data analysis techniques in business research

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Data Analysis: Types, Methods & Techniques (a Complete List)

( Updated Version )

While the term sounds intimidating, “data analysis” is nothing more than making sense of information in a table. It consists of filtering, sorting, grouping, and manipulating data tables with basic algebra and statistics.

In fact, you don’t need experience to understand the basics. You have already worked with data extensively in your life, and “analysis” is nothing more than a fancy word for good sense and basic logic.

Over time, people have intuitively categorized the best logical practices for treating data. These categories are what we call today types , methods , and techniques .

This article provides a comprehensive list of types, methods, and techniques, and explains the difference between them.

For a practical intro to data analysis (including types, methods, & techniques), check out our Intro to Data Analysis eBook for free.

Descriptive, Diagnostic, Predictive, & Prescriptive Analysis

If you Google “types of data analysis,” the first few results will explore descriptive , diagnostic , predictive , and prescriptive analysis. Why? Because these names are easy to understand and are used a lot in “the real world.”

Descriptive analysis is an informational method, diagnostic analysis explains “why” a phenomenon occurs, predictive analysis seeks to forecast the result of an action, and prescriptive analysis identifies solutions to a specific problem.

That said, these are only four branches of a larger analytical tree.

Good data analysts know how to position these four types within other analytical methods and tactics, allowing them to leverage strengths and weaknesses in each to uproot the most valuable insights.

Let’s explore the full analytical tree to understand how to appropriately assess and apply these four traditional types.

Tree diagram of Data Analysis Types, Methods, and Techniques

Here’s a picture to visualize the structure and hierarchy of data analysis types, methods, and techniques.

If it’s too small you can view the picture in a new tab . Open it to follow along!

Note: basic descriptive statistics such as mean , median , and mode , as well as standard deviation , are not shown because most people are already familiar with them. In the diagram, they would fall under the “descriptive” analysis type.

Tree Diagram Explained

The highest-level classification of data analysis is quantitative vs qualitative . Quantitative implies numbers while qualitative implies information other than numbers.

Quantitative data analysis then splits into mathematical analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) analysis . Mathematical types then branch into descriptive , diagnostic , predictive , and prescriptive .

Methods falling under mathematical analysis include clustering , classification , forecasting , and optimization . Qualitative data analysis methods include content analysis , narrative analysis , discourse analysis , framework analysis , and/or grounded theory .

Moreover, mathematical techniques include regression , Nïave Bayes , Simple Exponential Smoothing , cohorts , factors , linear discriminants , and more, whereas techniques falling under the AI type include artificial neural networks , decision trees , evolutionary programming , and fuzzy logic . Techniques under qualitative analysis include text analysis , coding , idea pattern analysis , and word frequency .

It’s a lot to remember! Don’t worry, once you understand the relationship and motive behind all these terms, it’ll be like riding a bike.

We’ll move down the list from top to bottom and I encourage you to open the tree diagram above in a new tab so you can follow along .

But first, let’s just address the elephant in the room: what’s the difference between methods and techniques anyway?

Difference between methods and techniques

Though often used interchangeably, methods ands techniques are not the same. By definition, methods are the process by which techniques are applied, and techniques are the practical application of those methods.

For example, consider driving. Methods include staying in your lane, stopping at a red light, and parking in a spot. Techniques include turning the steering wheel, braking, and pushing the gas pedal.

Data sets: observations and fields

It’s important to understand the basic structure of data tables to comprehend the rest of the article. A data set consists of one far-left column containing observations, then a series of columns containing the fields (aka “traits” or “characteristics”) that describe each observations. For example, imagine we want a data table for fruit. It might look like this:

Now let’s turn to types, methods, and techniques. Each heading below consists of a description, relative importance, the nature of data it explores, and the motivation for using it.

Quantitative Analysis

• It accounts for more than 50% of all data analysis and is by far the most widespread and well-known type of data analysis.
• As you have seen, it holds descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive methods, which in turn hold some of the most important techniques available today, such as clustering and forecasting.
• It can be broken down into mathematical and AI analysis.
• Importance : Very high . Quantitative analysis is a must for anyone interesting in becoming or improving as a data analyst.
• Nature of Data: data treated under quantitative analysis is, quite simply, quantitative. It encompasses all numeric data.
• Motive: to extract insights. (Note: we’re at the top of the pyramid, this gets more insightful as we move down.)

Qualitative Analysis

• It accounts for less than 30% of all data analysis and is common in social sciences .
• It can refer to the simple recognition of qualitative elements, which is not analytic in any way, but most often refers to methods that assign numeric values to non-numeric data for analysis.
• Because of this, some argue that it’s ultimately a quantitative type.
• Importance: Medium. In general, knowing qualitative data analysis is not common or even necessary for corporate roles. However, for researchers working in social sciences, its importance is very high .
• Nature of Data: data treated under qualitative analysis is non-numeric. However, as part of the analysis, analysts turn non-numeric data into numbers, at which point many argue it is no longer qualitative analysis.
• Motive: to extract insights. (This will be more important as we move down the pyramid.)

Mathematical Analysis

• Description: mathematical data analysis is a subtype of qualitative data analysis that designates methods and techniques based on statistics, algebra, and logical reasoning to extract insights. It stands in opposition to artificial intelligence analysis.
• Importance: Very High. The most widespread methods and techniques fall under mathematical analysis. In fact, it’s so common that many people use “quantitative” and “mathematical” analysis interchangeably.
• Nature of Data: numeric. By definition, all data under mathematical analysis are numbers.
• Motive: to extract measurable insights that can be used to act upon.

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Analysis

• Description: artificial intelligence and machine learning analyses designate techniques based on the titular skills. They are not traditionally mathematical, but they are quantitative since they use numbers. Applications of AI & ML analysis techniques are developing, but they’re not yet mainstream enough to show promise across the field.
• Importance: Medium . As of today (September 2020), you don’t need to be fluent in AI & ML data analysis to be a great analyst. BUT, if it’s a field that interests you, learn it. Many believe that in 10 year’s time its importance will be very high .
• Nature of Data: numeric.
• Motive: to create calculations that build on themselves in order and extract insights without direct input from a human.

Descriptive Analysis

• Description: descriptive analysis is a subtype of mathematical data analysis that uses methods and techniques to provide information about the size, dispersion, groupings, and behavior of data sets. This may sounds complicated, but just think about mean, median, and mode: all three are types of descriptive analysis. They provide information about the data set. We’ll look at specific techniques below.
• Importance: Very high. Descriptive analysis is among the most commonly used data analyses in both corporations and research today.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data under descriptive statistics is sets. A set is simply a collection of numbers that behaves in predictable ways. Data reflects real life, and there are patterns everywhere to be found. Descriptive analysis describes those patterns.
• Motive: the motive behind descriptive analysis is to understand how numbers in a set group together, how far apart they are from each other, and how often they occur. As with most statistical analysis, the more data points there are, the easier it is to describe the set.

Diagnostic Analysis

• Description: diagnostic analysis answers the question “why did it happen?” It is an advanced type of mathematical data analysis that manipulates multiple techniques, but does not own any single one. Analysts engage in diagnostic analysis when they try to explain why.
• Importance: Very high. Diagnostics are probably the most important type of data analysis for people who don’t do analysis because they’re valuable to anyone who’s curious. They’re most common in corporations, as managers often only want to know the “why.”
• Nature of Data : data under diagnostic analysis are data sets. These sets in themselves are not enough under diagnostic analysis. Instead, the analyst must know what’s behind the numbers in order to explain “why.” That’s what makes diagnostics so challenging yet so valuable.
• Motive: the motive behind diagnostics is to diagnose — to understand why.

Predictive Analysis

• Description: predictive analysis uses past data to project future data. It’s very often one of the first kinds of analysis new researchers and corporate analysts use because it is intuitive. It is a subtype of the mathematical type of data analysis, and its three notable techniques are regression, moving average, and exponential smoothing.
• Importance: Very high. Predictive analysis is critical for any data analyst working in a corporate environment. Companies always want to know what the future will hold — especially for their revenue.
• Nature of Data: Because past and future imply time, predictive data always includes an element of time. Whether it’s minutes, hours, days, months, or years, we call this time series data . In fact, this data is so important that I’ll mention it twice so you don’t forget: predictive analysis uses time series data .
• Motive: the motive for investigating time series data with predictive analysis is to predict the future in the most analytical way possible.

Prescriptive Analysis

• Description: prescriptive analysis is a subtype of mathematical analysis that answers the question “what will happen if we do X?” It’s largely underestimated in the data analysis world because it requires diagnostic and descriptive analyses to be done before it even starts. More than simple predictive analysis, prescriptive analysis builds entire data models to show how a simple change could impact the ensemble.
• Importance: High. Prescriptive analysis is most common under the finance function in many companies. Financial analysts use it to build a financial model of the financial statements that show how that data will change given alternative inputs.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data in prescriptive analysis is data sets. These data sets contain patterns that respond differently to various inputs. Data that is useful for prescriptive analysis contains correlations between different variables. It’s through these correlations that we establish patterns and prescribe action on this basis. This analysis cannot be performed on data that exists in a vacuum — it must be viewed on the backdrop of the tangibles behind it.
• Motive: the motive for prescriptive analysis is to establish, with an acceptable degree of certainty, what results we can expect given a certain action. As you might expect, this necessitates that the analyst or researcher be aware of the world behind the data, not just the data itself.

Clustering Method

• Description: the clustering method groups data points together based on their relativeness closeness to further explore and treat them based on these groupings. There are two ways to group clusters: intuitively and statistically (or K-means).
• Importance: Very high. Though most corporate roles group clusters intuitively based on management criteria, a solid understanding of how to group them mathematically is an excellent descriptive and diagnostic approach to allow for prescriptive analysis thereafter.
• Nature of Data : the nature of data useful for clustering is sets with 1 or more data fields. While most people are used to looking at only two dimensions (x and y), clustering becomes more accurate the more fields there are.
• Motive: the motive for clustering is to understand how data sets group and to explore them further based on those groups.
• Here’s an example set:

Classification Method

• Description: the classification method aims to separate and group data points based on common characteristics . This can be done intuitively or statistically.
• Importance: High. While simple on the surface, classification can become quite complex. It’s very valuable in corporate and research environments, but can feel like its not worth the work. A good analyst can execute it quickly to deliver results.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful for classification is data sets. As we will see, it can be used on qualitative data as well as quantitative. This method requires knowledge of the substance behind the data, not just the numbers themselves.
• Motive: the motive for classification is group data not based on mathematical relationships (which would be clustering), but by predetermined outputs. This is why it’s less useful for diagnostic analysis, and more useful for prescriptive analysis.

Forecasting Method

• Description: the forecasting method uses time past series data to forecast the future.
• Importance: Very high. Forecasting falls under predictive analysis and is arguably the most common and most important method in the corporate world. It is less useful in research, which prefers to understand the known rather than speculate about the future.
• Nature of Data: data useful for forecasting is time series data, which, as we’ve noted, always includes a variable of time.
• Motive: the motive for the forecasting method is the same as that of prescriptive analysis: the confidently estimate future values.

Optimization Method

• Description: the optimization method maximized or minimizes values in a set given a set of criteria. It is arguably most common in prescriptive analysis. In mathematical terms, it is maximizing or minimizing a function given certain constraints.
• Importance: Very high. The idea of optimization applies to more analysis types than any other method. In fact, some argue that it is the fundamental driver behind data analysis. You would use it everywhere in research and in a corporation.
• Nature of Data: the nature of optimizable data is a data set of at least two points.
• Motive: the motive behind optimization is to achieve the best result possible given certain conditions.

Content Analysis Method

• Description: content analysis is a method of qualitative analysis that quantifies textual data to track themes across a document. It’s most common in academic fields and in social sciences, where written content is the subject of inquiry.
• Importance: High. In a corporate setting, content analysis as such is less common. If anything Nïave Bayes (a technique we’ll look at below) is the closest corporations come to text. However, it is of the utmost importance for researchers. If you’re a researcher, check out this article on content analysis .
• Nature of Data: data useful for content analysis is textual data.
• Motive: the motive behind content analysis is to understand themes expressed in a large text

Narrative Analysis Method

• Description: narrative analysis is a method of qualitative analysis that quantifies stories to trace themes in them. It’s differs from content analysis because it focuses on stories rather than research documents, and the techniques used are slightly different from those in content analysis (very nuances and outside the scope of this article).
• Importance: Low. Unless you are highly specialized in working with stories, narrative analysis rare.
• Nature of Data: the nature of the data useful for the narrative analysis method is narrative text.
• Motive: the motive for narrative analysis is to uncover hidden patterns in narrative text.

Discourse Analysis Method

• Description: the discourse analysis method falls under qualitative analysis and uses thematic coding to trace patterns in real-life discourse. That said, real-life discourse is oral, so it must first be transcribed into text.
• Importance: Low. Unless you are focused on understand real-world idea sharing in a research setting, this kind of analysis is less common than the others on this list.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful in discourse analysis is first audio files, then transcriptions of those audio files.
• Motive: the motive behind discourse analysis is to trace patterns of real-world discussions. (As a spooky sidenote, have you ever felt like your phone microphone was listening to you and making reading suggestions? If it was, the method was discourse analysis.)

Framework Analysis Method

• Description: the framework analysis method falls under qualitative analysis and uses similar thematic coding techniques to content analysis. However, where content analysis aims to discover themes, framework analysis starts with a framework and only considers elements that fall in its purview.
• Importance: Low. As with the other textual analysis methods, framework analysis is less common in corporate settings. Even in the world of research, only some use it. Strangely, it’s very common for legislative and political research.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful for framework analysis is textual.
• Motive: the motive behind framework analysis is to understand what themes and parts of a text match your search criteria.

Grounded Theory Method

• Description: the grounded theory method falls under qualitative analysis and uses thematic coding to build theories around those themes.
• Importance: Low. Like other qualitative analysis techniques, grounded theory is less common in the corporate world. Even among researchers, you would be hard pressed to find many using it. Though powerful, it’s simply too rare to spend time learning.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful in the grounded theory method is textual.
• Motive: the motive of grounded theory method is to establish a series of theories based on themes uncovered from a text.

Clustering Technique: K-Means

• Description: k-means is a clustering technique in which data points are grouped in clusters that have the closest means. Though not considered AI or ML, it inherently requires the use of supervised learning to reevaluate clusters as data points are added. Clustering techniques can be used in diagnostic, descriptive, & prescriptive data analyses.
• Importance: Very important. If you only take 3 things from this article, k-means clustering should be part of it. It is useful in any situation where n observations have multiple characteristics and we want to put them in groups.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data is at least one characteristic per observation, but the more the merrier.
• Motive: the motive for clustering techniques such as k-means is to group observations together and either understand or react to them.

Regression Technique

• Description: simple and multivariable regressions use either one independent variable or combination of multiple independent variables to calculate a correlation to a single dependent variable using constants. Regressions are almost synonymous with correlation today.
• Importance: Very high. Along with clustering, if you only take 3 things from this article, regression techniques should be part of it. They’re everywhere in corporate and research fields alike.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data used is regressions is data sets with “n” number of observations and as many variables as are reasonable. It’s important, however, to distinguish between time series data and regression data. You cannot use regressions or time series data without accounting for time. The easier way is to use techniques under the forecasting method.
• Motive: The motive behind regression techniques is to understand correlations between independent variable(s) and a dependent one.

Nïave Bayes Technique

• Description: Nïave Bayes is a classification technique that uses simple probability to classify items based previous classifications. In plain English, the formula would be “the chance that thing with trait x belongs to class c depends on (=) the overall chance of trait x belonging to class c, multiplied by the overall chance of class c, divided by the overall chance of getting trait x.” As a formula, it’s P(c|x) = P(x|c) * P(c) / P(x).
• Importance: High. Nïave Bayes is a very common, simplistic classification techniques because it’s effective with large data sets and it can be applied to any instant in which there is a class. Google, for example, might use it to group webpages into groups for certain search engine queries.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data for Nïave Bayes is at least one class and at least two traits in a data set.
• Motive: the motive behind Nïave Bayes is to classify observations based on previous data. It’s thus considered part of predictive analysis.

Cohorts Technique

• Description: cohorts technique is a type of clustering method used in behavioral sciences to separate users by common traits. As with clustering, it can be done intuitively or mathematically, the latter of which would simply be k-means.
• Importance: Very high. With regard to resembles k-means, the cohort technique is more of a high-level counterpart. In fact, most people are familiar with it as a part of Google Analytics. It’s most common in marketing departments in corporations, rather than in research.
• Nature of Data: the nature of cohort data is data sets in which users are the observation and other fields are used as defining traits for each cohort.
• Motive: the motive for cohort analysis techniques is to group similar users and analyze how you retain them and how the churn.

Factor Technique

• Description: the factor analysis technique is a way of grouping many traits into a single factor to expedite analysis. For example, factors can be used as traits for Nïave Bayes classifications instead of more general fields.
• Importance: High. While not commonly employed in corporations, factor analysis is hugely valuable. Good data analysts use it to simplify their projects and communicate them more clearly.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful in factor analysis techniques is data sets with a large number of fields on its observations.
• Motive: the motive for using factor analysis techniques is to reduce the number of fields in order to more quickly analyze and communicate findings.

Linear Discriminants Technique

• Description: linear discriminant analysis techniques are similar to regressions in that they use one or more independent variable to determine a dependent variable; however, the linear discriminant technique falls under a classifier method since it uses traits as independent variables and class as a dependent variable. In this way, it becomes a classifying method AND a predictive method.
• Importance: High. Though the analyst world speaks of and uses linear discriminants less commonly, it’s a highly valuable technique to keep in mind as you progress in data analysis.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful for the linear discriminant technique is data sets with many fields.
• Motive: the motive for using linear discriminants is to classify observations that would be otherwise too complex for simple techniques like Nïave Bayes.

Exponential Smoothing Technique

• Description: exponential smoothing is a technique falling under the forecasting method that uses a smoothing factor on prior data in order to predict future values. It can be linear or adjusted for seasonality. The basic principle behind exponential smoothing is to use a percent weight (value between 0 and 1 called alpha) on more recent values in a series and a smaller percent weight on less recent values. The formula is f(x) = current period value * alpha + previous period value * 1-alpha.
• Importance: High. Most analysts still use the moving average technique (covered next) for forecasting, though it is less efficient than exponential moving, because it’s easy to understand. However, good analysts will have exponential smoothing techniques in their pocket to increase the value of their forecasts.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful for exponential smoothing is time series data . Time series data has time as part of its fields .
• Motive: the motive for exponential smoothing is to forecast future values with a smoothing variable.

Moving Average Technique

• Description: the moving average technique falls under the forecasting method and uses an average of recent values to predict future ones. For example, to predict rainfall in April, you would take the average of rainfall from January to March. It’s simple, yet highly effective.
• Importance: Very high. While I’m personally not a huge fan of moving averages due to their simplistic nature and lack of consideration for seasonality, they’re the most common forecasting technique and therefore very important.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful for moving averages is time series data .
• Motive: the motive for moving averages is to predict future values is a simple, easy-to-communicate way.

Neural Networks Technique

• Description: neural networks are a highly complex artificial intelligence technique that replicate a human’s neural analysis through a series of hyper-rapid computations and comparisons that evolve in real time. This technique is so complex that an analyst must use computer programs to perform it.
• Importance: Medium. While the potential for neural networks is theoretically unlimited, it’s still little understood and therefore uncommon. You do not need to know it by any means in order to be a data analyst.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful for neural networks is data sets of astronomical size, meaning with 100s of 1000s of fields and the same number of row at a minimum .
• Motive: the motive for neural networks is to understand wildly complex phenomenon and data to thereafter act on it.

