Kumar-2011-Research-Methodology_-A-Step-by-Step-Guide-for-Beginners

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Research Methodology
Step IV: Verifying the coded data
Once the data is coded, select a few research instruments at random and record the responses
to identify any discrepancies in coding. Continue to verify coding until you are sure that there
are no discrepancies. If there are discrepancies, re-examine the coding.
Developing a frame of analysis
Although a framework of analysis needs to evolve continuously while writing your report, it is
desirable to broadly develop it before analysing the data. A frame of analysis should specify:
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which variables you are planning to analyse;
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how they should be analysed;
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what cross-tabulations you need to work out;
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which variables you need to combine to construct your major concepts or to develop indices
(in formulating a research problem concepts are changed to variables – at this stage change
them back to concepts);
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which variables are to be subjected to which statistical procedures.
To illustrate, let us take the example from the survey used in this chapter.
Frequency distributions
A frequency distribution groups respondents into the subcategories into which a variable
can be divided. Unless you are not planning to use answers to some of the questions,
you should have a frequency distribution for all the variables. Each variable can be specified
either separately or collectively in the frame of analysis. To illustrate, they are identified here
separately by the names used in the code book. For example, frame of analysis should include
frequency distribution for the following variables:
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age;
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ms;
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tedu (tedu1, tedu2, tedu3 – multiple responses, to be collectively analysed);
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study (study1, study2, study3 – multiple responses, to be collectively analysed);
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difwk (difwk1, difwk2, difwk3, difwk4, difwk5 – multiple responses, to be collectively analysed);
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jobsta, jobstb;
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jobsata, jobsatb;
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motiva, motivb.
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etc.
Cross-tabulations
Cross-tabulations analyse two variables, usually independent and dependent or attribute and
dependent, to determine if there is a relationship between them. The subcategories of both
the variables are cross-tabulated to ascertain if a relationship exists between them. Usually, the
absolute number of respondents, and the row and column percentages, give you a reasonably
good idea as to the possible association.