tools for data analysis in research methodology

Ratio-The number of cases in one category to the number of cases in a second category.Ī researcher selects a sample of 100 students from a Head Start program.

Percentage-The proportion multiplied by 100 (or the number of cases in a category divided by the total number of cases across all categories of a value times 100). Proportion-The number of cases in a category divided by the total number of cases across all categories of a variable. Researchers calculate proportions, percentages and ratios in order to summarize the data from nominal or categorical variables and to allow for comparisons to be made between groups. Examples of nominal variables include gender (male, female), preschool program attendance (yes, no), and race/ethnicity (White, African American, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian).

The categories can be given numerical codes, but they cannot be ranked, added, or multiplied. In research, variables with discrete, qualitative categories are called nominal or categorical variables. One of the most basic ways of describing the characteristics of a sample or population is to classify its individual members into mutually exclusive categories and counting the number of cases in each of the categories. The four most common descriptive statistics are: To highlight potential relationships between these characteristics, or the relationships among the variables in the dataset. These characteristics are represented by variables in a research study dataset. To provide basic information about the characteristics of a sample or population. Descriptive statistics can be useful for two purposes:

Tools for data analysis in research methodology