Decision Tree Technique

• Description: the decision tree technique uses artificial intelligence algorithms to rapidly calculate possible decision pathways and their outcomes on a real-time basis. It’s so complex that computer programs are needed to perform it.
• Importance: Medium. As with neural networks, decision trees with AI are too little understood and are therefore uncommon in corporate and research settings alike.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful for the decision tree technique is hierarchical data sets that show multiple optional fields for each preceding field.
• Motive: the motive for decision tree techniques is to compute the optimal choices to make in order to achieve a desired result.

Evolutionary Programming Technique

• Description: the evolutionary programming technique uses a series of neural networks, sees how well each one fits a desired outcome, and selects only the best to test and retest. It’s called evolutionary because is resembles the process of natural selection by weeding out weaker options.
• Importance: Medium. As with the other AI techniques, evolutionary programming just isn’t well-understood enough to be usable in many cases. It’s complexity also makes it hard to explain in corporate settings and difficult to defend in research settings.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data in evolutionary programming is data sets of neural networks, or data sets of data sets.
• Motive: the motive for using evolutionary programming is similar to decision trees: understanding the best possible option from complex data.
• Video example :

Fuzzy Logic Technique

• Description: fuzzy logic is a type of computing based on “approximate truths” rather than simple truths such as “true” and “false.” It is essentially two tiers of classification. For example, to say whether “Apples are good,” you need to first classify that “Good is x, y, z.” Only then can you say apples are good. Another way to see it helping a computer see truth like humans do: “definitely true, probably true, maybe true, probably false, definitely false.”
• Importance: Medium. Like the other AI techniques, fuzzy logic is uncommon in both research and corporate settings, which means it’s less important in today’s world.
• Nature of Data: the nature of fuzzy logic data is huge data tables that include other huge data tables with a hierarchy including multiple subfields for each preceding field.
• Motive: the motive of fuzzy logic to replicate human truth valuations in a computer is to model human decisions based on past data. The obvious possible application is marketing.

Text Analysis Technique

• Description: text analysis techniques fall under the qualitative data analysis type and use text to extract insights.
• Importance: Medium. Text analysis techniques, like all the qualitative analysis type, are most valuable for researchers.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful in text analysis is words.
• Motive: the motive for text analysis is to trace themes in a text across sets of very long documents, such as books.

Coding Technique

• Description: the coding technique is used in textual analysis to turn ideas into uniform phrases and analyze the number of times and the ways in which those ideas appear. For this reason, some consider it a quantitative technique as well. You can learn more about coding and the other qualitative techniques here .
• Importance: Very high. If you’re a researcher working in social sciences, coding is THE analysis techniques, and for good reason. It’s a great way to add rigor to analysis. That said, it’s less common in corporate settings.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful for coding is long text documents.
• Motive: the motive for coding is to make tracing ideas on paper more than an exercise of the mind by quantifying it and understanding is through descriptive methods.

Idea Pattern Technique

• Description: the idea pattern analysis technique fits into coding as the second step of the process. Once themes and ideas are coded, simple descriptive analysis tests may be run. Some people even cluster the ideas!
• Importance: Very high. If you’re a researcher, idea pattern analysis is as important as the coding itself.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful for idea pattern analysis is already coded themes.
• Motive: the motive for the idea pattern technique is to trace ideas in otherwise unmanageably-large documents.

Word Frequency Technique

• Description: word frequency is a qualitative technique that stands in opposition to coding and uses an inductive approach to locate specific words in a document in order to understand its relevance. Word frequency is essentially the descriptive analysis of qualitative data because it uses stats like mean, median, and mode to gather insights.
• Importance: High. As with the other qualitative approaches, word frequency is very important in social science research, but less so in corporate settings.
• Nature of Data: the nature of data useful for word frequency is long, informative documents.
• Motive: the motive for word frequency is to locate target words to determine the relevance of a document in question.

Types of data analysis in research

Types of data analysis in research methodology include every item discussed in this article. As a list, they are:

• Quantitative
• Qualitative
• Mathematical
• Machine Learning and AI
• Descriptive
• Prescriptive
• Classification
• Forecasting
• Optimization
• Grounded theory
• Artificial Neural Networks
• Decision Trees
• Evolutionary Programming
• Fuzzy Logic
• Text analysis
• Idea Pattern Analysis
• Word Frequency Analysis
• Nïave Bayes
• Exponential smoothing
• Moving average
• Linear discriminant

Types of data analysis in qualitative research

As a list, the types of data analysis in qualitative research are the following methods:

Types of data analysis in quantitative research

As a list, the types of data analysis in quantitative research are:

Data analysis methods

As a list, data analysis methods are:

• Content (qualitative)
• Narrative (qualitative)
• Discourse (qualitative)
• Framework (qualitative)
• Grounded theory (qualitative)

Quantitative data analysis methods

As a list, quantitative data analysis methods are:

Tabular View of Data Analysis Types, Methods, and Techniques

About the Author

Noah is the founder & Editor-in-Chief at AnalystAnswers. He is a transatlantic professional and entrepreneur with 5+ years of corporate finance and data analytics experience, as well as 3+ years in consumer financial products and business software. He started AnalystAnswers to provide aspiring professionals with accessible explanations of otherwise dense finance and data concepts. Noah believes everyone can benefit from an analytical mindset in growing digital world. When he's not busy at work, Noah likes to explore new European cities, exercise, and spend time with friends and family.

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Data Analysis Techniques in Research – Methods, Tools & Examples

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Data analysis techniques in research are essential because they allow researchers to derive meaningful insights from data sets to support their hypotheses or research objectives.

Data Analysis Techniques in Research : While various groups, institutions, and professionals may have diverse approaches to data analysis, a universal definition captures its essence. Data analysis involves refining, transforming, and interpreting raw data to derive actionable insights that guide informed decision-making for businesses.

A straightforward illustration of data analysis emerges when we make everyday decisions, basing our choices on past experiences or predictions of potential outcomes.

If you want to learn more about this topic and acquire valuable skills that will set you apart in today’s data-driven world, we highly recommend enrolling in the Data Analytics Course by Physics Wallah . And as a special offer for our readers, use the coupon code “READER” to get a discount on this course.

Table of Contents

What is Data Analysis?

Data analysis is the systematic process of inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and interpreting data with the objective of discovering valuable insights and drawing meaningful conclusions. This process involves several steps:

• Inspecting : Initial examination of data to understand its structure, quality, and completeness.
• Cleaning : Removing errors, inconsistencies, or irrelevant information to ensure accurate analysis.
• Transforming : Converting data into a format suitable for analysis, such as normalization or aggregation.
• Interpreting : Analyzing the transformed data to identify patterns, trends, and relationships.

Types of Data Analysis Techniques in Research

Data analysis techniques in research are categorized into qualitative and quantitative methods, each with its specific approaches and tools. These techniques are instrumental in extracting meaningful insights, patterns, and relationships from data to support informed decision-making, validate hypotheses, and derive actionable recommendations. Below is an in-depth exploration of the various types of data analysis techniques commonly employed in research:

1) Qualitative Analysis:

Definition: Qualitative analysis focuses on understanding non-numerical data, such as opinions, concepts, or experiences, to derive insights into human behavior, attitudes, and perceptions.

• Content Analysis: Examines textual data, such as interview transcripts, articles, or open-ended survey responses, to identify themes, patterns, or trends.
• Narrative Analysis: Analyzes personal stories or narratives to understand individuals’ experiences, emotions, or perspectives.
• Ethnographic Studies: Involves observing and analyzing cultural practices, behaviors, and norms within specific communities or settings.

2) Quantitative Analysis:

Quantitative analysis emphasizes numerical data and employs statistical methods to explore relationships, patterns, and trends. It encompasses several approaches:

Descriptive Analysis:

• Frequency Distribution: Represents the number of occurrences of distinct values within a dataset.
• Central Tendency: Measures such as mean, median, and mode provide insights into the central values of a dataset.
• Dispersion: Techniques like variance and standard deviation indicate the spread or variability of data.

Diagnostic Analysis:

• Regression Analysis: Assesses the relationship between dependent and independent variables, enabling prediction or understanding causality.
• ANOVA (Analysis of Variance): Examines differences between groups to identify significant variations or effects.

Predictive Analysis:

• Time Series Forecasting: Uses historical data points to predict future trends or outcomes.
• Machine Learning Algorithms: Techniques like decision trees, random forests, and neural networks predict outcomes based on patterns in data.

Prescriptive Analysis:

• Optimization Models: Utilizes linear programming, integer programming, or other optimization techniques to identify the best solutions or strategies.
• Simulation: Mimics real-world scenarios to evaluate various strategies or decisions and determine optimal outcomes.

Specific Techniques:

• Monte Carlo Simulation: Models probabilistic outcomes to assess risk and uncertainty.
• Factor Analysis: Reduces the dimensionality of data by identifying underlying factors or components.
• Cohort Analysis: Studies specific groups or cohorts over time to understand trends, behaviors, or patterns within these groups.
• Cluster Analysis: Classifies objects or individuals into homogeneous groups or clusters based on similarities or attributes.
• Sentiment Analysis: Uses natural language processing and machine learning techniques to determine sentiment, emotions, or opinions from textual data.

Also Read: AI and Predictive Analytics: Examples, Tools, Uses, Ai Vs Predictive Analytics

Data Analysis Techniques in Research Examples

To provide a clearer understanding of how data analysis techniques are applied in research, let’s consider a hypothetical research study focused on evaluating the impact of online learning platforms on students’ academic performance.

Research Objective:

Determine if students using online learning platforms achieve higher academic performance compared to those relying solely on traditional classroom instruction.

Data Collection:

• Quantitative Data: Academic scores (grades) of students using online platforms and those using traditional classroom methods.
• Qualitative Data: Feedback from students regarding their learning experiences, challenges faced, and preferences.

Data Analysis Techniques Applied:

1) Descriptive Analysis:

• Calculate the mean, median, and mode of academic scores for both groups.
• Create frequency distributions to represent the distribution of grades in each group.

2) Diagnostic Analysis:

• Conduct an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine if there’s a statistically significant difference in academic scores between the two groups.
• Perform Regression Analysis to assess the relationship between the time spent on online platforms and academic performance.

3) Predictive Analysis:

• Utilize Time Series Forecasting to predict future academic performance trends based on historical data.
• Implement Machine Learning algorithms to develop a predictive model that identifies factors contributing to academic success on online platforms.

4) Prescriptive Analysis:

• Apply Optimization Models to identify the optimal combination of online learning resources (e.g., video lectures, interactive quizzes) that maximize academic performance.
• Use Simulation Techniques to evaluate different scenarios, such as varying student engagement levels with online resources, to determine the most effective strategies for improving learning outcomes.

5) Specific Techniques:

• Conduct Factor Analysis on qualitative feedback to identify common themes or factors influencing students’ perceptions and experiences with online learning.
• Perform Cluster Analysis to segment students based on their engagement levels, preferences, or academic outcomes, enabling targeted interventions or personalized learning strategies.
• Apply Sentiment Analysis on textual feedback to categorize students’ sentiments as positive, negative, or neutral regarding online learning experiences.

By applying a combination of qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques, this research example aims to provide comprehensive insights into the effectiveness of online learning platforms.

Also Read: Learning Path to Become a Data Analyst in 2024

Data Analysis Techniques in Quantitative Research

Quantitative research involves collecting numerical data to examine relationships, test hypotheses, and make predictions. Various data analysis techniques are employed to interpret and draw conclusions from quantitative data. Here are some key data analysis techniques commonly used in quantitative research:

1) Descriptive Statistics:

• Description: Descriptive statistics are used to summarize and describe the main aspects of a dataset, such as central tendency (mean, median, mode), variability (range, variance, standard deviation), and distribution (skewness, kurtosis).
• Applications: Summarizing data, identifying patterns, and providing initial insights into the dataset.

2) Inferential Statistics:

• Description: Inferential statistics involve making predictions or inferences about a population based on a sample of data. This technique includes hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, t-tests, chi-square tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), regression analysis, and correlation analysis.
• Applications: Testing hypotheses, making predictions, and generalizing findings from a sample to a larger population.

3) Regression Analysis:

• Description: Regression analysis is a statistical technique used to model and examine the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. Linear regression, multiple regression, logistic regression, and nonlinear regression are common types of regression analysis .
• Applications: Predicting outcomes, identifying relationships between variables, and understanding the impact of independent variables on the dependent variable.

4) Correlation Analysis:

• Description: Correlation analysis is used to measure and assess the strength and direction of the relationship between two or more variables. The Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman rank correlation coefficient, and Kendall’s tau are commonly used measures of correlation.
• Applications: Identifying associations between variables and assessing the degree and nature of the relationship.

5) Factor Analysis:

• Description: Factor analysis is a multivariate statistical technique used to identify and analyze underlying relationships or factors among a set of observed variables. It helps in reducing the dimensionality of data and identifying latent variables or constructs.
• Applications: Identifying underlying factors or constructs, simplifying data structures, and understanding the underlying relationships among variables.

6) Time Series Analysis:

• Description: Time series analysis involves analyzing data collected or recorded over a specific period at regular intervals to identify patterns, trends, and seasonality. Techniques such as moving averages, exponential smoothing, autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), and Fourier analysis are used.
• Applications: Forecasting future trends, analyzing seasonal patterns, and understanding time-dependent relationships in data.

7) ANOVA (Analysis of Variance):

• Description: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is a statistical technique used to analyze and compare the means of two or more groups or treatments to determine if they are statistically different from each other. One-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, and MANOVA (Multivariate Analysis of Variance) are common types of ANOVA.
• Applications: Comparing group means, testing hypotheses, and determining the effects of categorical independent variables on a continuous dependent variable.

8) Chi-Square Tests:

• Description: Chi-square tests are non-parametric statistical tests used to assess the association between categorical variables in a contingency table. The Chi-square test of independence, goodness-of-fit test, and test of homogeneity are common chi-square tests.
• Applications: Testing relationships between categorical variables, assessing goodness-of-fit, and evaluating independence.

These quantitative data analysis techniques provide researchers with valuable tools and methods to analyze, interpret, and derive meaningful insights from numerical data. The selection of a specific technique often depends on the research objectives, the nature of the data, and the underlying assumptions of the statistical methods being used.

Also Read: Analysis vs. Analytics: How Are They Different?

Data Analysis Methods

Data analysis methods refer to the techniques and procedures used to analyze, interpret, and draw conclusions from data. These methods are essential for transforming raw data into meaningful insights, facilitating decision-making processes, and driving strategies across various fields. Here are some common data analysis methods:

• Description: Descriptive statistics summarize and organize data to provide a clear and concise overview of the dataset. Measures such as mean, median, mode, range, variance, and standard deviation are commonly used.
• Description: Inferential statistics involve making predictions or inferences about a population based on a sample of data. Techniques such as hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and regression analysis are used.

3) Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA):

• Description: EDA techniques involve visually exploring and analyzing data to discover patterns, relationships, anomalies, and insights. Methods such as scatter plots, histograms, box plots, and correlation matrices are utilized.
• Applications: Identifying trends, patterns, outliers, and relationships within the dataset.

4) Predictive Analytics:

• Description: Predictive analytics use statistical algorithms and machine learning techniques to analyze historical data and make predictions about future events or outcomes. Techniques such as regression analysis, time series forecasting, and machine learning algorithms (e.g., decision trees, random forests, neural networks) are employed.
• Applications: Forecasting future trends, predicting outcomes, and identifying potential risks or opportunities.

5) Prescriptive Analytics:

• Description: Prescriptive analytics involve analyzing data to recommend actions or strategies that optimize specific objectives or outcomes. Optimization techniques, simulation models, and decision-making algorithms are utilized.
• Applications: Recommending optimal strategies, decision-making support, and resource allocation.

6) Qualitative Data Analysis:

• Description: Qualitative data analysis involves analyzing non-numerical data, such as text, images, videos, or audio, to identify themes, patterns, and insights. Methods such as content analysis, thematic analysis, and narrative analysis are used.
• Applications: Understanding human behavior, attitudes, perceptions, and experiences.

7) Big Data Analytics:

• Description: Big data analytics methods are designed to analyze large volumes of structured and unstructured data to extract valuable insights. Technologies such as Hadoop, Spark, and NoSQL databases are used to process and analyze big data.
• Applications: Analyzing large datasets, identifying trends, patterns, and insights from big data sources.

8) Text Analytics:

• Description: Text analytics methods involve analyzing textual data, such as customer reviews, social media posts, emails, and documents, to extract meaningful information and insights. Techniques such as sentiment analysis, text mining, and natural language processing (NLP) are used.
• Applications: Analyzing customer feedback, monitoring brand reputation, and extracting insights from textual data sources.

These data analysis methods are instrumental in transforming data into actionable insights, informing decision-making processes, and driving organizational success across various sectors, including business, healthcare, finance, marketing, and research. The selection of a specific method often depends on the nature of the data, the research objectives, and the analytical requirements of the project or organization.

Also Read: Quantitative Data Analysis: Types, Analysis & Examples

Data Analysis Tools

Data analysis tools are essential instruments that facilitate the process of examining, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data to uncover useful information, make informed decisions, and drive strategies. Here are some prominent data analysis tools widely used across various industries:

1) Microsoft Excel:

• Description: A spreadsheet software that offers basic to advanced data analysis features, including pivot tables, data visualization tools, and statistical functions.
• Applications: Data cleaning, basic statistical analysis, visualization, and reporting.

2) R Programming Language :

• Description: An open-source programming language specifically designed for statistical computing and data visualization.
• Applications: Advanced statistical analysis, data manipulation, visualization, and machine learning.

3) Python (with Libraries like Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib, and Seaborn):

• Description: A versatile programming language with libraries that support data manipulation, analysis, and visualization.
• Applications: Data cleaning, statistical analysis, machine learning, and data visualization.

4) SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences):

• Description: A comprehensive statistical software suite used for data analysis, data mining, and predictive analytics.
• Applications: Descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and advanced analytics.

5) SAS (Statistical Analysis System):

• Description: A software suite used for advanced analytics, multivariate analysis, and predictive modeling.
• Applications: Data management, statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and business intelligence.

6) Tableau:

• Description: A data visualization tool that allows users to create interactive and shareable dashboards and reports.
• Applications: Data visualization , business intelligence , and interactive dashboard creation.

7) Power BI:

• Description: A business analytics tool developed by Microsoft that provides interactive visualizations and business intelligence capabilities.
• Applications: Data visualization, business intelligence, reporting, and dashboard creation.

8) SQL (Structured Query Language) Databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server):

• Description: Database management systems that support data storage, retrieval, and manipulation using SQL queries.
• Applications: Data retrieval, data cleaning, data transformation, and database management.

9) Apache Spark:

• Description: A fast and general-purpose distributed computing system designed for big data processing and analytics.
• Applications: Big data processing, machine learning, data streaming, and real-time analytics.

10) IBM SPSS Modeler:

• Description: A data mining software application used for building predictive models and conducting advanced analytics.
• Applications: Predictive modeling, data mining, statistical analysis, and decision optimization.

These tools serve various purposes and cater to different data analysis needs, from basic statistical analysis and data visualization to advanced analytics, machine learning, and big data processing. The choice of a specific tool often depends on the nature of the data, the complexity of the analysis, and the specific requirements of the project or organization.

