How do you analyze data for a dissertation?

These steps will guide you through a step-by-step guide in analyzing data.

Step 1: Data organization – The researcher should be able to identify the difference between the topics/questions including those that have been comprised in the interview guide as essential.

Step 2: organizing and finding ideas and concepts – acknowledge the frequently used phrases as well as ideas emanating from the interviewee 

Step 3: Constructing all-embracing themes – Every response category should entail one or more linked ideas that issue an in-depth meaning of the data. 

Step 4: Guaranteeing reliability and validity in data analysis – Ensuring safety necessitates diligent determinations and an obligation to consistency all through interviewing, transcribing, and analyzing the outcomes.

Step 5: Identifying any possible and plausible clarifications for findings – this will enable the researcher to tie themes and come up with a better idea of the results attained.

Step 6: A summary of the last steps – The research findings should assist not only in identifying the strategies but also in bringing about change and being responsive to the needs of a community.

How do you write a data analysis chapter for a dissertation?

Your dissertation data analysis section should consist of the following:

  • An in-depth description of the hypothesis and the research questions. 
  • A brief overview that includes; the study purpose, steps in conducting the research, description of the type of data, data collection instruments that had been used, including assumptions made during the study.
  • A conclusion of every question distinctly and the intuition drew by the researcher from the analysis.
  • Detailed data collected, and the numerous mathematical, statistical, and qualitative analyses performed.
  • A summary paragraph with a brief review of the chapter

Some of the best practices to follow while writing the analysis section

  • Once any new theme surfaces from the analysis, then the researcher should acknowledge that linking such to an appropriate conclusion drawn from the study.
  • Provide a judgment and critical view for the results provided by the analysis.
  • Ensure to reference the analysis with the literature review, i.e., through cross-referencing.
  • Avoiding  jargon and defining technical terms used in the analysis
  • Ensure the introductory article explains the chapter.
  • Follow a theme based structure that is the same as that of the literature review.

What to include in the data analysis section

  1. The objective of the study
  2. Listing of data set
  3. Discussion of results and conclusions
  4. Review of findings relative to previous studies
  5. Recommendations for future studies 
  6. Description of all statistical methodologies
  7. Study design and data collection methods
  8. Statistical and graphical summaries of data

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What is data analysis? 

Data analysis infers to a process of cleaning, inspecting, and modeling data and to discover valuable information, bringing to a conclusion and that which supports decision making. Analyzing data entails numerous facets and approaches necessitating varied techniques under various names and domains.

What is the data analysis technique? 

Numerous types of analysis techniques exist based on technology and business; significant data analysis techniques include:

  • Prescriptive Analysis
  • Text Analysis
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Predictive Analysis
  • Diagnostic Analysis

Prescriptive Analysis

This analysis combines the insight from the previous study in determining which action to take in the immediate decision or problem.

Text Analysis

Also identified as data mining, this method helps in discovering patterns in large sets of data using databases or data mining tools. This used to transform the raw data into information. In a general view, text analysis offers a way to extract and examine data alongside deriving patterns and finally interpreting the data.

Statistical Analysis

The statistical analysis illustrates the happenings by using past data in the form of a dashboard. The statistical analysis includes data analysis, collection, presentation, interpretation, and modelling. (Descriptive analysis and inferential analysis)

Predictive Analysis

The following analysis predicts future outcomes founded on the present or past data. The accuracy in the subsequent investigation is based on how much detailed information one has and how much the researcher digs in it.

Diagnostic Analysis

This illustrates why it happened by identifying the cause of the insight found in statistical analysis. This analysis is essential as it determines the behavior pattern of data. 

What is the Data analysis process?

In summary, below are the necessary steps to analyze data and solve problems

  1. Define Analytic Objective – As said, defining your question is 50% of the solution, so you need to set your problem and the scope of your analysis.
  2. Extract Input data – Based on the problem description, you will need to select your input data and extract them for analysis carefully. 
  3. Validate input data – Check the input data for accuracy and consistency.
  4. Repair input data – Fix what could be there in data like null values.
  5. Transform input data – Apply the required transformations for each field if necessary.
  6. Apply analysis – Perform your analysis using your preferred tool and algorithm.
  7. Generate deployment method – Build the deployment package for your model.
  8. Assess results – Check and validate your conclusion to make sure they are accurate.
  9. Refine analytic objective – Refine your algorithm or analysis method if required

What are the types of Data analysis?

There exist four forms of data analysis implemented across all sectors. Whereas these are separated into categories, these are built upon each other and linked together. While you begin moving from the most straightforward style of analytics forward, the level of difficulty and resources also hikes. Similarly, the level of added insight and value also rises. The four types of data analysis include:

  • Predictive analysis– attempts to answer the question of what is likely to happen.
  • Prescriptive analysis– this merges the insight from the past reviews and in determining the actions taken in solving a current problem and formulating a decision. 
  • Descriptive analysis this an analysis that gives answers to the “what happened” by summarizing past data, usually in the form of dashboards’
  • Diagnostic analysis– answers the “why did it happen?” that builds off descriptive analysis.

