Advanced Research Methods and Software

Application

Baro Beyene

OSU
2022

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Content
• Data Processing: Editing, Coding, Classification,
Tabulation, and presentation
• Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
• Overview of descriptive and inferential
statistics
• Stata software application on some
Econometric models ( Chapter 7)

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 ➢ Data Processing
Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter Six: Processing and Analysis of Data Interpretation of Data
Utilizing Computers for Data Processing

Data Processing
• Once the data have been collected, the next step is data
processing, generally consisting of:
• Editing,
• Coding/recoding
• Classification and
• Tabulations including producing tables, graphs,
coefficients etc.
• Data processing requires careful attention and
understandings. Else it results in what is known as
GIGO: Garbage in Garbage out

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 ➢ Data Processing
Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter Six: Processing and Analysis of Data Interpretation of Data
Utilizing Computers for Data Processing

Questionnaire Editing
• Editing requires checking for the following:
a. Completeness: Whether every questions has answers
or not. Incomplete questions can be imputed (if possible).
b. Accuracy: Check if every questions has an appropriate
answer. Inaccuracy often arises out of carelessness on the
part of enumerator, deliberate misleading, and ticking
wrong boxes or circling wrong codes.
c. Uniformity: Failure to give explicit instructions or clear
understanding of the questions could lead to recording
the same answer in different ways. A check on
uniformity is believed to eradicate this source of error.

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 ➢ Data Processing
Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter Six: Processing and Analysis of Data Interpretation of Data
Utilizing Computers for Data Processing

Questionnaire Editing
• Editing of data is a process of examining the
collected raw data (surveys) to detect errors and
omissions and to correct these.
• It involves a careful scrutiny of the completed
questionnaires and /or schedules.
• It is done to assure that information received are
complete as much as possible and have been well
arranged to facilitate coding and tabulation.

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 ➢ Data Processing
Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter Six: Processing and Analysis of Data Interpretation of Data
Utilizing Computers for Data Processing

Data Coding
• Coding is the process of converting answers to
numbers and classifying answers accordingly so that
responses can be put into a limited number of
categories or classes. .
• Coding is the primary task in reduction of
qualitative data.
• Coding decision should usually be taken at the
designing stage of the questionnaire.

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 ➢ Data Processing
Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter Six: Processing and Analysis of Data Interpretation of Data
Utilizing Computers for Data Processing

Data Entry
Requirements for Data Entry
1. Definition of Data Dictionary – Giving names
and explanations for each of the variables to be
entered into the database.
2. Defining range : In order to regulate the
magnitude of answers to be entered for each of
the questions on the questionnaires, the
researcher needs to limit the scope of answers
and their flow patterns.

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 ➢ Data Processing
Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter Six: Processing and Analysis of Data Interpretation of Data
Utilizing Computers for Data Processing

Data Coding
• Six main steps in Coding and Classifying
quantitative data:
1. Classifying responses
2. Allocating codes to each variable
3. Allocating column numbers to each
variables
4. Producing a codebook
5. Checking from coding errors
6. Entering data into computer

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 ➢ Data Processing
Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter Six: Processing and Analysis of Data Interpretation of Data
Utilizing Computers for Data Processing

Data editing and cleaning

• Data editing and cleaning after data entry is
tantamount to drying and ironing washed clothes
before putting on.
• Wrong entries either in the field or during data
coding and entry need to be checked and
removed before the commencement of data
analysis.
• Cleaning can be done by looking at patterns of the
data via identification of outliers and unexpected
responses through running frequencies and cross
tabulating related variables.
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 Data Processing
➢ Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter Six: Processing and Analysis of Data Interpretation of Data
Utilizing Computers for Data Processing

Tabulation and data analysis

• Tabulation starts with production of simple frequency
and contingency tables/cross tabulation to
construction of complex and multi-dimensional tables
• Tabulation is often known as a skeleton form of the
survey research.
• A researcher shall assume some knowledge of
quantitative data analysis procedures to assume the
sense of skeleton.
• Even if the researcher does not have sufficient
knowledge of data analysis, he/she can consult
someone who has sufficient knowledge of data
processing.
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 Data Processing
➢ Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter Six: Processing and Analysis of Data Interpretation of Data
Utilizing Computers for Data Processing

Descriptive Vs inferential analysis

• Analysis of data means the computation of
certain indices or measures along with
searching for pattern of relationship that exist
among the data groups.
• Analysis, particularly in case of survey or
experimental data, involves estimating the
values of unknown parameters of the population
and testing of hypotheses for drawing
inferences.

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 Data Processing
➢ Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter Six: Processing and Analysis of Data Interpretation of Data
Utilizing Computers for Data Processing

Descriptive Vs inferential analysis

• Descriptive Statistics is the numerical, graphical and
tabular techniques for organizing, presenting and
analyzing data.
• Descriptive Statistics are used to describe the basic
features of the data in a study.
• They provide simple summaries about the sample and
the measures.
• Together with simple graphic analysis, they form the
basis of virtually every quantitative analysis of data.
• With descriptive statistics you are simply describing
what is and what the data shows.

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 Data Processing
➢ Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter Six: Processing and Analysis of Data Interpretation of Data
Utilizing Computers for Data Processing

Descriptive Vs inferential analysis

• Inferential Statistics investigate questions, models and
hypotheses.
• In many cases, the conclusions from inferential
statistics extend beyond the immediate data alone. For
instance, we use inferential statistics to try to infer
from the sample data what the population looks like or
how the population looks like.
• Further, we use inferential statistics to make judgments
as to whether an observed difference between groups is
a dependable one or one that might have happened by
chance alone in a study.

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 Data Processing
➢ Employing Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
Chapter Six: Processing and Analysis of Data Interpretation of Data
Utilizing Computers for Data Processing
Non parametric Test

THANK YOU!

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