preparing and analyzing data lesson chap 9

Module 8: Preparing, Analyzing and Reporting Data

Chapter 9 - Preparing for Data Analysis

On-line Lesson

The two goals of data collection are:

	assess the future needs of a community; and
	evaluate current attitudes, opinions and satisfaction levels of the community.

Data Coding

Data coding, uses either:

	precoding, building the numbers corresponding to responses into the questionnaire, or
	postcoding, assigning numbers to response categories at the time of data entry,

is essential to the process of data analysis. The specific number associated with each response often depends on the type of scale being used in the questionnaire.

Scales of Measurement

The scales of measurement are listed below from the least to the most matching with the real number system. See Module 2 Measurements in Leisure Research.

	Nominal
	Ordinal
	Interval
	Ratio

Characteristics of Leisure and Recreation Surveys

Standard Independent variables: gender, age, income, ethnicity, household characteristics, and place of residence.

Primary Dependent variables: attitude, interests, and questions relating to park, recreation and leisure services issues.

Setting Up Data For Analysis

check that all returned questionnaires are complete (use pre-determined criteria to define a "completed" form.
translate questionnaire data in to a digital format (computer readable and coded into numeric format).
assign an identification number (ID) to each questionnaire.

Fundamentals of Data Entry

	separate columns for each variable
	each questionnaires' responses have a separate row
	any missing information is coded so there is no empty spaces

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