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Discussion

4.2.1 Analysis of Data

According to LeCompte and Schensul, research data analysis
is a process used by researchers for reducing data to a story and ◆ Data reduction and
interpretation
interpreting it to derive insights. The data analysis process helps
in reducing a large chunk of data into smaller fragments, which
makes sense.
The systematic application of statistical and logical techniques
to describe the data scope, modularise the data structure, condense
the data representation, illustrate via images, tables and graphs
and evaluate statistical inclinations, and probability data, to derive
meaningful conclusions, is known as data analysis.

During the data analysis process, three essential things happen.
The first is data organisation, where information is structured in
a systematic way. The second method for data reduction involves
summarisation and categorisation, helping to identify patterns
and themes for easier understanding. Lastly, the third step is
interpretation, which researchers do in both top-down and bottom-
up approaches.

Data is everywhere around us, in spreadsheets, on various ◆ Data organising,
social media platforms, in survey forms and more. The process Summarisation,
of cleaning, transforming, interpreting, analysing and visualising Categorisation, and
this data to extract useful information and gain valuable insights Interpretation
to make more effective business decisions is called data analysis.
Purpose of statistical analysis of data
Analysis is a careful review of the gathered and categorised
data in order to analyse the characteristics of the research topic and
identify patterns of relationships among the relevant variables. The ◆ Identify relationship
use of diverse statistical methods is part of quantitative analysis
in social science research. The following are the primary goals of
data analysis:
◆ Make it easier to identify the causal factors underlying
complex phenomena.

◆ Convert enormous amounts of data into understandable
summaries.

◆ Provide precise descriptions of the data. ◆ Drawing inference

◆ Draw valid conclusions from observational data.

◆ Evaluate the significance of specific sample results under a

SGOU - SLM - MCom Research Methodology 153