Basic Concepts of Data Collection and Analysis

Anastasi (1988) and Welch, and Comer (1983) report that there are several levels of measurement relative to data collection and analysis. These levels include, but are not limited to, nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio; and carry with them important limitations due to the need for differing statistical techniques. The first level, nominal, refers to a means of classifying the data. For this type of data collection and/or analysis, there is no order, in that the units of analysis are merely classified into two or more categories. As an example of nominal data, consider that all white houses would be categorized together, while all red barns would be placed in another category. The primary limitation of nominal data is that there is no order to the given units of .analysis; just classification. Further, there is no weight to nominal data. As a result, the researcher could not present data in relation to weight, or value; just classification. Statistical techniques are less sophisticated here. The second level of analysis is ordinal, which refers to ordered data. With this level of analysis, the units of analysis are placed in the indicated order. As one example or ordinal data, consider that attitudes about the use of nuclear plants would be placed in order, ranging from "strongly favor," to "favor," "depends," "do not favor," and to "strongly do not favor." With the use of ordinal data, there is both classificati

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d observation, is more focused. That is, this type of observation uses the targeting of one or more specific behaviors among or by the subjects. Given that this type of observation is less global, the observations are often quantifiable and are usually collected in light of a previously-developed hypothesis about the behaviors of the subjects. An example of systematic observation would be when the researcher observes a group of school children for one hour to determine how many times they will stand on one leg. Since there are numerous behaviors that can be studied using systematic observation, the researcher must be careful to either locate or develop a coding system that allows for the accurate analysis of data. This is the same case for the use of field observations. Somewhat in contrast to Kidder and Judd (1986), Bogdan and Taylor (1975) report that qualitative research consists of participant observation, which is systematic, and personal documents. Participant observation refers to the researcher's observing social interaction between him or her and the subjects in the milieu of the latter, and within the bounds of unobtrusiveness and systematic data collection. Using this approach to gather qualitative data, th
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Welch Comer, Kidder Judd, Bogdan Taylor, Lincoln Guba, Boston West, Data Cozby, Research Christensen, Methodology Approach, Tunnell Christensen, data collection, collection and/or, data collection and/or, and/or analysis, collection and/or analysis, cozby 1989, qualitative data, kidder judd 1986, welch comer, kidder judd, judd 1986, anastasi 1988, natural setting, Mayfield Keppel, bogdan taylor 1975, qualitative data collection,
Approximate Word count = 5226
Approximate Pages = 21 (250 words per page)

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