Also Read: How to Analyze Survey Data: Methods & Examples

Importance of Data Analysis in Research

The importance of data analysis in research cannot be overstated; it serves as the backbone of any scientific investigation or study. Here are several key reasons why data analysis is crucial in the research process:

• Data analysis helps ensure that the results obtained are valid and reliable. By systematically examining the data, researchers can identify any inconsistencies or anomalies that may affect the credibility of the findings.
• Effective data analysis provides researchers with the necessary information to make informed decisions. By interpreting the collected data, researchers can draw conclusions, make predictions, or formulate recommendations based on evidence rather than intuition or guesswork.
• Data analysis allows researchers to identify patterns, trends, and relationships within the data. This can lead to a deeper understanding of the research topic, enabling researchers to uncover insights that may not be immediately apparent.
• In empirical research, data analysis plays a critical role in testing hypotheses. Researchers collect data to either support or refute their hypotheses, and data analysis provides the tools and techniques to evaluate these hypotheses rigorously.
• Transparent and well-executed data analysis enhances the credibility of research findings. By clearly documenting the data analysis methods and procedures, researchers allow others to replicate the study, thereby contributing to the reproducibility of research findings.
• In fields such as business or healthcare, data analysis helps organizations allocate resources more efficiently. By analyzing data on consumer behavior, market trends, or patient outcomes, organizations can make strategic decisions about resource allocation, budgeting, and planning.
• In public policy and social sciences, data analysis is instrumental in developing and evaluating policies and interventions. By analyzing data on social, economic, or environmental factors, policymakers can assess the effectiveness of existing policies and inform the development of new ones.
• Data analysis allows for continuous improvement in research methods and practices. By analyzing past research projects, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing changes based on data-driven insights, researchers can refine their approaches and enhance the quality of future research endeavors.

However, it is important to remember that mastering these techniques requires practice and continuous learning. That’s why we highly recommend the Data Analytics Course by Physics Wallah . Not only does it cover all the fundamentals of data analysis, but it also provides hands-on experience with various tools such as Excel, Python, and Tableau. Plus, if you use the “ READER ” coupon code at checkout, you can get a special discount on the course.

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Data Analysis Techniques in Research FAQs

What are the 5 techniques for data analysis.

The five techniques for data analysis include: Descriptive Analysis Diagnostic Analysis Predictive Analysis Prescriptive Analysis Qualitative Analysis

What are techniques of data analysis in research?

Techniques of data analysis in research encompass both qualitative and quantitative methods. These techniques involve processes like summarizing raw data, investigating causes of events, forecasting future outcomes, offering recommendations based on predictions, and examining non-numerical data to understand concepts or experiences.

What are the 3 methods of data analysis?

The three primary methods of data analysis are: Qualitative Analysis Quantitative Analysis Mixed-Methods Analysis

What are the four types of data analysis techniques?

The four types of data analysis techniques are: Descriptive Analysis Diagnostic Analysis Predictive Analysis Prescriptive Analysis

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The 7 Most Useful Data Analysis Methods and Techniques

Data analytics is the process of analyzing raw data to draw out meaningful insights. These insights are then used to determine the best course of action.

When is the best time to roll out that marketing campaign? Is the current team structure as effective as it could be? Which customer segments are most likely to purchase your new product?

Ultimately, data analytics is a crucial driver of any successful business strategy. But how do data analysts actually turn raw data into something useful? There are a range of methods and techniques that data analysts use depending on the type of data in question and the kinds of insights they want to uncover.

You can get a hands-on introduction to data analytics in this free short course .

In this post, we’ll explore some of the most useful data analysis techniques. By the end, you’ll have a much clearer idea of how you can transform meaningless data into business intelligence. We’ll cover:

• What is data analysis and why is it important?
• What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?
• Regression analysis
• Monte Carlo simulation
• Factor analysis
• Cohort analysis
• Cluster analysis
• Time series analysis
• Sentiment analysis
• The data analysis process
• The best tools for data analysis
•  Key takeaways

The first six methods listed are used for quantitative data , while the last technique applies to qualitative data. We briefly explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative data in section two, but if you want to skip straight to a particular analysis technique, just use the clickable menu.

1. What is data analysis and why is it important?

Data analysis is, put simply, the process of discovering useful information by evaluating data. This is done through a process of inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data using analytical and statistical tools, which we will explore in detail further along in this article.

Why is data analysis important? Analyzing data effectively helps organizations make business decisions. Nowadays, data is collected by businesses constantly: through surveys, online tracking, online marketing analytics, collected subscription and registration data (think newsletters), social media monitoring, among other methods.

These data will appear as different structures, including—but not limited to—the following:

The concept of big data —data that is so large, fast, or complex, that it is difficult or impossible to process using traditional methods—gained momentum in the early 2000s. Then, Doug Laney, an industry analyst, articulated what is now known as the mainstream definition of big data as the three Vs: volume, velocity, and variety. 

• Volume: As mentioned earlier, organizations are collecting data constantly. In the not-too-distant past it would have been a real issue to store, but nowadays storage is cheap and takes up little space.
• Velocity: Received data needs to be handled in a timely manner. With the growth of the Internet of Things, this can mean these data are coming in constantly, and at an unprecedented speed.
• Variety: The data being collected and stored by organizations comes in many forms, ranging from structured data—that is, more traditional, numerical data—to unstructured data—think emails, videos, audio, and so on. We’ll cover structured and unstructured data a little further on.

This is a form of data that provides information about other data, such as an image. In everyday life you’ll find this by, for example, right-clicking on a file in a folder and selecting “Get Info”, which will show you information such as file size and kind, date of creation, and so on.

Real-time data

This is data that is presented as soon as it is acquired. A good example of this is a stock market ticket, which provides information on the most-active stocks in real time.

Machine data

This is data that is produced wholly by machines, without human instruction. An example of this could be call logs automatically generated by your smartphone.

Quantitative and qualitative data

Quantitative data—otherwise known as structured data— may appear as a “traditional” database—that is, with rows and columns. Qualitative data—otherwise known as unstructured data—are the other types of data that don’t fit into rows and columns, which can include text, images, videos and more. We’ll discuss this further in the next section.

2. What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative data?

How you analyze your data depends on the type of data you’re dealing with— quantitative or qualitative . So what’s the difference?

Quantitative data is anything measurable , comprising specific quantities and numbers. Some examples of quantitative data include sales figures, email click-through rates, number of website visitors, and percentage revenue increase. Quantitative data analysis techniques focus on the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of (usually large) datasets. This includes the manipulation of statistical data using computational techniques and algorithms. Quantitative analysis techniques are often used to explain certain phenomena or to make predictions.

Qualitative data cannot be measured objectively , and is therefore open to more subjective interpretation. Some examples of qualitative data include comments left in response to a survey question, things people have said during interviews, tweets and other social media posts, and the text included in product reviews. With qualitative data analysis, the focus is on making sense of unstructured data (such as written text, or transcripts of spoken conversations). Often, qualitative analysis will organize the data into themes—a process which, fortunately, can be automated.

Data analysts work with both quantitative and qualitative data , so it’s important to be familiar with a variety of analysis methods. Let’s take a look at some of the most useful techniques now.

3. Data analysis techniques

Now we’re familiar with some of the different types of data, let’s focus on the topic at hand: different methods for analyzing data. 

a. Regression analysis

Regression analysis is used to estimate the relationship between a set of variables. When conducting any type of regression analysis , you’re looking to see if there’s a correlation between a dependent variable (that’s the variable or outcome you want to measure or predict) and any number of independent variables (factors which may have an impact on the dependent variable). The aim of regression analysis is to estimate how one or more variables might impact the dependent variable, in order to identify trends and patterns. This is especially useful for making predictions and forecasting future trends.

Let’s imagine you work for an ecommerce company and you want to examine the relationship between: (a) how much money is spent on social media marketing, and (b) sales revenue. In this case, sales revenue is your dependent variable—it’s the factor you’re most interested in predicting and boosting. Social media spend is your independent variable; you want to determine whether or not it has an impact on sales and, ultimately, whether it’s worth increasing, decreasing, or keeping the same. Using regression analysis, you’d be able to see if there’s a relationship between the two variables. A positive correlation would imply that the more you spend on social media marketing, the more sales revenue you make. No correlation at all might suggest that social media marketing has no bearing on your sales. Understanding the relationship between these two variables would help you to make informed decisions about the social media budget going forward. However: It’s important to note that, on their own, regressions can only be used to determine whether or not there is a relationship between a set of variables—they don’t tell you anything about cause and effect. So, while a positive correlation between social media spend and sales revenue may suggest that one impacts the other, it’s impossible to draw definitive conclusions based on this analysis alone.

There are many different types of regression analysis, and the model you use depends on the type of data you have for the dependent variable. For example, your dependent variable might be continuous (i.e. something that can be measured on a continuous scale, such as sales revenue in USD), in which case you’d use a different type of regression analysis than if your dependent variable was categorical in nature (i.e. comprising values that can be categorised into a number of distinct groups based on a certain characteristic, such as customer location by continent). You can learn more about different types of dependent variables and how to choose the right regression analysis in this guide .

Regression analysis in action: Investigating the relationship between clothing brand Benetton’s advertising expenditure and sales

b. Monte Carlo simulation

When making decisions or taking certain actions, there are a range of different possible outcomes. If you take the bus, you might get stuck in traffic. If you walk, you might get caught in the rain or bump into your chatty neighbor, potentially delaying your journey. In everyday life, we tend to briefly weigh up the pros and cons before deciding which action to take; however, when the stakes are high, it’s essential to calculate, as thoroughly and accurately as possible, all the potential risks and rewards.

Monte Carlo simulation, otherwise known as the Monte Carlo method, is a computerized technique used to generate models of possible outcomes and their probability distributions. It essentially considers a range of possible outcomes and then calculates how likely it is that each particular outcome will be realized. The Monte Carlo method is used by data analysts to conduct advanced risk analysis, allowing them to better forecast what might happen in the future and make decisions accordingly.

So how does Monte Carlo simulation work, and what can it tell us? To run a Monte Carlo simulation, you’ll start with a mathematical model of your data—such as a spreadsheet. Within your spreadsheet, you’ll have one or several outputs that you’re interested in; profit, for example, or number of sales. You’ll also have a number of inputs; these are variables that may impact your output variable. If you’re looking at profit, relevant inputs might include the number of sales, total marketing spend, and employee salaries. If you knew the exact, definitive values of all your input variables, you’d quite easily be able to calculate what profit you’d be left with at the end. However, when these values are uncertain, a Monte Carlo simulation enables you to calculate all the possible options and their probabilities. What will your profit be if you make 100,000 sales and hire five new employees on a salary of $50,000 each? What is the likelihood of this outcome? What will your profit be if you only make 12,000 sales and hire five new employees? And so on. It does this by replacing all uncertain values with functions which generate random samples from distributions determined by you, and then running a series of calculations and recalculations to produce models of all the possible outcomes and their probability distributions. The Monte Carlo method is one of the most popular techniques for calculating the effect of unpredictable variables on a specific output variable, making it ideal for risk analysis.

Monte Carlo simulation in action: A case study using Monte Carlo simulation for risk analysis

 c. Factor analysis

Factor analysis is a technique used to reduce a large number of variables to a smaller number of factors. It works on the basis that multiple separate, observable variables correlate with each other because they are all associated with an underlying construct. This is useful not only because it condenses large datasets into smaller, more manageable samples, but also because it helps to uncover hidden patterns. This allows you to explore concepts that cannot be easily measured or observed—such as wealth, happiness, fitness, or, for a more business-relevant example, customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Let’s imagine you want to get to know your customers better, so you send out a rather long survey comprising one hundred questions. Some of the questions relate to how they feel about your company and product; for example, “Would you recommend us to a friend?” and “How would you rate the overall customer experience?” Other questions ask things like “What is your yearly household income?” and “How much are you willing to spend on skincare each month?”

Once your survey has been sent out and completed by lots of customers, you end up with a large dataset that essentially tells you one hundred different things about each customer (assuming each customer gives one hundred responses). Instead of looking at each of these responses (or variables) individually, you can use factor analysis to group them into factors that belong together—in other words, to relate them to a single underlying construct. In this example, factor analysis works by finding survey items that are strongly correlated. This is known as covariance . So, if there’s a strong positive correlation between household income and how much they’re willing to spend on skincare each month (i.e. as one increases, so does the other), these items may be grouped together. Together with other variables (survey responses), you may find that they can be reduced to a single factor such as “consumer purchasing power”. Likewise, if a customer experience rating of 10/10 correlates strongly with “yes” responses regarding how likely they are to recommend your product to a friend, these items may be reduced to a single factor such as “customer satisfaction”.

In the end, you have a smaller number of factors rather than hundreds of individual variables. These factors are then taken forward for further analysis, allowing you to learn more about your customers (or any other area you’re interested in exploring).

Factor analysis in action: Using factor analysis to explore customer behavior patterns in Tehran

d. Cohort analysis

Cohort analysis is a data analytics technique that groups users based on a shared characteristic , such as the date they signed up for a service or the product they purchased. Once users are grouped into cohorts, analysts can track their behavior over time to identify trends and patterns.

So what does this mean and why is it useful? Let’s break down the above definition further. A cohort is a group of people who share a common characteristic (or action) during a given time period. Students who enrolled at university in 2020 may be referred to as the 2020 cohort. Customers who purchased something from your online store via the app in the month of December may also be considered a cohort.

With cohort analysis, you’re dividing your customers or users into groups and looking at how these groups behave over time. So, rather than looking at a single, isolated snapshot of all your customers at a given moment in time (with each customer at a different point in their journey), you’re examining your customers’ behavior in the context of the customer lifecycle. As a result, you can start to identify patterns of behavior at various points in the customer journey—say, from their first ever visit to your website, through to email newsletter sign-up, to their first purchase, and so on. As such, cohort analysis is dynamic, allowing you to uncover valuable insights about the customer lifecycle.

This is useful because it allows companies to tailor their service to specific customer segments (or cohorts). Let’s imagine you run a 50% discount campaign in order to attract potential new customers to your website. Once you’ve attracted a group of new customers (a cohort), you’ll want to track whether they actually buy anything and, if they do, whether or not (and how frequently) they make a repeat purchase. With these insights, you’ll start to gain a much better understanding of when this particular cohort might benefit from another discount offer or retargeting ads on social media, for example. Ultimately, cohort analysis allows companies to optimize their service offerings (and marketing) to provide a more targeted, personalized experience. You can learn more about how to run cohort analysis using Google Analytics .

Cohort analysis in action: How Ticketmaster used cohort analysis to boost revenue

e. Cluster analysis

Cluster analysis is an exploratory technique that seeks to identify structures within a dataset. The goal of cluster analysis is to sort different data points into groups (or clusters) that are internally homogeneous and externally heterogeneous. This means that data points within a cluster are similar to each other, and dissimilar to data points in another cluster. Clustering is used to gain insight into how data is distributed in a given dataset, or as a preprocessing step for other algorithms.

There are many real-world applications of cluster analysis. In marketing, cluster analysis is commonly used to group a large customer base into distinct segments, allowing for a more targeted approach to advertising and communication. Insurance firms might use cluster analysis to investigate why certain locations are associated with a high number of insurance claims. Another common application is in geology, where experts will use cluster analysis to evaluate which cities are at greatest risk of earthquakes (and thus try to mitigate the risk with protective measures).

It’s important to note that, while cluster analysis may reveal structures within your data, it won’t explain why those structures exist. With that in mind, cluster analysis is a useful starting point for understanding your data and informing further analysis. Clustering algorithms are also used in machine learning—you can learn more about clustering in machine learning in our guide .

Cluster analysis in action: Using cluster analysis for customer segmentation—a telecoms case study example

f. Time series analysis

Time series analysis is a statistical technique used to identify trends and cycles over time. Time series data is a sequence of data points which measure the same variable at different points in time (for example, weekly sales figures or monthly email sign-ups). By looking at time-related trends, analysts are able to forecast how the variable of interest may fluctuate in the future.

When conducting time series analysis, the main patterns you’ll be looking out for in your data are:

• Trends: Stable, linear increases or decreases over an extended time period.
• Seasonality: Predictable fluctuations in the data due to seasonal factors over a short period of time. For example, you might see a peak in swimwear sales in summer around the same time every year.
• Cyclic patterns: Unpredictable cycles where the data fluctuates. Cyclical trends are not due to seasonality, but rather, may occur as a result of economic or industry-related conditions.

As you can imagine, the ability to make informed predictions about the future has immense value for business. Time series analysis and forecasting is used across a variety of industries, most commonly for stock market analysis, economic forecasting, and sales forecasting. There are different types of time series models depending on the data you’re using and the outcomes you want to predict. These models are typically classified into three broad types: the autoregressive (AR) models, the integrated (I) models, and the moving average (MA) models. For an in-depth look at time series analysis, refer to our guide .

Time series analysis in action: Developing a time series model to predict jute yarn demand in Bangladesh

g. Sentiment analysis

When you think of data, your mind probably automatically goes to numbers and spreadsheets.

Many companies overlook the value of qualitative data, but in reality, there are untold insights to be gained from what people (especially customers) write and say about you. So how do you go about analyzing textual data?

One highly useful qualitative technique is sentiment analysis , a technique which belongs to the broader category of text analysis —the (usually automated) process of sorting and understanding textual data.

With sentiment analysis, the goal is to interpret and classify the emotions conveyed within textual data. From a business perspective, this allows you to ascertain how your customers feel about various aspects of your brand, product, or service.

There are several different types of sentiment analysis models, each with a slightly different focus. The three main types include:

Fine-grained sentiment analysis

If you want to focus on opinion polarity (i.e. positive, neutral, or negative) in depth, fine-grained sentiment analysis will allow you to do so.

For example, if you wanted to interpret star ratings given by customers, you might use fine-grained sentiment analysis to categorize the various ratings along a scale ranging from very positive to very negative.

Emotion detection

This model often uses complex machine learning algorithms to pick out various emotions from your textual data.

You might use an emotion detection model to identify words associated with happiness, anger, frustration, and excitement, giving you insight into how your customers feel when writing about you or your product on, say, a product review site.

Aspect-based sentiment analysis

This type of analysis allows you to identify what specific aspects the emotions or opinions relate to, such as a certain product feature or a new ad campaign.

If a customer writes that they “find the new Instagram advert so annoying”, your model should detect not only a negative sentiment, but also the object towards which it’s directed.

In a nutshell, sentiment analysis uses various Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms and systems which are trained to associate certain inputs (for example, certain words) with certain outputs.

For example, the input “annoying” would be recognized and tagged as “negative”. Sentiment analysis is crucial to understanding how your customers feel about you and your products, for identifying areas for improvement, and even for averting PR disasters in real-time!

Sentiment analysis in action: 5 Real-world sentiment analysis case studies

4. The data analysis process

In order to gain meaningful insights from data, data analysts will perform a rigorous step-by-step process. We go over this in detail in our step by step guide to the data analysis process —but, to briefly summarize, the data analysis process generally consists of the following phases:

Defining the question

The first step for any data analyst will be to define the objective of the analysis, sometimes called a ‘problem statement’. Essentially, you’re asking a question with regards to a business problem you’re trying to solve. Once you’ve defined this, you’ll then need to determine which data sources will help you answer this question.

