Chapter 12

BA 306: RESEARCH METHOD FOR BUSINESS
CHAPTER 12: DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
SUMMARY BY GROUP TWO
After data has been collected from respective sample of the population, the next step is to analyze them to test the research hypothesis.
The Objectives of this chapter are:
a. Edith questionnaire and interview responses
b. Handle blank responses
c. Code the data and set the coding key for the data
d. Categorize data accordingly
e. Create data file for the respective data collected
f. Use appropriate software for data analysis
g. Test the validity of data and
h. Interpret result of various hypotheses.
GETTING DATA READY FOR ANALYSIS
After data are collected through questionnaire, interviews, observation or through secondary sources, these data has to be edited. The blank response has to be handled in some way; the data has to be coded and categorized. Software program like SPSS or Excel or SAS are used for the analysis. The stages for data preparations are:
a. Editing data
b. Handling blank responses
c. Coding
d. Data categorization and
e. Data entering.
DATA ANALYSIS
This involved the use of software programs for the analysis of data collected. The easily available software in business are SPSS and Excel. In data analysis, we have three objectives:
a. Getting a feel of data collected
b. Testing the goodness of data collected, that is, reliability and validity collected can tested or measured.
c. Testing the hypothesis developed for the research
INTERPRETATION OF DATA COLLECTED
Data analysis and interpretation of results of data collected may be explained by referring to a business research project. After a brief description of the background of the company in which the research was carried out and the sample data to be analyzed, the preliminary steps used in the interpretations of data collected are:
a. Checking the Reliability of Measurement using Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient of the independent and dependent variables
b. Obtaining Descriptive Statistics using Frequency Distributions
c. Measures of central tendencies and Dispersion
d. Inferential Statistics using Person Correlation, and
e. Hypothesis Testing.

SOFTWARE PACKAGES USEFUL FOR DATA ANALYSIS
Software useful in the analysis of data collected, questionnaire design, sampling, e-mail surveys, modeling, interactive graphics, web-based questionnaire, and statistical, and chart for presentation are:
a. SPSS software packages
b. Excel packages
c. Askia package
d. ATLAS.ti packages
e. Bellview CATI.
Statistical analysis using spreadsheet like Excel package is different from using statistical package like SPSS package. With Excel, the data and the analysis are both visible to the researchers, whereas SPSS has a separate data file, both the data and the output cannot be displayed at same time.

And important point to note is that data analysis should be based on testing hypothesis that has been already formulated. It would incorrect to change our original hypothesis to suit the result of data analyses. It is however acceptable to develop inductive hypothesis and later test them through further research. We also look at the newly developing software programs that help in questionnaire design and administration.


TEAM 2 Members are: MONDAY, MOSES, BENJAMIN, DORIS, OLUSEYI, ADESHOLA, HASSANNA, SOPHIE and EFOSA.