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Unit 2: The Use of Computer in Data Processing and Analysis Unit 3: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program Unit 4: Data Analysis in Communication Research
UNIT 1: DATA PROCESSING AND MANAGEMENT
CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Objectives 3.0 Main Content 3.1 Data Editing 3.2 Data Coding
Self Assessment Exercise 4.0 Conclusion
5.0 Summary
6.0 Tutor Marked Assignment 7.0 References/Further Readings.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Data processing is a preliminary procedure that must take place for data analysis to make sense. If this does not happen and correctly too, data analysis will merely be
“garbage in, garbage out” syndrome. Therefore, data processing and management is the all encompassing and the entirety of the processes by which raw data or information gathered from the field of investigation are refined, cleaned, organized and structured so as to facilitate or enhance data analysis and interpretation of the research findings.
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Data processing is essentially a preliminary procedure to data analysis and interpretation of the results. It therefore involves a number of processes which includes primarily data editing and data coding.
1.0 OBJECTIVES
This unit aims at teaching the students two major preliminary procedures which must take place before a meaningful data analysis could be carried out successfully. At the end of this unit, the student should be able to:
1. Describe data processing and management 2. Identify and describe data editing processes 3. Identify and describe data coding processes
3.0 MAIN CONTENT 3.1 DATA EDITING
Editing refers to the process of examining and thoroughly checking the raw data or information that had been collected for possible incorrect entries and other similar errors. The essence of data editing primarily is to detect any possible incorrect entries or errors and rectify them (Obikeze, 1990). Please note that editing may be carried out on any type of data irrespective of the instrument through which they were collected or the expertise of the researcher(s) who carried out the data gathering exercise.
3.1.1 OBJECTIVES OF EDITING
Generally, the primary objective of editing is to:
1. Enhance the quality of field data by making sure that all information are complete, unambiguous, legible, uniform, accurate and true:
Any incomplete data could render analysis useless. At this stage, the appropriate research assistants or data editors are expected to ensure information supplied are detailed enough depending on what the researcher wants to achieve and that the information gathered is not ambiguous, illegible, inaccurate and untrue before it becomes difficult to reach the participants or respondents for further clarification.
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Data analysis is essentially analysis of what was brought in as information;
so, any wrong information that creeps in at this stage unnoticed will surely make analysis also wrong. The implication again is that data interpretation or interpretation of the so-called results also becomes very deceptive because of the faulty premise it was based.
2. Eliminate Coding Difficulties:
Eliminating coding difficulties is another very important objective of data editing. At this stage, the investigators are really interested in making sure any potential difficulty that may creep in at the stage of coding is eliminated now before that stage. The reason is simple. At the coding stage, any unresolved difficulty may engender analysis because it may be difficult to get back to the field to seek clarification. Coding, as we will later find out in this Unit must take place for a meaningful data entry and subsequent analysis to be effectively carried out.
3. Facilitate Data Analysis and Interpretation of Results:
Data editing is primarily meant to facilitate data analysis. The research process is so linked together that every of the procedures or processes are interrelated and aiming at a single primary purpose: find answers to the research questions! So, data editing helps the next procedural step be making sure its own loose ends are tight against possible errors that could be traced back to poor editing.
4. Detect Errors/ Incorrect Entries and Correct Them:
Editing in normal or other situations is done to identify errors and to correct them! This is not different in data editing. Humans are naturally prone to errors. This should not be a problem at all if a proper editorial team is in place to proofread materials before they are moved to the next level.
Therefore, detecting errors, incorrect entries, or incomplete entries with the aim of correcting them before any form of analysis is performed on the data should be a primary objective of data editing.
5. Facilitate Interpretation of Results:
Interpretation of research results is a fundamental purpose of research that is meant to address specific needs. The outcome of researches cannot really make any sense if such outcomes are not properly put in context by way of interpretation. Interpretation will help the researcher to find out if the objectives have been met and to find out if the research questions have been
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answered. This makes interpretation of research findings very vital in the research business. Having established the importance of result interpretation, every effort should be made at the editing stage to facilitate this.
3.1.2 LEVELS OF EDITING
Generally, editing is carried out at three different levels by three different categories of research personnel. This is supported by the findings of Obikeze (1990) thus:
1. Interviewer’s Editing:
This is carried out in the field by interviewers or any other instrument administrator or supervisor. Here the personnel in question is expected to review and check each questionnaire and /or field notes or interview schedule to ensure that every item has been properly completed, that the responses are clear, unambiguous and legible. At this level of editing, any inconsistencies or omissions discovered are promptly referred to the subject or respondent for clarification, verification and resolution (Obikeze, 1990).
Please, note that the temptation for the interviewer to supply the missing link his or herself should be avoided. Where it is no longer feasible to get back to the subject, the best advice is not to change anything but to be more alert to the occasions or error in subsequent interviews (Obikeze, 1990).
2. Supervisor’s Editing:
This is also carried out in the field by the Project Supervisors. This level of editing is one of the primary assignments of Supervisors and it is carried out while the interviewer is still around so that he/she could be reached to provide further clarification, missing details and explanation. The purpose of supervisor editing is to ensure legibility and to detect and correct apparent errors while in the field (Obikeze, 1990).
3. Research Assistant’s Editing:
This is carried out at the research office by Research Assistants. Data editing at this level consists of two closely related operations, namely – final – check editing and judgmental editing. In the first operation, the office staff undertakes a quick but systematic check of the questionnaire or interview schedules. In this check, each instrument must be checked for the following issues:
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a.
Completeness
– to ensure that every item in the questionnaire has been filled.b.
Inconsistencies and Inaccuracies
so as to correct them before instrument administration.c.
Uniformity
to make sure the response pattern is similar in format from questions of similar expectation.Judgmental editing is the second operation which requires greater skill and experience than a research assistant would normally possess. It is therefore generally carried out by a few specialist members of the research team.
Judgmental editing, according to Obikeze (1990) involves making expert judgment and technical decisions on a number of intricate or complicated questionnaire items so as to facilitate coding and analysis. Judgmental editing, according to Obikeze (1990), concentrates on the following:
(a)Making decisions regarding the appropriateness or otherwise of certain recorded responses. E.g. an unemployed person responding to question on job satisfaction.
(b)Effecting necessary modifications where information is given in units other than the one specified. E.g. salary given in monthly rather than annual basis.
(c)Developing appropriate categories and producing complex variables such as occupation.
(d)Preparing summaries and computing indexes for intricate issues like income and quality of life.
Note that judgmental editing is carried out to remove all obstacles to successful coding.