What are the methods of data analysis?

There are numerous methods used in analyzing data, all of which fall under two primary approaches that include quantitative analysis and qualitative data analysis.

Qualitative data analysis

The data obtained through this method consist of pictures, words, observations, and symbols. The following type of analysis infers to a process utilized for the data analysis and to provide some level of understanding, interpretation, or understanding. This type of data can be collected in numerous approaches, such as:

  • Content analysis – this used to analyze behavioral or verbal data; this data consists of communication artifacts or documents in various formats, audio, or pictures.
  • Narrative analysis – this majorly implemented, and it involves data from numerous sources such as surveys, field notes, and interviews. This includes reformulating the stories issued by individuals, depending on one’s experiences and variance in context. 
  • Grounded theory – this a form of analysis that is majorly implemented by researchers; this includes the creation of causal explanations of the single occurrence from the study of one or more cases. In further conducting the research, an example is altered until the researchers arrive at a statement that brings together all the circumstances.

Quantitative data 

This used for the qualification of data, which enables the generalization of the results obtained from a sample to a population’s interest. Some of the methodologies that fall under quantitative data include:

  • Mean – also identified as the average, mean is the most common method of analyzing data whereby the sum of the lists of the number is divided by the number of items in the same list.
  • Hypothesis testing – this mainly used in business research and is done to assess whether a given hypothesis or theory for a population or data set is precise.
  • Sample size determination – when researching a large population, small sample-sized is taken into consideration, analyzed, and the results considered almost the same for every member of the community.

How do you analyze a dissertation interview?

Qualitative analysis of interview data 

1. Reading the transcripts

  • Quickly browse through the entire transcript.
  • Create notes about your first impression.
  • Re-read the transcripts again.

2. Labeling the relevant pieces

  • Label the appropriate phrase, word, section, or sentence; the labels can be about activities, actions, opinions, processes, differences, or that which is relevant.

3. Decide which codes are relevant and create categories by bringing the systems together.

  • Revising the codes in the previous step
  • Create categories.

4. Labeling categories and determine which are relevant and their connection 

  • Label categories include adaptation, problem-solving, and seeking information. 
  • Describe connection 

5. Options 

  • Decide on the hierarchy available among the categories.
  • Draw a figure in summarizing the results.
  • Determine an essential category.

6. Write up the results 

  • Describe categories and their connection. 
  • Writer interpretation and discuss the results.

How do you analyze dissertation findings? 

The dissertation finding chapter needs to provide a context for comprehending the results. The research problem should be repeated with the research goals stated. The above approach will enable the researcher to gain the reader’s attention toward the research problem. The first step entails finding, which results in specific, should be presented in the section. It is essential to perform all the results relevant to the study question, as this will help the researcher stay on board as to whether or not the hypothesis is supported. 

How do you write a data analysis paragraph?

The data analysis paragraph should provide an illustration of how the data should be organized, the statistical tests applied, and how to obtain and evaluate the results. Some of the tips to consider include: 

  • Indicate whether the research is qualitative or quantitative.
  • Avoid analyzing the results in the data analysis section.
  • Ensure to include the full name of the statistical tests implemented.
  • Mention the data transformations in case there is any, including the normalizing data.
  • Provide the main research question and the method of analysis applied in answering the questions.
  • Mention the software used to analyze and gather information. 
  • Provide a list of the data sources, including the online reports and electronic archives.
  • Explain how the data had been summarized, and the measures were taken of variability used.

What are the five chapters of the dissertation?

  • Chapter 1 -Introduction: provides background to the study and clarifies problems, objectives, hypothesis/questions, significance, delimitation, and critical terminology of the study.
  • Chapter 2 – Review of Relevant Literature: evaluates existing theory and empirical evidence relevant to the topic under study intending to clarify and advance a coherent conceptual and theoretical framework to ground the study, and at the same time, drawing insights and lessons from limitations and lacuna in previous work.
  • Chapter 3 variously called Methodology or Materials & Methods: details the general approach to the research (research design), population and samples + sampling techniques, instrumentation used or Apparatus and materials, validity and reliability of the instrumentation, procedures for data collection and analysis, criteria for acceptance/rejection of the hypothesis.
  • Chapter 4 – Results & Discussion: reports and analyses findings, confirming or rejecting the hypothesis, and anchoring results in theoretical framework or literature.
  • Chapter 5 – Conclusions & Recommendations: draws inferences from the findings of the study, points out implications, making recombination for theory, practice and further research.

What is the popular dissertation referencing methods?

You should be consistent not only with appendix references but with other recommendations. For example, if you would refer to section 2 as “section 2”. Then you should probably see Appendix A as “appendix A” and figure 3.2 as “figure 3.2”. Another consistent choice would be “§2”, “§A,” and “fig. 3.2”. 

The main text should also flow in such a manner that it presents a continuously advanced argument, indicated by the results of applying for a specific research methodology, for instance, statistical or textual. In case of any doubt, check with your supervisor and department. The researcher should state in the main footage or text that a specific material is in the appendix.