Collecting the data

Now that you’ve defined your objective, the next step will be to set up a strategy for collecting and aggregating the appropriate data. Will you be using quantitative (numeric) or qualitative (descriptive) data? Do these data fit into first-party, second-party, or third-party data?

Learn more: Quantitative vs. Qualitative Data: What’s the Difference? 

Cleaning the data

Unfortunately, your collected data isn’t automatically ready for analysis—you’ll have to clean it first. As a data analyst, this phase of the process will take up the most time. During the data cleaning process, you will likely be:

• Removing major errors, duplicates, and outliers
• Removing unwanted data points
• Structuring the data—that is, fixing typos, layout issues, etc.
• Filling in major gaps in data

Analyzing the data

Now that we’ve finished cleaning the data, it’s time to analyze it! Many analysis methods have already been described in this article, and it’s up to you to decide which one will best suit the assigned objective. It may fall under one of the following categories:

• Descriptive analysis , which identifies what has already happened
• Diagnostic analysis , which focuses on understanding why something has happened
• Predictive analysis , which identifies future trends based on historical data
• Prescriptive analysis , which allows you to make recommendations for the future

Visualizing and sharing your findings

We’re almost at the end of the road! Analyses have been made, insights have been gleaned—all that remains to be done is to share this information with others. This is usually done with a data visualization tool, such as Google Charts, or Tableau.

Learn more: 13 of the Most Common Types of Data Visualization

To sum up the process, Will’s explained it all excellently in the following video:

5. The best tools for data analysis

As you can imagine, every phase of the data analysis process requires the data analyst to have a variety of tools under their belt that assist in gaining valuable insights from data. We cover these tools in greater detail in this article , but, in summary, here’s our best-of-the-best list, with links to each product:

The top 9 tools for data analysts

• Microsoft Excel
• Jupyter Notebook
• Apache Spark
• Microsoft Power BI

6. Key takeaways and further reading

As you can see, there are many different data analysis techniques at your disposal. In order to turn your raw data into actionable insights, it’s important to consider what kind of data you have (is it qualitative or quantitative?) as well as the kinds of insights that will be useful within the given context. In this post, we’ve introduced seven of the most useful data analysis techniques—but there are many more out there to be discovered!

So what now? If you haven’t already, we recommend reading the case studies for each analysis technique discussed in this post (you’ll find a link at the end of each section). For a more hands-on introduction to the kinds of methods and techniques that data analysts use, try out this free introductory data analytics short course. In the meantime, you might also want to read the following:

• The Best Online Data Analytics Courses for 2024
• What Is Time Series Data and How Is It Analyzed?
• What is Spatial Analysis?

• Privacy Policy

Home » Data Analysis – Process, Methods and Types

Data Analysis – Process, Methods and Types

Table of Contents

Data Analysis

Definition:

Data analysis refers to the process of inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, drawing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. It involves applying various statistical and computational techniques to interpret and derive insights from large datasets. The ultimate aim of data analysis is to convert raw data into actionable insights that can inform business decisions, scientific research, and other endeavors.

Data Analysis Process

The following are step-by-step guides to the data analysis process:

Define the Problem

The first step in data analysis is to clearly define the problem or question that needs to be answered. This involves identifying the purpose of the analysis, the data required, and the intended outcome.

Collect the Data

The next step is to collect the relevant data from various sources. This may involve collecting data from surveys, databases, or other sources. It is important to ensure that the data collected is accurate, complete, and relevant to the problem being analyzed.

Clean and Organize the Data

Once the data has been collected, it needs to be cleaned and organized. This involves removing any errors or inconsistencies in the data, filling in missing values, and ensuring that the data is in a format that can be easily analyzed.

Analyze the Data

The next step is to analyze the data using various statistical and analytical techniques. This may involve identifying patterns in the data, conducting statistical tests, or using machine learning algorithms to identify trends and insights.

Interpret the Results

After analyzing the data, the next step is to interpret the results. This involves drawing conclusions based on the analysis and identifying any significant findings or trends.

Communicate the Findings

Once the results have been interpreted, they need to be communicated to stakeholders. This may involve creating reports, visualizations, or presentations to effectively communicate the findings and recommendations.

Take Action

The final step in the data analysis process is to take action based on the findings. This may involve implementing new policies or procedures, making strategic decisions, or taking other actions based on the insights gained from the analysis.

Types of Data Analysis

Types of Data Analysis are as follows:

Descriptive Analysis

This type of analysis involves summarizing and describing the main characteristics of a dataset, such as the mean, median, mode, standard deviation, and range.

Inferential Analysis

This type of analysis involves making inferences about a population based on a sample. Inferential analysis can help determine whether a certain relationship or pattern observed in a sample is likely to be present in the entire population.

Diagnostic Analysis

This type of analysis involves identifying and diagnosing problems or issues within a dataset. Diagnostic analysis can help identify outliers, errors, missing data, or other anomalies in the dataset.

Predictive Analysis

This type of analysis involves using statistical models and algorithms to predict future outcomes or trends based on historical data. Predictive analysis can help businesses and organizations make informed decisions about the future.

Prescriptive Analysis

This type of analysis involves recommending a course of action based on the results of previous analyses. Prescriptive analysis can help organizations make data-driven decisions about how to optimize their operations, products, or services.

Exploratory Analysis

This type of analysis involves exploring the relationships and patterns within a dataset to identify new insights and trends. Exploratory analysis is often used in the early stages of research or data analysis to generate hypotheses and identify areas for further investigation.

Data Analysis Methods

Data Analysis Methods are as follows:

Statistical Analysis

This method involves the use of mathematical models and statistical tools to analyze and interpret data. It includes measures of central tendency, correlation analysis, regression analysis, hypothesis testing, and more.

Machine Learning

This method involves the use of algorithms to identify patterns and relationships in data. It includes supervised and unsupervised learning, classification, clustering, and predictive modeling.

Data Mining

This method involves using statistical and machine learning techniques to extract information and insights from large and complex datasets.

Text Analysis

This method involves using natural language processing (NLP) techniques to analyze and interpret text data. It includes sentiment analysis, topic modeling, and entity recognition.

Network Analysis

This method involves analyzing the relationships and connections between entities in a network, such as social networks or computer networks. It includes social network analysis and graph theory.

Time Series Analysis

This method involves analyzing data collected over time to identify patterns and trends. It includes forecasting, decomposition, and smoothing techniques.

Spatial Analysis

This method involves analyzing geographic data to identify spatial patterns and relationships. It includes spatial statistics, spatial regression, and geospatial data visualization.

Data Visualization

This method involves using graphs, charts, and other visual representations to help communicate the findings of the analysis. It includes scatter plots, bar charts, heat maps, and interactive dashboards.

Qualitative Analysis

This method involves analyzing non-numeric data such as interviews, observations, and open-ended survey responses. It includes thematic analysis, content analysis, and grounded theory.

Multi-criteria Decision Analysis

This method involves analyzing multiple criteria and objectives to support decision-making. It includes techniques such as the analytical hierarchy process, TOPSIS, and ELECTRE.

Data Analysis Tools

There are various data analysis tools available that can help with different aspects of data analysis. Below is a list of some commonly used data analysis tools:

• Microsoft Excel: A widely used spreadsheet program that allows for data organization, analysis, and visualization.
• SQL : A programming language used to manage and manipulate relational databases.
• R : An open-source programming language and software environment for statistical computing and graphics.
• Python : A general-purpose programming language that is widely used in data analysis and machine learning.
• Tableau : A data visualization software that allows for interactive and dynamic visualizations of data.
• SAS : A statistical analysis software used for data management, analysis, and reporting.
• SPSS : A statistical analysis software used for data analysis, reporting, and modeling.
• Matlab : A numerical computing software that is widely used in scientific research and engineering.
• RapidMiner : A data science platform that offers a wide range of data analysis and machine learning tools.

Applications of Data Analysis

Data analysis has numerous applications across various fields. Below are some examples of how data analysis is used in different fields:

• Business : Data analysis is used to gain insights into customer behavior, market trends, and financial performance. This includes customer segmentation, sales forecasting, and market research.
• Healthcare : Data analysis is used to identify patterns and trends in patient data, improve patient outcomes, and optimize healthcare operations. This includes clinical decision support, disease surveillance, and healthcare cost analysis.
• Education : Data analysis is used to measure student performance, evaluate teaching effectiveness, and improve educational programs. This includes assessment analytics, learning analytics, and program evaluation.
• Finance : Data analysis is used to monitor and evaluate financial performance, identify risks, and make investment decisions. This includes risk management, portfolio optimization, and fraud detection.
• Government : Data analysis is used to inform policy-making, improve public services, and enhance public safety. This includes crime analysis, disaster response planning, and social welfare program evaluation.
• Sports : Data analysis is used to gain insights into athlete performance, improve team strategy, and enhance fan engagement. This includes player evaluation, scouting analysis, and game strategy optimization.
• Marketing : Data analysis is used to measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, understand customer behavior, and develop targeted marketing strategies. This includes customer segmentation, marketing attribution analysis, and social media analytics.
• Environmental science : Data analysis is used to monitor and evaluate environmental conditions, assess the impact of human activities on the environment, and develop environmental policies. This includes climate modeling, ecological forecasting, and pollution monitoring.

When to Use Data Analysis

Data analysis is useful when you need to extract meaningful insights and information from large and complex datasets. It is a crucial step in the decision-making process, as it helps you understand the underlying patterns and relationships within the data, and identify potential areas for improvement or opportunities for growth.

Here are some specific scenarios where data analysis can be particularly helpful:

• Problem-solving : When you encounter a problem or challenge, data analysis can help you identify the root cause and develop effective solutions.
• Optimization : Data analysis can help you optimize processes, products, or services to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve overall performance.
• Prediction: Data analysis can help you make predictions about future trends or outcomes, which can inform strategic planning and decision-making.
• Performance evaluation : Data analysis can help you evaluate the performance of a process, product, or service to identify areas for improvement and potential opportunities for growth.
• Risk assessment : Data analysis can help you assess and mitigate risks, whether it is financial, operational, or related to safety.
• Market research : Data analysis can help you understand customer behavior and preferences, identify market trends, and develop effective marketing strategies.
• Quality control: Data analysis can help you ensure product quality and customer satisfaction by identifying and addressing quality issues.

Purpose of Data Analysis

The primary purposes of data analysis can be summarized as follows:

• To gain insights: Data analysis allows you to identify patterns and trends in data, which can provide valuable insights into the underlying factors that influence a particular phenomenon or process.
• To inform decision-making: Data analysis can help you make informed decisions based on the information that is available. By analyzing data, you can identify potential risks, opportunities, and solutions to problems.
• To improve performance: Data analysis can help you optimize processes, products, or services by identifying areas for improvement and potential opportunities for growth.
• To measure progress: Data analysis can help you measure progress towards a specific goal or objective, allowing you to track performance over time and adjust your strategies accordingly.
• To identify new opportunities: Data analysis can help you identify new opportunities for growth and innovation by identifying patterns and trends that may not have been visible before.

Examples of Data Analysis

Some Examples of Data Analysis are as follows:

• Social Media Monitoring: Companies use data analysis to monitor social media activity in real-time to understand their brand reputation, identify potential customer issues, and track competitors. By analyzing social media data, businesses can make informed decisions on product development, marketing strategies, and customer service.
• Financial Trading: Financial traders use data analysis to make real-time decisions about buying and selling stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments. By analyzing real-time market data, traders can identify trends and patterns that help them make informed investment decisions.
• Traffic Monitoring : Cities use data analysis to monitor traffic patterns and make real-time decisions about traffic management. By analyzing data from traffic cameras, sensors, and other sources, cities can identify congestion hotspots and make changes to improve traffic flow.
• Healthcare Monitoring: Healthcare providers use data analysis to monitor patient health in real-time. By analyzing data from wearable devices, electronic health records, and other sources, healthcare providers can identify potential health issues and provide timely interventions.
• Online Advertising: Online advertisers use data analysis to make real-time decisions about advertising campaigns. By analyzing data on user behavior and ad performance, advertisers can make adjustments to their campaigns to improve their effectiveness.
• Sports Analysis : Sports teams use data analysis to make real-time decisions about strategy and player performance. By analyzing data on player movement, ball position, and other variables, coaches can make informed decisions about substitutions, game strategy, and training regimens.
• Energy Management : Energy companies use data analysis to monitor energy consumption in real-time. By analyzing data on energy usage patterns, companies can identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency.

Characteristics of Data Analysis

Characteristics of Data Analysis are as follows:

• Objective : Data analysis should be objective and based on empirical evidence, rather than subjective assumptions or opinions.
• Systematic : Data analysis should follow a systematic approach, using established methods and procedures for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data.
• Accurate : Data analysis should produce accurate results, free from errors and bias. Data should be validated and verified to ensure its quality.
• Relevant : Data analysis should be relevant to the research question or problem being addressed. It should focus on the data that is most useful for answering the research question or solving the problem.
• Comprehensive : Data analysis should be comprehensive and consider all relevant factors that may affect the research question or problem.
• Timely : Data analysis should be conducted in a timely manner, so that the results are available when they are needed.
• Reproducible : Data analysis should be reproducible, meaning that other researchers should be able to replicate the analysis using the same data and methods.
• Communicable : Data analysis should be communicated clearly and effectively to stakeholders and other interested parties. The results should be presented in a way that is understandable and useful for decision-making.

Advantages of Data Analysis

Advantages of Data Analysis are as follows:

• Better decision-making: Data analysis helps in making informed decisions based on facts and evidence, rather than intuition or guesswork.
• Improved efficiency: Data analysis can identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks in business processes, allowing organizations to optimize their operations and reduce costs.
• Increased accuracy: Data analysis helps to reduce errors and bias, providing more accurate and reliable information.
• Better customer service: Data analysis can help organizations understand their customers better, allowing them to provide better customer service and improve customer satisfaction.
• Competitive advantage: Data analysis can provide organizations with insights into their competitors, allowing them to identify areas where they can gain a competitive advantage.
• Identification of trends and patterns : Data analysis can identify trends and patterns in data that may not be immediately apparent, helping organizations to make predictions and plan for the future.
• Improved risk management : Data analysis can help organizations identify potential risks and take proactive steps to mitigate them.
• Innovation: Data analysis can inspire innovation and new ideas by revealing new opportunities or previously unknown correlations in data.

Limitations of Data Analysis

• Data quality: The quality of data can impact the accuracy and reliability of analysis results. If data is incomplete, inconsistent, or outdated, the analysis may not provide meaningful insights.
• Limited scope: Data analysis is limited by the scope of the data available. If data is incomplete or does not capture all relevant factors, the analysis may not provide a complete picture.
• Human error : Data analysis is often conducted by humans, and errors can occur in data collection, cleaning, and analysis.
• Cost : Data analysis can be expensive, requiring specialized tools, software, and expertise.
• Time-consuming : Data analysis can be time-consuming, especially when working with large datasets or conducting complex analyses.
• Overreliance on data: Data analysis should be complemented with human intuition and expertise. Overreliance on data can lead to a lack of creativity and innovation.
• Privacy concerns: Data analysis can raise privacy concerns if personal or sensitive information is used without proper consent or security measures.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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8 quantitative data analysis methods to turn numbers into insights

Setting up a few new customer surveys or creating a fresh Google Analytics dashboard feels exciting…until the numbers start rolling in. You want to turn responses into a plan to present to your team and leaders—but which quantitative data analysis method do you use to make sense of the facts and figures?

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This guide lists eight quantitative research data analysis techniques to help you turn numeric feedback into actionable insights to share with your team and make customer-centric decisions. 

To pick the right technique that helps you bridge the gap between data and decision-making, you first need to collect quantitative data from sources like:

Google Analytics  

Survey results

On-page feedback scores

Fuel your quantitative analysis with real-time data

Use Hotjar’s tools to collect quantitative data that helps you stay close to customers.

Then, choose an analysis method based on the type of data and how you want to use it.

Descriptive data analysis summarizes results—like measuring website traffic—that help you learn about a problem or opportunity. The descriptive analysis methods we’ll review are:

Multiple choice response rates

Response volume over time

Net Promoter Score®

Inferential data analyzes the relationship between data—like which customer segment has the highest average order value—to help you make hypotheses about product decisions. Inferential analysis methods include:

Cross-tabulation

Weighted customer feedback

You don’t need to worry too much about these specific terms since each quantitative data analysis method listed below explains when and how to use them. Let’s dive in!

1. Compare multiple-choice response rates 

The simplest way to analyze survey data is by comparing the percentage of your users who chose each response, which summarizes opinions within your audience. 

To do this, divide the number of people who chose a specific response by the total respondents for your multiple-choice survey. Imagine 100 customers respond to a survey about what product category they want to see. If 25 people said ‘snacks’, 25% of your audience favors that category, so you know that adding a snacks category to your list of filters or drop-down menu will make the purchasing process easier for them.

💡Pro tip: ask open-ended survey questions to dig deeper into customer motivations.

A multiple-choice survey measures your audience’s opinions, but numbers don’t tell you why they think the way they do—you need to combine quantitative and qualitative data to learn that. 

One research method to learn about customer motivations is through an open-ended survey question. Giving customers space to express their thoughts in their own words—unrestricted by your pre-written multiple-choice questions—prevents you from making assumptions.

Hotjar’s open-ended surveys have a text box for customers to type a response

2. Cross-tabulate to compare responses between groups

To understand how responses and behavior vary within your audience, compare your quantitative data by group. Use raw numbers, like the number of website visitors, or percentages, like questionnaire responses, across categories like traffic sources or customer segments.

Let’s say you ask your audience what their most-used feature is because you want to know what to highlight on your pricing page. Comparing the most common response for free trial users vs. established customers lets you strategically introduce features at the right point in the customer journey . 

💡Pro tip: get some face-to-face time to discover nuances in customer feedback.

Rather than treating your customers as a monolith, use Hotjar to conduct interviews to learn about individuals and subgroups. If you aren’t sure what to ask, start with your quantitative data results. If you notice competing trends between customer segments, have a few conversations with individuals from each group to dig into their unique motivations.

Hotjar Engage lets you identify specific customer segments you want to talk to

Mode is the most common answer in a data set, which means you use it to discover the most popular response for questions with numeric answer options. Mode and median (that's next on the list) are useful to compare to the average in case responses on extreme ends of the scale (outliers) skew the outcome.

Let’s say you want to know how most customers feel about your website, so you use an on-page feedback widget to collect ratings on a scale of one to five.

If the mode, or most common response, is a three, you can assume most people feel somewhat positive. But suppose the second-most common response is a one (which would bring the average down). In that case, you need to investigate why so many customers are unhappy. 

💡Pro tip: watch recordings to understand how customers interact with your website.

So you used on-page feedback to learn how customers feel about your website, and the mode was two out of five. Ouch. Use Hotjar Recordings to see how customers move around on and interact with your pages to find the source of frustration.

Hotjar Recordings lets you watch individual visitors interact with your site, like how they scroll, hover, and click

Median reveals the middle of the road of your quantitative data by lining up all numeric values in ascending order and then looking at the data point in the middle. Use the median method when you notice a few outliers that bring the average up or down and compare the analysis outcomes.

For example, if your price sensitivity survey has outlandish responses and you want to identify a reasonable middle ground of what customers are willing to pay—calculate the median.

💡Pro-tip: review and clean your data before analysis. 

Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with quantitative data results before you push them through analysis methods. Inaccurate or missing information can complicate your calculations, and it’s less frustrating to resolve issues at the start instead of problem-solving later. 

