Rae R. Newton

Getting Started with Statistical Analysis: Where Do I Obtain Data, and How Do I Prepare Data for Statistical Analysis?

T his is a book about statistics. It is not a book about research design. Nonetheless, the practice of statistical analysis is intricately related to issues of research methodology. These issues arise long before data can be massaged, manipulated, interpreted, and transformed into meaningful conclusions drawn from empirical research studies. You have probably heard the maxim “Garbage in, garbage out,” in reference to the use of statistics. The implication is that without thoughtfully considering the source and quality of your data, the most sophisticated statistical analysis available won’t be of much help. In the first edition of this book, we assumed that readers would already have data available and would only need guidance through the steps of data coding, data entry, and data cleaning. Since that time, however, we have become more conscious of a prior question our students and colleagues often ask, “Where can I obtain some (good) data?” One rather glib response is “Go collect your own.” However, collecting one’s own data through the customary process of designing a study, administering a data collection instrument, coding the data, and entering the data into a computer, although within most social and behavioral science disciplines the predominant option, is only one approach. And it may not always be the best option. In some instances, it may be absolutely the worst option. Thus, we begin this new edition with a brief discussion of the available options for acquiring data, some of which require no data entry steps whatsoever. GettinG StarteD With StatiStiCal analySiS