Introduction
This essay is developed to discuss the importance of data analysis and sources of data collection. Moreover, the essay further discusses the importance of data analysis and the implication of data analysis in qualitative and quantitative research.
Discussion
Importance of Data Collection
The data collection is called a systematic procedure of collecting measurements and observations. The data collection can carry out for any kind of research which is useful to meet the aims and objectives of the research. However, before carrying out the data collection, it is important for the researcher to consider the aim of the research, the kind of data that the research may gather, and the methods or procedures which are used to process and collect the data. The research data collection services is deemed as the process of gathering information from all of the relevant sources to make adequate decisions and to assess the outcomes of the collect information.
Sources of Data Collection
The data collection can carry out in different manners depending on the aims and objectives of the research. There are two kinds of methods for data collection; primary collection methods and secondary collection methods. The primary collection methods include the collection of information that is entirely new and is collect for different reasons. The primary collection methods enable the researcher to collect data that is new. There are different ways in which the primary collection methods can apply and these includes; surveys, focus groups, interviews, and polls.
The survey questionnaires are distributed among the research participants in order to avail insights and their relevance related to the data and it is used in quantitative research approach. On the other hand, focus groups and interviews include the researcher to avail insights by getting engage with the research participants. The implication of interviews and focus groups allows the researcher to gather the data by asking open-ended questions from the participants to avail deep insights. It is inevitable to ignore the kind of research being carry out when gathering the data. Under the quantitative data collection tools which include the use of survey questionnaires. On the other hand, when it comes to qualitative data collection tools includes; data avail from online communities, interviews and focus groups. The secondary approach for data collection includes the collection of data from already available data. The implementation of secondary data collection help allows the research to avail already collected information quickly and easy to gather. However, the data collected by the secondary approach out date or had collect for different reasons.
Importance of Data Analysis
Data analysis is the process of transforming and analyzing. The raw data is in order to obtain relevant, useable information which can assist the researcher in making adequate decisions. In other words, the process of converting the raw data into information initiates with data analysis and data processing.
Data analysis includes the usage of statistical methods. To order the data with the objective of acquiring answers to the research questions.
The data analysis has two wide approaches which are performing tests of the hypothesis. To gather the collected data and attain descriptive features as an estimate (Labani, Wadhwa, and Asthana, 2017). The data can be classified as either categorical or numerical.
In addition to this, any measurement of the quantitative category or type of quality observed from the individual’s measurements are known as variables. The quantitative variables against the qualitative variables are generally are counts or measurements in a continuous or discrete form.
Implication of data analysis in qualitative and quantitative researches.
There are some of the principles which are addressed in the data analysis which includes to create a value added guidelines or framework which represents the concepts, strategies, methods and procedures. There are different approaches for summarising the data which depends on the kind of data as well as the dimension of the variable (Vosloo, 2014). When it comes to quantitative research approach, the data can be analysis can be expressed as statistical outcomes and numbers.
For instance, the data collected can be related to the number of hours spend by participants to complete a task. Such kind of data can be represented by the interval, ordinal and ratio. On the other hand when it comes to qualitative data, it cannot be expressed in numerical or statistical manner.
Thus, the data analysis in the qualitative approach is based on interpretation of the data and making patterns and themes, answering research questions and identifying the actions to enhance the reliability of the research. However, the value of a research is determined by the objective and nature of the research problem.
The approach of data analysis is extensively used in social, scientific, and business domains to make decisions in an adequate and logical manner. There are different kinds of data analysis which include; descriptive analysis (what is happening), diagnostic analysis (why did it happen), prescriptive analysis (what likely is to happen in the future), and predictive analysis (undertaking rational and adequate decisions). The data analysis approach can be different when it comes to the qualitative research approach and quantitative research approach.
Qualitative data analysis can be less standardized with the implication of a wide variety of approaches to qualitative research matched via several approaches to data analysis. Whereas, when it comes to quantitative research, the data analysis can be formed by the standards set for the data analysis tools. Qualitative researchers develop new theories and concepts by blending together abstract and empirical concepts. Whereas, when it comes to quantitative researchers manipulate numbers in order to test the research hypotheses along with variable constructs.
For instance, the data analysis can be carried out for the data analysis services UK which focus entirely on UK. Moreover, the qualitative data analysis can be in the form of words which are relatively diffuse, imprecise as well as contextual based. However, quantitative researchers may use the language of statistical relationships when it comes to analysis.
Conclusion
In brief, the data analysis and data collection are vital aspects which are taken in consideration when conducing a research. The data analysis is the process in which the gathered data is assessed and evaluated in a meaningful manner. On the other hand, the data collection is known as the process in which the data is gathered for accomplishing aims and objectives of the research.
References
Labani, S., Wadhwa, K. and Asthana, S., 2017. Basic Approach to Data Analysis and Writing of Results and Discussion Sections. MAMC Journal of Medical Sciences, 3(1), p.6. Vosloo, J.J., 2014. Chapter 6: Data analysis and interpretation. North West University.