Here are a few data-cleaning tips to keep in mind:

Remove or separate irrelevant data, like responses from a customer segment or time frame you aren’t reviewing right now 

Standardize data from multiple sources, like a survey that let customers indicate they use your product ‘daily’ vs. on-page feedback that used the phrasing ‘more than once a week’

Acknowledge missing data, like some customers not answering every question. Just note that your totals between research questions might not match.

Ensure you have enough responses to have a statistically significant result

Decide if you want to keep or remove outlying data. For example, maybe there’s evidence to support a high-price tier, and you shouldn’t dismiss less price-sensitive respondents. Other times, you might want to get rid of obviously trolling responses.

5. Mean (AKA average)

Finding the average of a dataset is an essential quantitative data analysis method and an easy task. First, add all your quantitative data points, like numeric survey responses or daily sales revenue. Then, divide the sum of your data points by the number of responses to get a single number representing the entire dataset. 

Use the average of your quant data when you want a summary, like the average order value of your transactions between different sales pages. Then, use your average to benchmark performance, compare over time, or uncover winners across segments—like which sales page design produces the most value.

💡Pro tip: use heatmaps to find attention-catching details numbers can’t give you.

Calculating the average of your quant data set reveals the outcome of customer interactions. However, you need qualitative data like a heatmap to learn about everything that led to that moment. A heatmap uses colors to illustrate where most customers look and click on a page to reveal what drives (or drops) momentum.

Hotjar Heatmaps uses color to visualize what most visitors see, ignore, and click on

6. Measure the volume of responses over time

Some quantitative data analysis methods are an ongoing project, like comparing top website referral sources by month to gauge the effectiveness of new channels. Analyzing the same metric at regular intervals lets you compare trends and changes. 

Look at quantitative survey results, website sessions, sales, cart abandons, or clicks regularly to spot trouble early or monitor the impact of a new initiative.

Here are a few areas you can measure over time (and how to use qualitative research methods listed above to add context to your results):

7. Net Promoter Score®

Net Promoter Score® ( NPS ®) is a popular customer loyalty and satisfaction measurement that also serves as a quantitative data analysis method. 

NPS surveys ask customers to rate how likely they are to recommend you on a scale of zero to ten. Calculate it by subtracting the percentage of customers who answer the NPS question with a six or lower (known as ‘detractors’) from those who respond with a nine or ten (known as ‘promoters’). Your NPS score will fall between -100 and 100, and you want a positive number indicating more promoters than detractors. 

💡Pro tip : like other quantitative data analysis methods, you can review NPS scores over time as a satisfaction benchmark. You can also use it to understand which customer segment is most satisfied or which customers may be willing to share their stories for promotional materials.

Review NPS score trends with Hotjar to spot any sudden spikes and benchmark performance over time

8. Weight customer feedback 

So far, the quantitative data analysis methods on this list have leveraged numeric data only. However, there are ways to turn qualitative data into quantifiable feedback and to mix and match data sources. For example, you might need to analyze user feedback from multiple surveys.

To leverage multiple data points, create a prioritization matrix that assigns ‘weight’ to customer feedback data and company priorities and then multiply them to reveal the highest-scoring option. 

Let’s say you identify the top four responses to your churn survey . Rate the most common issue as a four and work down the list until one—these are your customer priorities. Then, rate the ease of fixing each problem with a maximum score of four for the easy wins down to one for difficult tasks—these are your company priorities. Finally, multiply the score of each customer priority with its coordinating company priority scores and lead with the highest scoring idea. 

💡Pro-tip: use a product prioritization framework to make decisions.

Try a product prioritization framework when the pressure is on to make high-impact decisions with limited time and budget. These repeatable decision-making tools take the guesswork out of balancing goals, customer priorities, and team resources. Four popular frameworks are:

RICE: weighs four factors—reach, impact, confidence, and effort—to weigh initiatives differently

MoSCoW: considers stakeholder opinions on 'must-have', 'should-have', 'could-have', and 'won't-have' criteria

Kano: ranks ideas based on how likely they are to satisfy customer needs

Cost of delay analysis: determines potential revenue loss by not working on a product or initiative

Share what you learn with data visuals

Data visualization through charts and graphs gives you a new perspective on your results. Plus, removing the clutter of the analysis process helps you and stakeholders focus on the insight over the method.

Data visualization helps you:

Get buy-in with impactful charts that summarize your results

Increase customer empathy and awareness across your company with digestible insights

Use these four data visualization types to illustrate what you learned from your quantitative data analysis: 

Bar charts reveal response distribution across multiple options

Line graphs compare data points over time

Scatter plots showcase how two variables interact

Matrices contrast data between categories like customer segments, product types, or traffic source

Use a variety of customer feedback types to get the whole picture

Quantitative data analysis pulls the story out of raw numbers—but you shouldn’t take a single result from your data collection and run with it. Instead, combine numbers-based quantitative data with descriptive qualitative research to learn the what, why, and how of customer experiences. 

Looking at an opportunity from multiple angles helps you make more customer-centric decisions with less guesswork.

Stay close to customers with Hotjar

Hotjar’s tools offer quantitative and qualitative insights you can use to make customer-centric decisions, get buy-in, and highlight your team’s impact.

Frequently asked questions about quantitative data analysis

What is quantitative data.

Quantitative data is numeric feedback and information that you can count and measure. For example, you can calculate multiple-choice response rates, but you can’t tally a customer’s open-ended product feedback response. You have to use qualitative data analysis methods for non-numeric feedback.

What are quantitative data analysis methods?

Quantitative data analysis either summarizes or finds connections between numerical data feedback. Here are eight ways to analyze your online business’s quantitative data:

Compare multiple-choice response rates

Cross-tabulate to compare responses between groups

Measure the volume of response over time

Net Promoter Score

Weight customer feedback

How do you visualize quantitative data?

Data visualization makes it easier to spot trends and share your analysis with stakeholders. Bar charts, line graphs, scatter plots, and matrices are ways to visualize quantitative data.

What are the two types of statistical analysis for online businesses?

Quantitative data analysis is broken down into two analysis technique types:

Descriptive statistics summarize your collected data, like the number of website visitors this month

Inferential statistics compare relationships between multiple types of quantitative data, like survey responses between different customer segments

Quantitative data analysis process

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Data Analysis: Techniques, Tools, and Processes

Big or small, companies now expect their decisions to be data-driven. The world is growing and relying more on data. There is a greater need for professionals who know data analysis techniques.

Data analysis is a valuable skill that empowers you to make better decisions. This skill serves as a powerful catalyst in your professional and personal life. From personal budgeting to analyzing customer experiences , data analysis is the stepping stone to your career advancement.

So, whether you’re looking to upskill at work or kickstart a career in data analytics, this article is for you. We will discuss the best data analysis techniques in detail. To put all that into perspective, we’ll also discuss the step-by-step data analysis process. 

Let’s begin.

What is Data Analysis?

Data analysis is collecting, cleansing, analyzing, presenting, and interpreting data to derive insights. This process aids decision-making by providing helpful insights and statistics. 

The history of data analysis dates back to the 1640s. John Grant, a hatmaker, started collecting the number of deaths in London. He was the first person to use data analysis to solve a problem. Also, Florence Nightingale, best known as a nurse from 1854, made significant contributions to medicine through data analysis, particularly in public health and sanitation.

This simple practice of data analysis has evolved and broadened over time. “ Data analytics ” is the bigger picture. It employs data, tools, and techniques (covered later in this article) to discover new insights and make predictions.  

Why is Data Analysis so Important Now?

How do businesses make better decisions, analyze trends, or invent better products and services ?

The simple answer: Data Analysis. The distinct methods of analysis reveal insights that would otherwise get lost in the mass of information. Big data analytics is getting even more prominent owing to the below reasons.

1. Informed Decision-making

The modern business world relies on facts rather than intuition. Data analysis serves as the foundation of informed decision-making. 

Consider the role of data analysis in UX design , specifically when dealing with non-numerical, subjective information. Qualitative research delves into the 'why' and 'how' behind user behavior , revealing nuanced insights. It provides a foundation for making well-informed decisions regarding color , layout, and typography . Applying these insights allows you to create visuals that deeply resonate with your target audience.

2. Better Customer Targeting and Predictive Capabilities

Data has become the lifeblood of successful marketing . Organizations rely on data science techniques to create targeted strategies and marketing campaigns. 

Big data analytics helps uncover deep insights about consumer behavior. For instance, Google collects and analyzes many different data types. It examines search history, geography, and trending topics to deduce what consumers want.

3. Improved Operational Efficiencies and Reduced Costs

Data analytics also brings the advantage of streamlining operations and reducing organizational costs. It makes it easier for businesses to identify bottlenecks and improvement opportunities. This enables them to optimize resource allocation and ultimately reduce costs.

Procter & Gamble (P&G) , a leading company, uses data analytics to optimize their supply chain and inventory management. Data analytics helps the company reduce excess inventory and stockouts, achieving cost savings.  

4. Better Customer Satisfaction and Retention

Customer behavior patterns enable you to understand how they feel about your products, services, and brand. Also, different data analysis models help uncover future trends. These trends allow you to personalize the customer experience and improve satisfaction.

The eCommerce giant Amazon learns from what each customer wants and likes. It then recommends the same or similar products when they return to the shopping app. Data analysis helps create personalized experiences for Amazon customers and improves user experience . 

Enhance your knowledge by understanding “when” and “why” to use data analytics.

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Types of Data Analysis Methods

“We are surrounded by data, but starved for insights.” — Jay Baer, Customer Experience Expert & Speaker

The above quote summarizes that strategic analysis must support data to produce meaningful insights. 

Before discussing the top data analytics techniques , let’s first understand the two types of data analysis methods.

1. Quantitative Data Analysis

As the name suggests, quantitative analysis involves looking at the complex data, the actual numbers, or the rows and columns. Let’s understand this with the help of a scenario.

Your e-commerce company wants to assess the sales team’s performance. You gather quantitative data on various key performance indicators (KPIs). These KPIs include

The number of units sold.

Sales revenue.

Conversion rates.

Customer acquisition costs.

By analyzing these numeric data points, the company can calculate:

Monthly sales growth.

Average order value.

Return on investment (ROI) for each sales representative.

How does it help?

The quantitative analysis can help you identify:

Top-performing sales reps

Best-selling products. 

Most cost-effective customer acquisition channels.

The above metrics help the company make data-driven decisions and improve its sales strategy.

2. Qualitative Data Analysis

There are situations where numbers in rows and columns are impossible to fit. This is where qualitative research can help you understand the data’s underlying factors, patterns, and meanings via non-numerical means. Let’s take an example to understand this.

Imagine you’re a product manager for an online shopping app. You want to improve the app’s user experience and boost user engagement. You have quantitative data that tells you what's going on but not why . Here’s what to do:

Collect customer feedback through interviews, open-ended questions, and online reviews. 

Conduct in-depth interviews to explore their experiences. 

Watch this instructional video to elevate your interview preparation to a more professional level.

By reading and summarizing the comments, you can identify issues, sentiments, and areas that need improvement. This qualitative insight can guide you to identify and work on areas of frustration or confusion. 

Learn more about quantitative and qualitative user research in this video.

10 Best Data Analysis and Modeling Techniques

We generate over 120 zettabytes daily. That’s about 120 billion copies of the entire Internet in 2020, daily . Without the best data analysis techniques, businesses of all sizes will never be able to collect, analyze, and interpret data into real, actionable insights .  

Now that you have an overarching picture of data analysis , let’s move on to the nitty-gritty: top data analysis methods .

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Quantitative Methods

1. cluster analysis.

Also called segmentation or taxonomy analysis, this method identifies structures within a dataset. It’s like sorting objects into different boxes (clusters) based on their similarities. The data points within a similar group are similar to each other (homogeneous). Likewise, they’re dissimilar to data points in another cluster(heterogeneous).  

Cluster analysis aims to find hidden patterns in the data. It can be your go-to approach if you require additional context to a trend or dataset.

Let’s say you own a retail store. You want to understand your customers better to tailor your marketing strategies. You collect customer data, including their shopping behavior and preferences. 

Here, cluster analysis can help you group customers with similar behaviors and preferences. Customers who visit your store frequently and shop a lot may form one cluster. Customers who shop infrequently and spend less may form another cluster.

With the help of cluster analysis, you can target your marketing efforts more efficiently.

2. Regression Analysis

Regression analysis is a powerful data analysis technique. It is quite popular in economics, biology, biology, and psychology. This technique helps you understand how one thing (or more) influences another. 

Suppose you’re a manager trying to predict next month’s sales. Many factors, like the weather, promotions, or the buzz about a better product, can affect these figures.

In addition, some people in your organization might have their own theory on what might impact sales the most. For instance, one colleague might confidently say, “When winter starts, our sales go up.” And another insists, “Sales will spike two weeks after we launch a promotion.”

All the above factors are “variables.” Now, the “dependent variable” will always be the factor being measured. In our example—the monthly sales. 

Next, you have your independent variables. These are the factors that might impact your dependent variable.

Regression analysis can mathematically sort out which variables have an impact. This statistical analysis identifies trends and patterns to make predictions and forecast possible future directions. 

There are many types of regression analysis, including linear regression, non-linear regression, binary logistic regression, and more. The model you choose will highly depend upon the type of data you have

3. Monte Carlo Simulation

This mathematical technique is an excellent way to estimate an uncertain event’s possible outcomes. Interestingly, the method derives its name from the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco. The casino is famous for its games of chance. 

Let’s say you want to know how much money you might make from your investments in the stock market. So, you make thousands of guesses instead of one guess. Then, you consider several scenarios . The scenarios can be a growing economy or an unprecedented catastrophe like Covid-19. 

The idea is to test many random situations to estimate the potential outcomes.

4. Time Series Analysis

The time series method analyzes data collected over time. You can identify trends and cycles over time with this technique. Here, one data set recorded at different intervals helps understand patterns and make forecasts. 

Industries like finance, retail, and economics leverage time-series analysis to predict trends. It is so because they deal with ever-changing currency exchange rates and sales data. 

Using time series analysis in the stock market is an excellent example of this technique in action. Many stocks exhibit recurring patterns in their underlying businesses due to seasonality or cyclicality. Time series analysis can uncover these patterns. Hence, investors can take advantage of seasonal trading opportunities or adjust their portfolios accordingly.

Time series analysis is part of predictive analytics . It can show likely changes in the data to provide a better understanding of data variables and better forecasting. 

5. Cohort Analysis

Cohort analysis also involves breaking down datasets into relative groups (or cohorts), like cluster analysis. However, in this method, you focus on studying the behavior of specific groups over time. This aims to understand different groups’ performance within a larger population.

This technique is popular amongst marketing, product development, and user experience research teams. 

Let’s say you’re an app developer and want to understand user engagement over time. Using this method, you define cohorts based on a familiar identifier. This identifier can be the demographics, app download date, or users making an in-app purchase. In this way, your cohort represents a group of users who had a similar starting point. 

With the data in hand, you analyze how each cohort behaves over time. Do users from the US use your app more frequently than people in the UK? Are there any in-app purchases from a specific cohort?

This iterative approach can reveal insights to refine your marketing strategies and improve user engagement. 

Qualitative Methods

6. content analysis.

When you think of “data” or “analysis,” do you think of text, audio, video, or images? Probably not, but these forms of communication are an excellent way to uncover patterns, themes, and insights. 

Widely used in marketing, content analysis can reveal public sentiment about a product or brand. For instance, analyzing customer reviews and social media mentions can help brands discover hidden insights. 

There are two further categories in this method:

Conceptual analysis: It focuses on explicit data. For example, the number of times a word repeats in a content. 

Relational analysis: It examines the relationship between different concepts or words and how they connect. It's not about counting but about understanding how things fit together. A user experience technique called card sorting can help with this.

This technique involves counting and measuring the frequency of categorical data. It also studies the meaning and context of the content. This is why content analysis can be both quantitative and qualitative. 

7. Sentiment Analysis

Also known as opinion mining, this technique is a valuable business intelligence tool. It can assist you to enhance your products and services. The modern business landscape has substantial textual data, including emails, social media comments, website chats, and reviews. You often need to know whether this text data conveys a positive, negative, or neutral sentiment.

Sentiment Analysis tools help scan this text to determine the emotional tone of the message automatically. The insights from sentiment analysis are highly helpful in improving customer service and elevating brand reputation.

8. Thematic Analysis

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a UX researcher , or a customer relationship manager— thematic analysis can help you better understand user behaviors and needs. 

The thematic technique analyzes large chunks of text data such as transcripts or interviews. It then groups them into themes or categories that come up frequently within the text. While this may sound similar to content analysis, it’s worth noting that the thematic method purely uses qualitative data. 

Moreover, it is a very subjective technique since it depends upon the researcher’s experience to derive insights. 

9. Grounded Theory Analysis

Think of grounded theory as something you, as a researcher, might do. Instead of starting with a hypothesis and trying to prove or disprove it, you gather information and construct a theory as you go along.

It's like a continuous loop. You collect and examine data and then create a theory based on your discovery. You keep repeating this process until you've squeezed out all the insights possible from the data. This method allows theories to emerge naturally from the information, making it a flexible and open way to explore new ideas.

Grounded theory is the basis of a popular user-experience research technique called contextual enquiry .

10. Discourse Analysis

Discourse analysis is popular in linguistics, sociology, and communication studies. It aims to understand the meaning behind written texts, spoken conversations, or visual and multimedia communication. It seeks to uncover:

How individuals structure a specific language

What lies behind it; and 

How social and cultural practices influence it

For instance, as a social media manager, if you analyze social media posts, you go beyond the text itself. You would consider the emojis, hashtags, and even the timing of the posts. You might find that a particular hashtag is used to mobilize a social movement. 

The Data Analysis Process: Step-by-Step Guide

You must follow a step-by-step data analytics process to derive meaningful conclusions from your data. Here is a rundown of five main data analysis steps :

1. Problem Identification

The first step in the data analysis process is “identification.” What problem are you trying to solve? In other words, what research question do you want to address with your data analysis?

Let’s say you’re an analyst working for an e-commerce company. There has been a recent decline in sales. Now, the company wants to understand why this is happening. Our problem statement is to find the reason for the decline in sales. 

2. Data Collection

The next step is to collect data. You can do this through various internal and external sources. For example, surveys , questionnaires, focus groups , interviews , etc.

Delve deeper into the intricacies of data collection with Ann Blandford in this video:

The key here is to collect and aggregate the appropriate statistical data. By “appropriate,” we mean the data that could help you understand the problem and build a forecasting model. The data can be quantitative (sales figures) or qualitative (customer reviews). 

All types of data can fit into one of three categories:

First-party data : Data that you, or your company, can collect directly from customers.

Second-party data : The first-party data of other organizations. For instance, sales figures of your competition company. 

Third-party data : Data that a third-party organization can collect and aggregate from numerous sources. For instance, government portals or open data repositories. 

3. Data Cleaning

Now that you have acquired the necessary data, the next step is to prepare it for analysis. That means you must clean or scrub it. This is essential since acquired data can be in different formats. Cleaning ensures you’re not dealing with bad data and your results are dependable. 

Here are some critical data-cleaning steps:

Remove white spaces, duplicates, and formatting errors.

Delete unwanted data points.

Bring structure to your data.

For survey data, you also need to do consistency analysis. Some of this relies on good questionnaire design, but you also need to ensure that:

Respondents are not “straight-lining” (all answers in a single column).

Similar questions are answered consistently.

Open-ended questions contain plausible responses.

