensure that the data is
appropriate, trust worthy and adequate for
drawing inferences.
2. Researcher must be cautious about errors and
take due necessary actions if the error arises
3. Researcher must ensure the correctness of the
data analysis process whether the data is
qualitative or quantitative.
4. Researcher must try to bring out hidden facts
and unobvious factors and combine it with the
factual interpretation.
5. The researcher must also ensure that there should
be constant interaction between initial