Deck 10: Preparing Data for Quantitative Analysis

Question 1

Explain the importance of following the sequence for data preparation and analysis described in Exhibit 10.1.

Answer 1

Data preparation is a method, which convert the answers to survey questions to a database, in order to process the final analysis. This process is divided into four submethods, namely, data validation, data editing and coding, data entry and data tabulation.
All of the steps contained in this process are correlated and dependent on the prior step. Data validation is the initial step. This method ensures that the data is not false or fake in any manner. This step hold its importance as it confirms about whether the answers should be considered for data analysis or not. If the answers or the data comes out to be false or fake, the process gets halted here, without the need of moving to the next step.
The next step is data editing and coding. This step is concerned with the fact that the recorded answers should be error free. If the collected data is true, only then it is coded further. The third step is data entry. Data entry is a process that consists of direct input of the coded data into a certain presepcified computer software package. It follows data validation, data editing and data coding. The data entered into the software package assessed for data analysis. However, data entry is not mandatory when data collection is carried out online.
The fourth step is data tabulation. Tabulation can be defined as the process of counting the answers in specific categories. Tabulation is categorized into one way tabulation and cross tabulation.

Question 2

Should the Deli Depot questionnaire have screening questions?

Answer 2

Screening questions are used in a study or research to make certain that only qualified respondents are included in the survey. The three screening questions provided in the Deli Depot questionnaire make certain that only qualified respondents-people who eat out, people who eat at Deli Depot, and people who have not completed a restaurant questionnaire on Deli Depot before-were included in the survey, otherwise the purpose of the study would not be served. Therefore, yes, the Deli Depot questionnaire should have these screening questions.

Question 3

Briefly describe the process of data validation. Specifically discuss the issues of fraud, screening, procedure, completeness, and courtesy.

Answer 3

In order to conduct data analysis, data should be collected by different methods of data collection. This data should be converted into different electronic formats in order to conduct data analysis.
Data validation is a structured method of checking and balancing the data along with making sure that the data collected by the researcher through different traditional methods like interviews, surveys and observations, are done is an unbiased and error free way.
There are certain issues that are encountered, while validating data. These include the issues of fraud, screening, procedure, completeness and courtesy. Fraud represent the condition questioning whether the person was actually interviewed or not. Also, it pinpoints the fakeness of data collection. Screening represents whether the respondent being interviewed is actually qualified to do so. Procedure represents whether the data collection was actually done in the correct area. Completeness represents the fact whether all the questions were actually asked to the respondents or not. Courtesy represents the behavior of the interviewee, while conducting the interview, with the respondents.

Question 4

Identify four problems a researcher might find while screening questionnaires and preparing data for analysis.

Question 5

Run a frequency count on variable X 3 -Competent Employees. Do the customers perceive employees to be competent?

Question 6

What are the differences between data validation, data editing, and data coding?

Question 7

How can data tabulation help researchers better understand and report findings?

Question 8

Consider the guidelines on questionnaire design you learned in Chapter 8. How would you improve the Deli Depot questionnaire?

Question 9

Explain the differences between establishing codes for open-ended questions and for closed-ended questions.

Question 10

SPSS Exercise. Using SPSS and the Santa Fe Grill employee database, develop frequencies, means, modes, and medians for all the relevant variables on the questionnaire.

Question 11

Briefly describe the process of data entry. What changes in technology have simplified this procedure?

Question 12

What is the purpose of a simple one-way tabulation? How does this relate to a one-way frequency table?