4. Data Analysis

This is the stage where you’d be ready to leverage any one or more of the data analysis and research techniques mentioned above. The choice of technique depends upon the data you’re dealing with and the desired results. 

All types of data analysis fit into the following four categories:

A. Descriptive Analysis

Descriptive analysis focuses on what happened. It is the starting point for any research before proceeding with deeper explorations. As the first step, it involves breaking down data and summarizing its key characteristics.   

B. Diagnostic Analysis

This analysis focuses on why something has happened. Just as a doctor uses a patient’s diagnosis to uncover a disease, you can use diagnostic analysis to understand the underlying cause of the problem. 

C. Predictive Analysis

This type of analysis allows you to identify future trends based on historical data. It generally uses the results from the above analysis, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI) to forecast future growth. 

D. Prescriptive Analysis

Now you know what to do, you must also understand how you’ll do it. The prescriptive analysis aims to determine your research’s best course of action.  

5. Data Interpretation

The step is like connecting the dots in a puzzle. This is where you start making sense of all the data and analysis done in the previous steps. You dig deeper into your data analysis findings and visualize the data to present insights in meaningful and understandable ways. 

Explore this comprehensive video resource to understand the complete user research data analysis process:

The Best Tools and Resources to Use for Data Analysis in 2023

You’ve got data in hand, mastered the process, and understood all the ways to analyze data . So, what comes next?

Well, parsing large amounts of data inputs can make it increasingly challenging to uncover hidden insights. Data analysis tools can track and analyze data through various algorithms, allowing you to create actionable reports and dashboards.

We’ve compiled a handy list of the best tools for you with their pros and cons. 

1. Microsoft Excel

The world’s best and most user-friendly spreadsheet software features calculations and graphing functions. It is ideal for non-techies to perform basic data analysis and create charts and reports.

No coding is required.

User-friendly interface.

Runs slow with complex data analysis.

Less automation compared to specialized tools.

2. Google Sheets

Similar to Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets stands out as a remarkable and cost-effective tool for fundamental data analysis. It handles everyday data analysis tasks, including sorting, filtering, and simple calculations. Besides, it is known for its seamless collaboration capabilities. 

Easily accessible .

Compatible with Microsoft Excel.

Seamless integration with other Google Workspace tools.

Lacks advanced features such as in Microsoft Excel.

May not be able to handle large datasets.

3. Google Analytics

Widely used by digital marketers and web analysts, this tool helps businesses understand how people interact with their websites and apps. It provides insights into website traffic, user behavior, and performance to make data-driven business decisions .

Free version available.

Integrates with Google services.

Limited customization for specific business needs.

May not support non-web data sources.

4. RapidMiner

RapidMiner is ideal for data mining and model development. This platform offers remarkable machine learning and predictive analytics capabilities. It allows professionals to work with data at many stages, including preparation, information visualization , and analysis.

Excellent support for machine learning.

Large library of pre-built models.

Can be expensive for advanced features.

Limited data integration capabilities.

Being one of the best commercial data analysis tools, Tableau is famous for its interactive dashboards and data exploration capabilities. Data teams can create visually appealing and interactive data representations through its easy-to-use interface and powerful capabilities. 

Intuitive drag-and-drop interface.

Interactive and dynamic data visualization.

Backed by Salesforce.

Expensive than competition.

Steeper learning curve for advanced features.

6. Power BI

This is an excellent choice for creating insightful business dashboards. It boasts incredible data integration features and interactive reporting, making it ideal for enterprises. 

Short for Konstanz Information Miner, KNIME is an outstanding tool for data mining. Its user-friendly graphical interface makes it accessible even to non-technical users, enabling them to create data workflows easily. Additionally, KNIME is a cost-effective choice. Hence, it is ideal for small businesses operating on a limited budget. 

Visual workflow for data blending and automation.

Active community and user support.

Complex for beginners.

Limited real-time data processing.

8. Zoho Analytics

Fueled by artificial intelligence and machine learning, Zoho Analytics is a robust data analysis platform. Its data integration capabilities empower you to seamlessly connect and import data from diverse sources while offering an extensive array of analytical functions.

Affordable pricing options.

User-friendly interface

Limited scalability for very large datasets.

Not as widely adopted as some other tools.

9. Qlik Sense

Qlik Sense offers a wide range of augmented capabilities. It has everything from AI-generated analysis and insights to automated creation and data prep, machine learning, and predictive analytics. 

Impressive data exploration and visualization features.

Can handle large datasets.

Steep learning curve for new users.

How to Pick the Right Tool?

Consider the below factors to find the perfect data analysis tool for your organization:

Your organization’s business needs.

Who needs to use the data analysis tools?

The tool’s data modeling capabilities.

The tool’s pricing. 

Besides the above tools, additional resources like a Service Design certification can empower you to provide sustainable solutions and optimal customer experiences. 

How to Become a Data Analyst? 

Data analysts are in high demand owing to the soaring data boom across various sectors. As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics , the demand for data analytics jobs will grow by 23% between 2021 and 2031. What’s more, roles offer excellent salaries and career progression. As you gain experience and climb the ranks, your pay scales up, making it one of the most competitive fields in the job market. 

Learning data analytics methodology can help you give an all-new boost to your career. Here are some tips to become a data analyst:

1. Take an Online Course

You do not necessarily need a degree to become a data analyst. A degree can give you solid foundational knowledge in relevant quantitative skills. But so can certificate programs or university courses. 

2. Gain the Necessary Technical Skills

Having a set of specific technical skills will help you deepen your analytical capabilities. You must explore and understand the data analysis tools to deal with large datasets and comprehend the analysis. 

3. Gain Practical Knowledge

You can work on data analysis projects to showcase your skills. Then, create a portfolio highlighting your ability to handle real-world data and provide insights. You can also seek internship opportunities that provide valuable exposure and networking opportunities. 

4. Keep Up to Date with the Trends

Since data analysis is rapidly evolving, keep pace with cutting-edge analytics tools, methods, and trends. You can do this through exploration, networking, and continuous learning.

5. Search for the Ideal Job

The job titles and responsibilities continue to change and expand in data analytics. Beyond “Data Analyst,” explore titles like Business Analyst, Data Scientist, Data Engineer, Data Architect, and Marketing Analyst. Your knowledge, education, and experience can guide your path to the right data job. 

The Take Away

Whether you’re eager to delve into a personal area of interest or upgrade your skills to advance your data career, we’ve covered all the relevant aspects in this article. 

Now that you have a clear understanding of what data analysis is, and a grasp of the best data analysis techniques , it’s time to roll up your sleeves and put your knowledge into practice.

We have designed The IxDF courses and certifications to align with your intellectual and professional objectives. If you haven’t already, take the initial step toward enriching your data analytics skills by signing up today. Your journey to expertise in data analysis awaits.

Where to Learn More

1. Learn the most sought-after tool, Microsoft Excel, from basic to advanced in this LinkedIn Microsoft Excel Online Training Course .

2. Ensure all the touchpoints of your service are perfect through this certification in Service Design .

3. Learn more about the analytics data types we encounter daily in this video.

Author: Stewart Cheifet. Appearance time: 0:22 - 0:24. Copyright license and terms: CC / Fair Use. Modified: Yes. Link: https://archive.org/details/CC1218 greatestgames

4. Read this free eBook, The Elements of Statistical Learning , to boost your statistical analysis skills.

5. Check out Python for Data Analysis to learn how to solve statistical problems with Python. 

6. Join this beginner-level course and launch your career in data analytics. Data-Driven Design: Quantitative UX Research Course

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Data Analysis in Research: Types & Methods

What is data analysis in research?

Definition of research in data analysis: According to LeCompte and Schensul, research data analysis is a process used by researchers to reduce data to a story and interpret it to derive insights. The data analysis process helps reduce a large chunk of data into smaller fragments, which makes sense. 

Three essential things occur during the data analysis process — the first is data organization . Summarization and categorization together contribute to becoming the second known method used for data reduction. It helps find patterns and themes in the data for easy identification and linking. The third and last way is data analysis – researchers do it in both top-down and bottom-up fashion.

On the other hand, Marshall and Rossman describe data analysis as a messy, ambiguous, and time-consuming but creative and fascinating process through which a mass of collected data is brought to order, structure and meaning.

We can say that “the data analysis and data interpretation is a process representing the application of deductive and inductive logic to the research and data analysis.”

Why analyze data in research?

Researchers rely heavily on data as they have a story to tell or research problems to solve. It starts with a question, and data is nothing but an answer to that question. But, what if there is no question to ask? Well! It is possible to explore data even without a problem – we call it ‘Data Mining’, which often reveals some interesting patterns within the data that are worth exploring.

Irrelevant to the type of data researchers explore, their mission and audiences’ vision guide them to find the patterns to shape the story they want to tell. One of the essential things expected from researchers while analyzing data is to stay open and remain unbiased toward unexpected patterns, expressions, and results. Remember, sometimes, data analysis tells the most unforeseen yet exciting stories that were not expected when initiating data analysis. Therefore, rely on the data you have at hand and enjoy the journey of exploratory research. 

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Types of data in research

Every kind of data has a rare quality of describing things after assigning a specific value to it. For analysis, you need to organize these values, processed and presented in a given context, to make it useful. Data can be in different forms; here are the primary data types.

• Qualitative data: When the data presented has words and descriptions, then we call it qualitative data . Although you can observe this data, it is subjective and harder to analyze data in research, especially for comparison. Example: Quality data represents everything describing taste, experience, texture, or an opinion that is considered quality data. This type of data is usually collected through focus groups, personal qualitative interviews , qualitative observation or using open-ended questions in surveys.
• Quantitative data: Any data expressed in numbers of numerical figures are called quantitative data . This type of data can be distinguished into categories, grouped, measured, calculated, or ranked. Example: questions such as age, rank, cost, length, weight, scores, etc. everything comes under this type of data. You can present such data in graphical format, charts, or apply statistical analysis methods to this data. The (Outcomes Measurement Systems) OMS questionnaires in surveys are a significant source of collecting numeric data.
• Categorical data: It is data presented in groups. However, an item included in the categorical data cannot belong to more than one group. Example: A person responding to a survey by telling his living style, marital status, smoking habit, or drinking habit comes under the categorical data. A chi-square test is a standard method used to analyze this data.

Learn More : Examples of Qualitative Data in Education

Data analysis in qualitative research

Data analysis and qualitative data research work a little differently from the numerical data as the quality data is made up of words, descriptions, images, objects, and sometimes symbols. Getting insight from such complicated information is a complicated process. Hence it is typically used for exploratory research and data analysis .

Finding patterns in the qualitative data

Although there are several ways to find patterns in the textual information, a word-based method is the most relied and widely used global technique for research and data analysis. Notably, the data analysis process in qualitative research is manual. Here the researchers usually read the available data and find repetitive or commonly used words. 

For example, while studying data collected from African countries to understand the most pressing issues people face, researchers might find  “food”  and  “hunger” are the most commonly used words and will highlight them for further analysis.

The keyword context is another widely used word-based technique. In this method, the researcher tries to understand the concept by analyzing the context in which the participants use a particular keyword.  

For example , researchers conducting research and data analysis for studying the concept of ‘diabetes’ amongst respondents might analyze the context of when and how the respondent has used or referred to the word ‘diabetes.’

The scrutiny-based technique is also one of the highly recommended  text analysis  methods used to identify a quality data pattern. Compare and contrast is the widely used method under this technique to differentiate how a specific text is similar or different from each other. 

For example: To find out the “importance of resident doctor in a company,” the collected data is divided into people who think it is necessary to hire a resident doctor and those who think it is unnecessary. Compare and contrast is the best method that can be used to analyze the polls having single-answer questions types .

Metaphors can be used to reduce the data pile and find patterns in it so that it becomes easier to connect data with theory.

Variable Partitioning is another technique used to split variables so that researchers can find more coherent descriptions and explanations from the enormous data.

Methods used for data analysis in qualitative research

There are several techniques to analyze the data in qualitative research, but here are some commonly used methods,

• Content Analysis:  It is widely accepted and the most frequently employed technique for data analysis in research methodology. It can be used to analyze the documented information from text, images, and sometimes from the physical items. It depends on the research questions to predict when and where to use this method.
• Narrative Analysis: This method is used to analyze content gathered from various sources such as personal interviews, field observation, and  surveys . The majority of times, stories, or opinions shared by people are focused on finding answers to the research questions.
• Discourse Analysis:  Similar to narrative analysis, discourse analysis is used to analyze the interactions with people. Nevertheless, this particular method considers the social context under which or within which the communication between the researcher and respondent takes place. In addition to that, discourse analysis also focuses on the lifestyle and day-to-day environment while deriving any conclusion.
• Grounded Theory:  When you want to explain why a particular phenomenon happened, then using grounded theory for analyzing quality data is the best resort. Grounded theory is applied to study data about the host of similar cases occurring in different settings. When researchers are using this method, they might alter explanations or produce new ones until they arrive at some conclusion.

Choosing the right software can be tough. Whether you’re a researcher, business leader, or marketer, check out the top 10  qualitative data analysis software  for analyzing qualitative data.

Data analysis in quantitative research

Preparing data for analysis.

The first stage in research and data analysis is to make it for the analysis so that the nominal data can be converted into something meaningful. Data preparation consists of the below phases.

Phase I: Data Validation

Data validation is done to understand if the collected data sample is per the pre-set standards, or it is a biased data sample again divided into four different stages

• Fraud: To ensure an actual human being records each response to the survey or the questionnaire
• Screening: To make sure each participant or respondent is selected or chosen in compliance with the research criteria
• Procedure: To ensure ethical standards were maintained while collecting the data sample
• Completeness: To ensure that the respondent has answered all the questions in an online survey. Else, the interviewer had asked all the questions devised in the questionnaire.

Phase II: Data Editing

More often, an extensive research data sample comes loaded with errors. Respondents sometimes fill in some fields incorrectly or sometimes skip them accidentally. Data editing is a process wherein the researchers have to confirm that the provided data is free of such errors. They need to conduct necessary checks and outlier checks to edit the raw edit and make it ready for analysis.

Phase III: Data Coding

Out of all three, this is the most critical phase of data preparation associated with grouping and assigning values to the survey responses . If a survey is completed with a 1000 sample size, the researcher will create an age bracket to distinguish the respondents based on their age. Thus, it becomes easier to analyze small data buckets rather than deal with the massive data pile.

LEARN ABOUT: Steps in Qualitative Research

Methods used for data analysis in quantitative research

After the data is prepared for analysis, researchers are open to using different research and data analysis methods to derive meaningful insights. For sure, statistical analysis plans are the most favored to analyze numerical data. In statistical analysis, distinguishing between categorical data and numerical data is essential, as categorical data involves distinct categories or labels, while numerical data consists of measurable quantities. The method is again classified into two groups. First, ‘Descriptive Statistics’ used to describe data. Second, ‘Inferential statistics’ that helps in comparing the data .

Descriptive statistics

This method is used to describe the basic features of versatile types of data in research. It presents the data in such a meaningful way that pattern in the data starts making sense. Nevertheless, the descriptive analysis does not go beyond making conclusions. The conclusions are again based on the hypothesis researchers have formulated so far. Here are a few major types of descriptive analysis methods.

Measures of Frequency

• Count, Percent, Frequency
• It is used to denote home often a particular event occurs.
• Researchers use it when they want to showcase how often a response is given.

Measures of Central Tendency

• Mean, Median, Mode
• The method is widely used to demonstrate distribution by various points.
• Researchers use this method when they want to showcase the most commonly or averagely indicated response.

Measures of Dispersion or Variation

• Range, Variance, Standard deviation
• Here the field equals high/low points.
• Variance standard deviation = difference between the observed score and mean
• It is used to identify the spread of scores by stating intervals.
• Researchers use this method to showcase data spread out. It helps them identify the depth until which the data is spread out that it directly affects the mean.

Measures of Position

• Percentile ranks, Quartile ranks
• It relies on standardized scores helping researchers to identify the relationship between different scores.
• It is often used when researchers want to compare scores with the average count.

For quantitative research use of descriptive analysis often give absolute numbers, but the in-depth analysis is never sufficient to demonstrate the rationale behind those numbers. Nevertheless, it is necessary to think of the best method for research and data analysis suiting your survey questionnaire and what story researchers want to tell. For example, the mean is the best way to demonstrate the students’ average scores in schools. It is better to rely on the descriptive statistics when the researchers intend to keep the research or outcome limited to the provided  sample  without generalizing it. For example, when you want to compare average voting done in two different cities, differential statistics are enough.

Descriptive analysis is also called a ‘univariate analysis’ since it is commonly used to analyze a single variable.

Inferential statistics

Inferential statistics are used to make predictions about a larger population after research and data analysis of the representing population’s collected sample. For example, you can ask some odd 100 audiences at a movie theater if they like the movie they are watching. Researchers then use inferential statistics on the collected  sample  to reason that about 80-90% of people like the movie. 

Here are two significant areas of inferential statistics.

• Estimating parameters: It takes statistics from the sample research data and demonstrates something about the population parameter.
• Hypothesis test: I t’s about sampling research data to answer the survey research questions. For example, researchers might be interested to understand if the new shade of lipstick recently launched is good or not, or if the multivitamin capsules help children to perform better at games.

These are sophisticated analysis methods used to showcase the relationship between different variables instead of describing a single variable. It is often used when researchers want something beyond absolute numbers to understand the relationship between variables.

Here are some of the commonly used methods for data analysis in research.

• Correlation: When researchers are not conducting experimental research or quasi-experimental research wherein the researchers are interested to understand the relationship between two or more variables, they opt for correlational research methods.
• Cross-tabulation: Also called contingency tables,  cross-tabulation  is used to analyze the relationship between multiple variables.  Suppose provided data has age and gender categories presented in rows and columns. A two-dimensional cross-tabulation helps for seamless data analysis and research by showing the number of males and females in each age category.
• Regression analysis: For understanding the strong relationship between two variables, researchers do not look beyond the primary and commonly used regression analysis method, which is also a type of predictive analysis used. In this method, you have an essential factor called the dependent variable. You also have multiple independent variables in regression analysis. You undertake efforts to find out the impact of independent variables on the dependent variable. The values of both independent and dependent variables are assumed as being ascertained in an error-free random manner.
• Frequency tables: The statistical procedure is used for testing the degree to which two or more vary or differ in an experiment. A considerable degree of variation means research findings were significant. In many contexts, ANOVA testing and variance analysis are similar.
• Analysis of variance: The statistical procedure is used for testing the degree to which two or more vary or differ in an experiment. A considerable degree of variation means research findings were significant. In many contexts, ANOVA testing and variance analysis are similar.

Considerations in research data analysis

• Researchers must have the necessary research skills to analyze and manipulation the data , Getting trained to demonstrate a high standard of research practice. Ideally, researchers must possess more than a basic understanding of the rationale of selecting one statistical method over the other to obtain better data insights.
• Usually, research and data analytics projects differ by scientific discipline; therefore, getting statistical advice at the beginning of analysis helps design a survey questionnaire, select data collection methods , and choose samples.

LEARN ABOUT: Best Data Collection Tools

• The primary aim of data research and analysis is to derive ultimate insights that are unbiased. Any mistake in or keeping a biased mind to collect data, selecting an analysis method, or choosing  audience  sample il to draw a biased inference.
• Irrelevant to the sophistication used in research data and analysis is enough to rectify the poorly defined objective outcome measurements. It does not matter if the design is at fault or intentions are not clear, but lack of clarity might mislead readers, so avoid the practice.
• The motive behind data analysis in research is to present accurate and reliable data. As far as possible, avoid statistical errors, and find a way to deal with everyday challenges like outliers, missing data, data altering, data mining , or developing graphical representation.

