This document discusses research methods and data analysis. It explains that there are two main types of data: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative data is numerical, while qualitative data consists of words from discussions, explanations, documents and reports. The document outlines some key differences between quantitative and qualitative methods, such as quantitative being more objective while qualitative provides descriptions. It notes that both methods can be combined to supplement each other and avoid biases. The role of objectives and research questions in guiding data collection and analysis is also covered. The expected structure of a chapter reporting results is outlined, including presenting findings for each research question through tables, narratives and interpretations.

1. RESEARCH METHODS
DR. BIRONGA
AUGUST 2020

2. There are two types of data in analysis;
• Quantitative data
Numerical data collected mainly in numbers or numerical form.
• Qualitative data
Types of data

3. Qualitative data analysis refers to textual data collected verbally in
words. This is non-numeric data that is expressed in the forms of:
 Discussions
 Explanations
 Documentations
 Reports
 Conversations
Qualitative data

4. Quantitative Qualitative
Objective Subjective
Generalizable Not Generalizable
Numbers Words
Hypotheses Real Questions
Test Theory Develops Theory
Establishes relationships Describes meaning & discovery
Differences between qualitative and quantitative
methods

5. The report is in narrative form as opposed to statistics presented in the
quantitative tradition. The report will attempt to;
• point out relationships between concepts and themes,
• compare findings to research expectations
• point out the significance and implications of the findings
Qualitative analysis

6. • In many cases a researcher has several objectives of study. Some are
better assessed qualitatively while others are better assessed
quantitatively
• Both methods supplement each other in that qualitative provides in-
depth explanations while quantitative provide hard data needed to
meet required objectives and test hypothesis
Advantages of combining the two methods

7. • Using both methods helps to avoid bias in that each method can be
used to check the other eg subjectivity in qualitative is minimized by
objectivity of quantitative research
Advantages of combining both methods

8. • Using both of them can be expensive eg using survey as well as case
study increases the cost in terms of time, energy and money
• The Researcher may not have sufficient training to be able to use
both methods
Disadvantages

9. • Research objectives are the goals to be achieved by a project.
• They affect every part of the proposed study, from the selection of
the topic to the final report.
• They should be clear cut and well defined statements to help you to
make a deep probe/investigation towards the roots of the problem
The role of objectives and research questions in
data analysis

10. • Research questions assist in achieving the goal. It is what you want
to understand by doing the research.
• The design of the study revolves around the research question. It
explains what your study will try to learn. They help to;
1) Focus the study
2) Give guidance on how to conduct it
The role of……

11. • It is titled results
• It is divided into sub-sections according to the research
questions/objectives.
• Make a declarative statement from the research question/objective
which then forms the sub-section
Chapter Four

12. • The report should present data fully, including adequate
interpretation related to the research objectives/research questions.
• The present tense is used in this chapter to present the findings of
the study.
• The following are sections and relevant subsections in this chapter;
Chapter Four

13. • In this section, the purpose of the study is restated briefly.
• Give an overview of the chapter
4.1. Introduction

14. • The research questions/objectives are stated as well as the data
techniques used to investigate each question/objective.
• This section is divided into sub-sections according to the research
questions/objective. Eg, one subsection for research question may
be;
4.2 Data presentation and interpretation

15. • The research question is restated, eg
• The first research question was,
“Does gender influence attitudes to teaching?”.
To answer this question descriptive analysis was carried out using
frequencies and means. Results of the analysis are presented in the
following table………..
What if it was a research objective? Who can restate it?
4.2.1 Influence of Gender on Attitude to Teaching

16. Table 4.1: Mean attitude scores for male and female
students
Gender No of
respondent
Total of
attitude
score
Mean
attitude
score
Male 234 5228 ?
Female 121 4763 ?
Total 355 9991 ?

17. Eg
• Female students scored higher in the attitude
questionnaire with a mean of 39.36, than their male
colleagues who scored a mean of 22.34.
• Therefore gender has an influence on attitude to
teaching
Results presented in the table are restated
in narrative form, and the research
question will be presented

18. • Interpretation should be done within the frame of reference of the
research.
• It is an attempt to convey meaning of findings to the reader.
• Give possible reasons why results occurred like this.
• Fit the results into findings by other researchers mentioned in the
review of literature
Interpret the findings

19. • Female students may have a more positive attitude than male
students because of encouragement to join profession by family and
community. On the other hand male students may have the unproven
notion that teaching is not a masculine job as compared to others like
engineering. This is inline with findings by Sifuna, 1999 who showed
that background factors like gender had a strong influence on choice
of the teaching profession by trainees.
Eg

20. • Results and interpretations for other research questions are
presented in the same format in the other sub-sections ie 4.2.2
• 4.2.3
• 4.2.4 etc
Repeat the same process for other R/Q

21. THANK YOU