LEARN MORE: Descriptive Research vs Correlational Research The sheer amount of data generated daily is frightening. Especially when data analysis has taken center stage. in 2018. In last year, the total data supply amounted to 2.8 trillion gigabytes. Hence, it is clear that the enterprises willing to survive in the hypercompetitive world must possess an excellent capability to analyze complex research data, derive actionable insights, and adapt to the new market needs.

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Data Analysis Methods & Techniques for Business

Are you looking for the best data analysis methods and techniques for your business? Discover the top industry data analysis methods & techniques in 2023.

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Key takeaways

• Every step in the data analysis process is vital.
• Each step can be considered a validated building block of precision due to purposeful and intentional collecting, cleansing, and analyzing the data before executing a data analysis method.

Every step in the data analysis process is essential. Getting the most out of collected and cleansed data requires data analysis methods and techniques that generate accurate and reliable data to make informed decisions. The methods and techniques used in data analysis are essential in the data analysis process, and it’s what will be covered as a topic in this article.

The importance of the data analysis process

Every step in the data analysis process is essential because each step can be considered a building block to the other steps further into the process. If one of the initial steps is wrong before you use a technique or a method, your results will be flawed. The adage “garbage in, garbage out” will be true and applicable if one of the data analysis steps is incorrect. Using a technique or method on flawed raw data is a wasted effort.

The purpose and importance of the data analysis process is to help businesses improve sales, reduce costs, understand their customers better, or improve any aspect of a business through the data analysis process. The entire data analysis process is important; no step is more important than any other step.

The purpose of the data analysis methods and techniques

The data analysis techniques are the steps in the data analysis process, including data governance, data analysis tools, establishing key performance indicators (KPIs), integrating the technology, and interpreting the data. The data analysis methods are considered the tools that manipulate the data through a mathematical, statistical, or artificial intelligence method to derive accurate, actionable data that leads to businesses making insightful and informed decisions.

Types of data analysis

The types of data analysis can be categorized in multiple ways without necessarily being incorrect, for there are varying opinions on categorizing data analysis, methods, and techniques. When looking at data analysis from a technique perspective, it’s divided into two categories. One category is the mathematical and statistical methods that derive actionable and insightful data to make business decisions. The other category is based on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools that create insightful information for decision-making.  

The two categories used to explain the methods of analysis or data analytics techniques are not adequate enough to explain the processes, methods of analysis, and data analytics techniques. Multiple steps need to occur before data is analyzed, and post-actions involve sharing analyzed results that are not represented in using two categories to define types of data analysis. Both categories are integral in the data analysis process.

A method is defined as a particular form of procedure for accomplishing or approaching something, especially a systematic or established one. A technique is described as a way of carrying out a particular task, especially the execution or performance of an artistic work or a scientific procedure. These definitions sound eerily similar and can easily be exchanged in a sentence, as they both define carrying out a procedure or task. The terms used for data analysis, such as analytic methods, data analytic techniques, and methods of analysis can meet the definition of method or technique.

Common types of data analysis techniques and methods

The data analysis process must be executed before manipulating data with a method or technique. The process involves the following:

The first three steps will always be the same in this simplified explanation. An AI tool, a mathematical, or a statistical calculation will generate insightful data for the last two steps.

It varies greatly when defining common data analysis techniques and methods. The most common data analysis techniques and methods used are:

Each business can define methods and techniques differently as long as it is consistent in an organization. To simplify the definitions, methods are the analysis tools used to manipulate processed data into actionable information that helps companies make better decisions. The techniques are the data analysis processes, data governance, interpreting the results, and sharing the information, including data analysis tools. Methods are any AI tool, mathematical or statistical equation used on processed data that creates informed decision-making information. The technique can be considered the entire data analysis process.

What are data analysis methods?

The data analysis methods will cover all the mathematical, statistics, and AI tools used to analyze data to extract meaningful information to make data-driven decisions. Here are some examples of data analysis methods.

Cluster analysis

Cluster analysis is a data mining method that groups similar data points into clusters. The analysis segments or categorizes a dataset into groups based on similarities.

Regression analysis

Regression analysis estimates the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. The regression formula is Y – f(X,B) + e.

Time series analysis

Time series analysis is a statistical method used for analyzing a sequence of events over a specific period. Figure 3 shows the number of items sold over a particular period.

Data mining

Data mining involves analyzing large data sets to find patterns or trends using programming software like Python or R that can extract useful information to help businesses solve problems through data analysis. Data mining analyzes historical data used in business intelligence for decision-making, too.

Decision trees

Decision trees are a decision support tool displayed in a flowchart diagram, mapping out all potential solutions to a specific problem. Decision trees are used in machine learning for classification and regression tasks.

Narrative analysis

Narrative analysis is a qualitative research method used to study and analyze people’s stories about their lives and experiences. To help understand someone’s narrative story, a listener must understand and know the plot, characters, point of view, setting, theme, conflict, and delivery style. The goal is to interpret the human experience and motivations by listening closely to people’s stories. 

What are data analysis techniques?

Defining data analysis techniques is very subjective because the definition includes the entire data analysis process and the methods used to extract patterns, trends, or produce intelligence information for business decisions. The data analysis definition contains the methods used to clean, transform, and model data to discover valuable insight for business decision-making.

Data analysis techniques include data governance, integrating technologies, and autonomous technology. These techniques are all important aspects of data analysis for maintaining data integrity, exploring solutions that require integration with another IT solution, or automating IT solutions that can function without being controlled by a human. The best way to think of data analysis techniques is to include the entire process, from the first step that defines the problem as a question to sharing the results visually or in narrative form. The consideration of using autonomous technology or integrating an IT solution with an existing solution comprehensively covers any technology that may be implemented based on the data analysis results.

What data analysis methods and techniques are used in different businesses?

The methods and techniques discussed barely scratch the surface of all the methods used to derive smart data-driven information to make intelligent business decisions. Every business industry has data analysis methods that they use more than others to make smart decisions. Here are some specific business industries and the methods they use to make data-driven decisions.

Financial firms

Financial analysis methods focus on growth rates and use regression analysis to analyze monthly or year-to-year growth rates. They also use top-down analysis , bottom-up analysis , or revenue driver analysis , which are activities, products, services, or markets that generate income for businesses. Financial firms also use vertical analysis , horizontal analysis , and rations and trend analysis as required.

Retail business

Retail businesses use retail analytics that focuses heavily on AI and machine learning tools to help predict trends, propose offers, provide the basis for pricing inventory items, measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, and make inventory allocation decisions. Visualization charts are preferred over spreadsheets or plain-text reports when showing retail results.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing industries use diagnostic analytics to identify manufacturing equipment failures and anomalies in the manufacturing processes. Diagnostic analysis also helps identify specific problems, events, and behavior. Along with diagnostic analysis, other methods such as drill-down , data discovery, data mining, and correlations are popular methods used with diagnostics. Data analytics methods are used to help streamline warehouse operations.

The healthcare industry uses common data analysis methods for patient care. Hospitals use descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytical methods to care for patients. Doctors rely on data to make informed decisions about the best treatment options for their patients. Hospitals also use online health-related mobile applications and electronic health records to serve their patients better.

Organizations focusing on sales use multiple data analysis methods to track sales information. Sales businesses use machine learning, decision trees, sales performance analysis , sales analytics , and Predictive sales analysis methods. These methods help identify sales trends and patterns, predict future sales success, improve sales performance, and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

How to select a data analysis method

When selecting a data analysis method, you want to be sure the method used will draw the correct conclusions from the data and the results are free from bias or errors. As you go through the data analysis process, you will start narrowing down the best methods based on the data type, such as continuous or discrete. You will also want to minimize the uncertainty of the results produced from the method selected.

To verify you selected the correct method, formulate a hypothesis and test it on sample data using the selected method. The method should produce an expected result. Look for any anomalies or trends in the results that are suspicious. If you think the results are incorrect, ask a high-frequency user to look at the results to verify your findings. If all the participants agree the results are skewed, repeat the hypothesis testing with another method until the results are in the expected range.

Get started by evaluating some of the best data analysis software solutions available. Remember that industry-specific data analysis tools are available to meet industry-specific data analysis business needs.

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Your Modern Business Guide To Data Analysis Methods And Techniques 

3 mins read

Data is highly crucial for any business. It can give us abundant information if we use it well. A recent report suggested that 91.9% of organizations achieved measurable value from data and analytics investments in 2023. Whether you’re new to data analysis or already know a lot, having a guide with different ways to analyze data is crucial for making smart choices and staying ahead. This article is here to help, giving you insights into the main ways businesses analyze data today. 

Table of Contents

What is Data Analysis and Interpretation?  

Data analysis is when we examine, clean, transform, and model data to find useful information, draw conclusions, and support decision-making. This includes using different techniques to look at raw data, find patterns, and get important insights. 

Interpretation is about explaining and making sense of the results from data analysis. It means putting the findings into context, understanding what they mean, and coming up with meaningful conclusions. Interpretation is really important because it helps turn data into practical insights and guides decision-making. 

Understanding the Landscape: The Importance of Data Analysis and Interpretation  

Going by the data, 3 in 5 organizations are using data analytics to drive business innovation. These days, businesses gather piles of information. They collect data on what customers do, market trends, and how things work inside the company. This data helps us understand what’s effective, what isn’t, and where there are chances to do better. Smart organizations know that analyzing this data is important to stay ahead of the competition. 

Data Analysis Techniques  

A lot goes into the interpretation of data in research. Data analysis methods in research include systematic processes. These processes involve inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data. The goal is to discover useful information, draw conclusions, and support decision-making . The choice of methods depends on the research design, objectives, and the type of data collected. Here are some data analytics techniques: 

1. Descriptive Statistics:  

What it is: Descriptive statistics are like summaries of data. They use things like average, middle value, most common number, and how spread out the numbers are. 

Why it matters: Giving a quick look at where the data usually falls and how much it varies is the first step for looking at it more closely. 

2. Data Visualization:  

What it is: Tools like charts and graphs make it easy to understand complicated data by turning it into pictures. 

Why it matters: Pictures help us see patterns, trends, and unusual things in data. This makes it easier for everyone involved to understand. 

3. Inferential Statistics:  

What it is: Inferential statistics help businesses guess things about a bigger group based on what they see in a smaller part of it. 

Why it matters : Knowing how to make decisions based on small samples is really important. It often means doing tests and looking at relationships between things. 

4. Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics:  

What it is: Using special methods and models to guess what might happen in the future by looking at what happened in the past. 

Why it matters : Machine learning helps companies make decisions automatically, improve their plans, and get better at predicting what might happen in the future. 

5. Big Data Analytics:  

What it is: Analyzing large volumes of diverse data sets, often in real-time, to extract meaningful insights. 

Why it matters : Big data analytics helps companies see the whole picture, find patterns that aren’t obvious, and make decisions based on a lot of information. 

Putting it Into Practice: Steps for Effective Data Analysis  

• Define Objectives: Clearly outline what you want to achieve with your data analysis. 
• Data Collection: Gather relevant and accurate data aligned with your objectives. 
• Cleaning and Preprocessing : Ensure your data is clean, addressing any missing values or errors. 
• Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) : Dive into your data, visualize it, and identify potential patterns or outliers. 
• Statistical Analysis: Apply appropriate statistical techniques based on your objectives. 
• Machine Learning Models: Implement machine learning algorithms for predictive analysis if applicable. 
• Interpretation and Communication: Draw meaningful conclusions and effectively communicate your findings to stakeholders. 

Final thoughts  

Knowing and using the methods in this guide can turn raw data into useful ideas, helping businesses be more creative and successful. Using data analysis and interpretation is not just something businesses should do; it’s a smart move that gives them an advantage in facing challenges, grabbing chances, and staying ahead in today’s changing business world. As businesses keep using data, they set themselves up to make smart choices that help them grow and stay strong in the fast-changing world of modern business. 

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Published: January 12, 2024

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Table of Content

Essential types of data analysis methods and processes for business success

Hudaiba Soomro

An overview of data analysis, the data analysis methods, its process, and implications for modern corporations.  

Studies show that 73% of corporate executives believe that companies failing to use data analysis on big data lack long-term sustainability. While data analysis can guide enterprises to make smart decisions, it can also be useful for individual decision-making .   

Let’s consider an example of using data analysis at an intuitive individual level. As consumers, we are always choosing between products offered by multiple companies. These decisions, in turn, are guided by individual past experiences. Every individual analysis the data obtained via their experience to generate a final decision.  

Put more concretely, data analysis involves sifting through data, modeling it, and transforming it to yield information that guides strategic decision-making. For businesses, data analytics can provide highly impactful decisions with long-term yield.  

  So, let’s dive deep and look at how data analytics tools can help businesses make smarter decisions.  

The data analysis process  

The process includes five key steps:    

1. Identify the need

Companies use data analytics for strategic decision-making regarding a specific issue. The first step, therefore, is to identify the particular problem. For example, a company decides it wants to reduce its production costs while maintaining product quality. To do so effectively, the company would need to identify step(s) of the workflow pipeline it should implement cost cuts.  

Similarly, the company might also have a hypothetical solution to its question. Data analytics can be used to judge the falsifiability of the hypothesis, allowing the decision-maker to reach the optimized solution.  

A specific question or hypothesis determines the subsequent steps of the process. Hence, this must be as clear and specific as possible.  

2. Collect the data  

Once the data analysis need is identified, the subsequent kind of data is also determined. Data collection can involve data entered in different types and formats. One broad classification is based on structure and includes structured and unstructured data.  

  Structured data, for example, is the data a company obtains from its users via internal data acquisition methods such as marketing automation tools. More importantly, it follows the usual row-column database and is suited to the company’s exact needs.  

Unstructured data, on the other hand, need not follow any such formatting. It is obtained via third parties such as Google Trends, census bureaus, world health bureaus, and so on. Structured data is easier to work with as it’s already tailored to the company’s needs. However, unstructured data can provide a significantly larger data volume.  

There are many other data types to consider as well. For example, metadata, big data, real-time data, and machine data.   

3. Clean the data  

The third step, data cleaning, ensures that error-free data is used for the data analysis. This step includes procedures such as formatting data correctly and consistently, removing any duplicate or anomalous entries, dealing with missing data, and fixing cross-set data errors.  

  Performing these tasks manually is tedious and hence, various tools exist to smoothen the data-cleaning process. These include open-source data tools such as OpenRefine , desktop applications like Trifacta Wrangler , cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) like TIBCO Clarity , and other data management tools such as IBM Infosphere quality stage especially used for big data.  

4. Perform data analysis  

Data analysis includes several methods as described earlier. The method to be implemented depends closely on the research question to be investigated. Data analysis methods are discussed in detail later in this blog.  

5. Present the results  

Presentation of results defines how well the results are to be communicated. Visualization tools such as charts, images, and graphs effectively convey findings, establishing visual connections in the viewer’s mind. These tools emphasize patterns discovered in existing data and shed light on predicted patterns, assisting the results’ interpretation.  

Listen to the Data Analysis challenges in cybersecurity

Data analysis methods

Data analysts use a variety of approaches, methods, and tools to deal with data. Let’s sift through these methods from an approach-based perspective:  

1. Descriptive analysis  

Descriptive analysis involves categorizing and presenting broader datasets in a way that allows emergent patterns to be observed from them to see if there are any obvious patterns. Data aggregation techniques are one way of performing descriptive analysis. This involves first collecting the data and then sorting it to ease manageability.  

This can also involve performing statistical analysis on the data to determine, say, the measures of frequency, dispersion, and central tendencies that provide a mathematical description for the data.  

2. Exploratory analysis  

Exploratory analysis involves consulting various data sets to see how certain variables may be related, or how certain patterns may be driving others. This analytic approach is crucial in framing potential hypotheses and research questions that can be investigated using data analytic techniques.   

Data mining , for example, requires data analysts to use exploratory analysis to sift through big data and generate hypotheses to be tested.  

3. Diagnostic analysis  

Diagnostic analysis is used to answer why a particular pattern exists in the first place. For example, this kind of analysis can assist a company in understanding why its product is performing in a certain way in the market.  

Diagnostic analytics includes methods such as hypothesis testing, determining correlations v/s causation, and diagnostic regression analysis.  

4. Predictive analysis  

Predictive analysis answers the question of what will happen. This type of analysis is key for companies in deciding new features or updates on existing products, and in determining what products will perform well in the market.   

  For predictive analysis, data analysts use existing results from the earlier described analyses while also using results from machine learning and artificial intelligence to determine precise predictions for future performance.  

5. Prescriptive analysis  

Prescriptive analysis involves determining the most effective strategy for implementing the decision arrived at. For example, an organization can use prescriptive analysis to sift through the best way to unroll a new feature. This component of data analytics actively deals with the consumer end, requiring one to work with marketing, human resources, and so on.   

  Prescriptive analysis makes use of machine learning algorithms to analyze large amounts of big data for business intelligence. These algorithms can assess large amounts of data by working through them via “if” and “else” statements and making recommendations accordingly.  

6. Quantitative and qualitative analysis  

Quantitative analysis computationally implements algorithms testing out a mathematical fit to describe correlation or causation observed within datasets. This includes regression analysis, null analysis, hypothesis analysis, etc.   

Qualitative analysis, on the other hand, involves non-numerical data such as interviews and pertains to answering broader social questions. It involves working closely with textual data to derive explanations.   

7. Statistical analysis  

Statistical techniques provide answers to essential decision challenges. For example, they can accurately quantify risk probabilities, predict product performance, establish relationships between variables, and so on. These techniques are used by both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods. Some of the invaluable statistical techniques for data analysts include linear regression, classification, resampling methods, and subset selection.   

Statistical analysis, more importantly, lies at the heart of data analysis, providing the essential mathematical framework via which analysis is conducted.  

Data-driven businesses

Data-driven businesses use the data analysis methods described above. As a result, they offer many advantages and are particularly suited to modern needs. Their credibility relies on them being evidence-based and using precise mathematical models to determine decisions.

Some of these advantages include stronger customer needs, precise identification of business needs, devising effective strategy decisions, and performing well in a competitive market. Data-driven businesses are the way forward.  

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Data collection

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• Table Of Contents

data analysis , the process of systematically collecting, cleaning, transforming, describing, modeling, and interpreting data , generally employing statistical techniques. Data analysis is an important part of both scientific research and business, where demand has grown in recent years for data-driven decision making . Data analysis techniques are used to gain useful insights from datasets, which can then be used to make operational decisions or guide future research . With the rise of “ big data ,” the storage of vast quantities of data in large databases and data warehouses, there is increasing need to apply data analysis techniques to generate insights about volumes of data too large to be manipulated by instruments of low information-processing capacity.

Datasets are collections of information. Generally, data and datasets are themselves collected to help answer questions, make decisions, or otherwise inform reasoning. The rise of information technology has led to the generation of vast amounts of data of many kinds, such as text, pictures, videos, personal information, account data, and metadata, the last of which provide information about other data. It is common for apps and websites to collect data about how their products are used or about the people using their platforms. Consequently, there is vastly more data being collected today than at any other time in human history. A single business may track billions of interactions with millions of consumers at hundreds of locations with thousands of employees and any number of products. Analyzing that volume of data is generally only possible using specialized computational and statistical techniques.

The desire for businesses to make the best use of their data has led to the development of the field of business intelligence , which covers a variety of tools and techniques that allow businesses to perform data analysis on the information they collect.

For data to be analyzed, it must first be collected and stored. Raw data must be processed into a format that can be used for analysis and be cleaned so that errors and inconsistencies are minimized. Data can be stored in many ways, but one of the most useful is in a database . A database is a collection of interrelated data organized so that certain records (collections of data related to a single entity) can be retrieved on the basis of various criteria . The most familiar kind of database is the relational database , which stores data in tables with rows that represent records (tuples) and columns that represent fields (attributes). A query is a command that retrieves a subset of the information in the database according to certain criteria. A query may retrieve only records that meet certain criteria, or it may join fields from records across multiple tables by use of a common field.

Frequently, data from many sources is collected into large archives of data called data warehouses. The process of moving data from its original sources (such as databases) to a centralized location (generally a data warehouse) is called ETL (which stands for extract , transform , and load ).

• The extraction step occurs when you identify and copy or export the desired data from its source, such as by running a database query to retrieve the desired records.
• The transformation step is the process of cleaning the data so that they fit the analytical need for the data and the schema of the data warehouse. This may involve changing formats for certain fields, removing duplicate records, or renaming fields, among other processes.
• Finally, the clean data are loaded into the data warehouse, where they may join vast amounts of historical data and data from other sources.

After data are effectively collected and cleaned, they can be analyzed with a variety of techniques. Analysis often begins with descriptive and exploratory data analysis. Descriptive data analysis uses statistics to organize and summarize data, making it easier to understand the broad qualities of the dataset. Exploratory data analysis looks for insights into the data that may arise from descriptions of distribution, central tendency, or variability for a single data field. Further relationships between data may become apparent by examining two fields together. Visualizations may be employed during analysis, such as histograms (graphs in which the length of a bar indicates a quantity) or stem-and-leaf plots (which divide data into buckets, or “stems,” with individual data points serving as “leaves” on the stem).

Data analysis frequently goes beyond descriptive analysis to predictive analysis, making predictions about the future using predictive modeling techniques. Predictive modeling uses machine learning , regression analysis methods (which mathematically calculate the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable), and classification techniques to identify trends and relationships among variables. Predictive analysis may involve data mining , which is the process of discovering interesting or useful patterns in large volumes of information. Data mining often involves cluster analysis , which tries to find natural groupings within data, and anomaly detection , which detects instances in data that are unusual and stand out from other patterns. It may also look for rules within datasets, strong relationships among variables in the data.

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7 Data Collection Methods in Business Analytics

• 02 Dec 2021

Data is being generated at an ever-increasing pace. According to Statista , the total volume of data was 64.2 zettabytes in 2020; it’s predicted to reach 181 zettabytes by 2025. This abundance of data can be overwhelming if you aren’t sure where to start.

So, how do you ensure the data you use is relevant and important to the business problems you aim to solve? After all, a data-driven decision is only as strong as the data it’s based on. One way is to collect data yourself.

Here’s a breakdown of data types, why data collection is important, what to know before you begin collecting, and seven data collection methods to leverage.

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What Is Data Collection?

Data collection is the methodological process of gathering information about a specific subject. It’s crucial to ensure your data is complete during the collection phase and that it’s collected legally and ethically . If not, your analysis won’t be accurate and could have far-reaching consequences.

In general, there are three types of consumer data:

• First-party data , which is collected directly from users by your organization
• Second-party data , which is data shared by another organization about its customers (or its first-party data)
• Third-party data , which is data that’s been aggregated and rented or sold by organizations that don’t have a connection to your company or users

Although there are use cases for second- and third-party data, first-party data (data you’ve collected yourself) is more valuable because you receive information about how your audience behaves, thinks, and feels—all from a trusted source.

Data can be qualitative (meaning contextual in nature) or quantitative (meaning numeric in nature). Many data collection methods apply to either type, but some are better suited to one over the other.

In the data life cycle , data collection is the second step. After data is generated, it must be collected to be of use to your team. After that, it can be processed, stored, managed, analyzed, and visualized to aid in your organization’s decision-making.

Before collecting data, there are several factors you need to define:

• The question you aim to answer
• The data subject(s) you need to collect data from
• The collection timeframe
• The data collection method(s) best suited to your needs

The data collection method you select should be based on the question you want to answer, the type of data you need, your timeframe, and your company’s budget.

The Importance of Data Collection

Collecting data is an integral part of a business’s success; it can enable you to ensure the data’s accuracy, completeness, and relevance to your organization and the issue at hand. The information gathered allows organizations to analyze past strategies and stay informed on what needs to change.

The insights gleaned from data can make you hyperaware of your organization’s efforts and give you actionable steps to improve various strategies—from altering marketing strategies to assessing customer complaints.

Basing decisions on inaccurate data can have far-reaching negative consequences, so it’s important to be able to trust your own data collection procedures and abilities. By ensuring accurate data collection, business professionals can feel secure in their business decisions.

Explore the options in the next section to see which data collection method is the best fit for your company.

7 Data Collection Methods Used in Business Analytics

Surveys are physical or digital questionnaires that gather both qualitative and quantitative data from subjects. One situation in which you might conduct a survey is gathering attendee feedback after an event. This can provide a sense of what attendees enjoyed, what they wish was different, and areas in which you can improve or save money during your next event for a similar audience.

While physical copies of surveys can be sent out to participants, online surveys present the opportunity for distribution at scale. They can also be inexpensive; running a survey can cost nothing if you use a free tool. If you wish to target a specific group of people, partnering with a market research firm to get the survey in front of that demographic may be worth the money.

Something to watch out for when crafting and running surveys is the effect of bias, including:

• Collection bias : It can be easy to accidentally write survey questions with a biased lean. Watch out for this when creating questions to ensure your subjects answer honestly and aren’t swayed by your wording.
• Subject bias : Because your subjects know their responses will be read by you, their answers may be biased toward what seems socially acceptable. For this reason, consider pairing survey data with behavioral data from other collection methods to get the full picture.

Related: 3 Examples of Bad Survey Questions & How to Fix Them

2. Transactional Tracking

Each time your customers make a purchase, tracking that data can allow you to make decisions about targeted marketing efforts and understand your customer base better.

Often, e-commerce and point-of-sale platforms allow you to store data as soon as it’s generated, making this a seamless data collection method that can pay off in the form of customer insights.

3. Interviews and Focus Groups

Interviews and focus groups consist of talking to subjects face-to-face about a specific topic or issue. Interviews tend to be one-on-one, and focus groups are typically made up of several people. You can use both to gather qualitative and quantitative data.

Through interviews and focus groups, you can gather feedback from people in your target audience about new product features. Seeing them interact with your product in real-time and recording their reactions and responses to questions can provide valuable data about which product features to pursue.

As is the case with surveys, these collection methods allow you to ask subjects anything you want about their opinions, motivations, and feelings regarding your product or brand. It also introduces the potential for bias. Aim to craft questions that don’t lead them in one particular direction.

One downside of interviewing and conducting focus groups is they can be time-consuming and expensive. If you plan to conduct them yourself, it can be a lengthy process. To avoid this, you can hire a market research facilitator to organize and conduct interviews on your behalf.

4. Observation

Observing people interacting with your website or product can be useful for data collection because of the candor it offers. If your user experience is confusing or difficult, you can witness it in real-time.

Yet, setting up observation sessions can be difficult. You can use a third-party tool to record users’ journeys through your site or observe a user’s interaction with a beta version of your site or product.

While less accessible than other data collection methods, observations enable you to see firsthand how users interact with your product or site. You can leverage the qualitative and quantitative data gleaned from this to make improvements and double down on points of success.

5. Online Tracking

To gather behavioral data, you can implement pixels and cookies. These are both tools that track users’ online behavior across websites and provide insight into what content they’re interested in and typically engage with.

You can also track users’ behavior on your company’s website, including which parts are of the highest interest, whether users are confused when using it, and how long they spend on product pages. This can enable you to improve the website’s design and help users navigate to their destination.

Inserting a pixel is often free and relatively easy to set up. Implementing cookies may come with a fee but could be worth it for the quality of data you’ll receive. Once pixels and cookies are set, they gather data on their own and don’t need much maintenance, if any.

It’s important to note: Tracking online behavior can have legal and ethical privacy implications. Before tracking users’ online behavior, ensure you’re in compliance with local and industry data privacy standards .

Online forms are beneficial for gathering qualitative data about users, specifically demographic data or contact information. They’re relatively inexpensive and simple to set up, and you can use them to gate content or registrations, such as webinars and email newsletters.

You can then use this data to contact people who may be interested in your product, build out demographic profiles of existing customers, and in remarketing efforts, such as email workflows and content recommendations.

Related: What Is Marketing Analytics?

7. Social Media Monitoring

Monitoring your company’s social media channels for follower engagement is an accessible way to track data about your audience’s interests and motivations. Many social media platforms have analytics built in, but there are also third-party social platforms that give more detailed, organized insights pulled from multiple channels.

You can use data collected from social media to determine which issues are most important to your followers. For instance, you may notice that the number of engagements dramatically increases when your company posts about its sustainability efforts.

Building Your Data Capabilities

Understanding the variety of data collection methods available can help you decide which is best for your timeline, budget, and the question you’re aiming to answer. When stored together and combined, multiple data types collected through different methods can give an informed picture of your subjects and help you make better business decisions.

Do you want to become a data-driven professional? Explore our eight-week Business Analytics course and our three-course Credential of Readiness (CORe) program to deepen your analytical skills and apply them to real-world business problems. Not sure which course is right for you? Download our free flowchart .

This post was updated on October 17, 2022. It was originally published on December 2, 2021.

About the Author

Research Methods and Data Analysis for Business Decisions

A Primer Using SPSS

• © 2021
• James E. Sallis 0 ,
• Geir Gripsrud 1 ,
• Ulf Henning Olsson 2 ,
• Ragnhild Silkoset 3

Department of Business Studies, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

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Department of Marketing, BI Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway

Department of economics, bi norwegian business school, oslo, norway.

• Presents research methods and data analysis tools in non-technical language, using numerous step-by-step examples
• Uses QDA Miner Lite for qualitative and IBM SPSS Statistics for quantitative data analysis
• Benefits business and social science students and managers alike

Part of the book series: Classroom Companion: Business (CCB)

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About this book

This introductory textbook presents research methods and data analysis tools in non-technical language. It explains the research process and the basics of qualitative and quantitative data analysis, including procedures and methods, analysis, interpretation, and applications using hands-on data examples in QDA Miner Lite and IBM SPSS Statistics software. The book is divided into four parts that address study and research design; data collection, qualitative methods and surveys; statistical methods, including hypothesis testing, regression, cluster and factor analysis; and reporting. The intended audience is business and social science students learning scientific research methods, however, given its business context, the book will be equally useful for decision-makers in businesses and organizations.

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Data Analysis Techniques for Quantitative Study

The Full Process in Modeling and Quantitative Methods by Using SPSS

What is “Qualitative” in Qualitative Research? Why the Answer Does not Matter but the Question is Important

• research methodology
• data analysis
• decision making in business
• quantitative data analysis
• qualitative data analysis
• data analysis software
• research skills
• QDA Miner Lite
• research process
• research design
• statistical methods

Table of contents (13 chapters)

Front matter, designing the study, research methods and philosophy of science.

• James E. Sallis, Geir Gripsrud, Ulf Henning Olsson, Ragnhild Silkoset

The Research Process and Problem Formulation

Research design, data collection, secondary data and observation, qualitative methods, questionnaire surveys, quantitative data analysis, simple analysis techniques, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, cluster analysis and segmentation, factor analysis, reporting findings, back matter, authors and affiliations.

James E. Sallis

Geir Gripsrud, Ragnhild Silkoset

Ulf Henning Olsson

About the authors

James Sallis is a Professor at the Department of Business Studies at Uppsala University, Sweden. He teaches marketing, research methods, and statistics in the undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs. He is statistical advisor for the department's faculty and students and is a frequent guest lecturer at business schools worldwide.

Geir Gripsrud is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Marketing at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, Norway, where he has acted as Dean of both Bachelor and Master Programs. An experienced teacher of marketing, marketing research, distribution channels, and international marketing, he is a co-author of widely used Norwegian textbooks on Research Methods as well as on Distribution Channels and Supply Chains.

Ulf H. Olsson is a Professor at the Department of Economics at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, Norway. He has held the position as Provost with responsibility for research and academic resources. Working mainly on structural equation modeling, statistical modeling and psychometrics, he has published research articles in leading statistics and psychometric journals and has also authored textbooks on statistics and mathematics.

Ragnhild Silkoset is a Professor of Marketing at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, Norway. She has held the position as the Head of the Department of Marketing, as well as Dean for the Executive Programs. Her areas of interest include marketing, marketing research, pricing strategy, network analysis and blockchain technology.

Bibliographic Information

Book Title : Research Methods and Data Analysis for Business Decisions

Book Subtitle : A Primer Using SPSS

Authors : James E. Sallis, Geir Gripsrud, Ulf Henning Olsson, Ragnhild Silkoset

Series Title : Classroom Companion: Business

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84421-9

Publisher : Springer Cham

eBook Packages : Mathematics and Statistics , Mathematics and Statistics (R0)

Copyright Information : The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021

Hardcover ISBN : 978-3-030-84420-2 Published: 31 October 2021

Softcover ISBN : 978-3-030-84423-3 Published: 01 November 2022

eBook ISBN : 978-3-030-84421-9 Published: 30 October 2021

Series ISSN : 2662-2866

Series E-ISSN : 2662-2874

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XI, 258

Number of Illustrations : 26 b/w illustrations, 112 illustrations in colour

Topics : Statistics for Business, Management, Economics, Finance, Insurance , Management Education , Statistics, general , Statistics for Social Sciences, Humanities, Law , Statistics and Computing/Statistics Programs

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Essential Techniques Every Data Analyst Should Master

Mastering data analysis techniques is crucial in the realm of data-driven decision-making. These techniques empower analysts to extract meaningful insights from raw data.

But what are these techniques? And why are they so important?

This article aims to answer these questions. It provides a comprehensive guide on essential data analysis methods every data analyst should master.

We'll cover a wide range from basic statistical methods to advanced machine learning techniques. We'll also delve into the importance of data preparation and visualization. Whether you're a seasoned data analyst or an aspiring data professional, this guide is for you. Let's dive into the world of data analysis techniques.

Understanding Data Analysis

Data analysis is the process of inspecting, cleaning, and transforming raw data. The goal is to discover useful information, draw conclusions, and support decision-making.

It involves various techniques and methods, each serving a unique purpose. These techniques help analysts to understand complex data sets and extract valuable insights.

The Role of Data Analysis in Decision-Making

Data analysis plays a pivotal role in decision-making. It provides a solid foundation for making informed, data-driven decisions.

By analyzing data, organizations can identify trends, patterns, and insights. These findings guide strategic planning and decision-making processes.

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Analysis

Data analysis techniques can be broadly categorized into quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative analysis deals with numerical data. It uses statistical and mathematical methods to derive results.

On the other hand, qualitative analysis focuses on non-numerical data. It seeks to understand underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations. Both types of analysis are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of data.

Core Data Analysis Techniques

Data analysis techniques are the methods used to analyze and interpret data. They help analysts to understand the data, identify patterns, and make informed decisions.

These techniques range from simple to complex, depending on the nature of the data and the objectives of the analysis. Let's delve into some of the core techniques.

Descriptive Statistics: Summarizing Data

Descriptive statistics is a fundamental data analysis technique. It provides a summary of the data and helps to understand its main features.

It includes mean, median, mode, and standard deviation measures. These measures provide insights into the distribution and variability of the data.

Inferential Statistics: Making Predictions

Inferential statistics is another crucial technique. It allows analysts to make predictions or inferences about a population based on a sample.

It involves techniques like hypothesis testing and confidence intervals. These methods help to draw conclusions and make predictions about the data.

Regression Analysis: Understanding Relationships

A powerful technique for understanding relationships between variables. It helps to identify how the value of the dependent variable changes when any independent variable is varied.

It's widely used in forecasting, time series modeling, and finding the causal effect relationships between variables.

Hypothesis Testing: Validating Assumptions

A statistical method is used to validate assumptions made about a population. It provides a framework for making decisions related to the population.

It involves stating a null and alternative hypothesis, choosing a significance level, and then determining if the observed data falls within the acceptance region.

Advanced Analytical Techniques

As data analysts delve deeper into the data, they often need to use more advanced analytical techniques. These methods can help uncover complex patterns and relationships that simpler techniques might miss.

These advanced techniques often involve machine learning, time series analysis, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis. Let's explore each of these in more detail.

Machine Learning: Predictive Power

A powerful tool in the data analyst's arsenal. It involves training a model on a data set and then using that model to make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed to do so.

This technique is particularly useful for predicting future trends, classifying data, or recognizing patterns in large and complex data sets.

Time Series Analysis: Forecasting Trends

Time series analysis is a technique that deals with data points ordered in time. It's used to analyze trends, seasonality, and cycles in the data.

This method is useful in fields such as economics, finance, and weather forecasting, where data is recorded over time.

Cluster Analysis: Segmenting Data

Cluster analysis is a technique used to group data points that are similar to each other. It's a way of segmenting data into distinct categories without any prior knowledge of these categories.

This method is often used in market segmentation, image recognition, and anomaly detection.

Principal Component Analysis (PCA): Reducing Dimensionality

Principal Component Analysis, or PCA, is a technique for reducing the dimensionality of large data sets. It transforms data into a new coordinate system such that the greatest variance lies on the first coordinate (first principal component), the second greatest variance on the second coordinate, and so on.

This method is particularly useful when dealing with data sets with a large number of variables. It simplifies the data without losing much information and makes it easier to visualize and analyze.

Preparing Data for Analysis

Before diving into data analysis, it's crucial to prepare the data properly. This step is often overlooked but is a key part of the process.

Preparing data involves cleaning the data and visualizing it. Both steps are essential for ensuring accurate and meaningful results.

Data Cleaning: Ensuring Accuracy

Data cleaning is the process of detecting and correcting errors and inconsistencies in data. It's a crucial step to ensure the accuracy of the analysis.

Without proper data cleaning, the results of the analysis could be misleading or incorrect. It's a time-consuming process, but it's worth the effort.

Data Visualization: Enhancing Interpretation

Data visualization is the practice of representing data in a graphical or pictorial format. It makes complex data more understandable and can reveal patterns and correlations that might go unnoticed in text-based data.

Good data visualization can enhance the data's interpretation and help make data-driven decisions. It's an essential skill for every data analyst.

Tools and Skills for Effective Data Analysis

To perform data analysis effectively, mastering certain tools and skills is necessary. These include technical tools like SQL, R, and Python and soft skills like communication and critical thinking.

These tools and skills help perform the analysis, interpret the results, and present them effectively.

SQL, R, and Python: Essential Tools

SQL, R, and Python are among the most important tools for a data analyst. SQL is used for data extraction and manipulation, while R and Python are used for statistical analysis and modeling.

Mastering these tools can greatly enhance a data analyst's capabilities. They provide the power to handle complex data sets and perform advanced analysis.

Communication and Critical Thinking: Presenting Data Findings

Beyond technical skills, effective communication and critical thinking are vital for a data analyst. These skills help interpret and present the results in an understandable way to non-technical stakeholders.

Critical thinking allows analysts to question the data and the results, ensuring that the analysis is robust and reliable. Communication skills help in presenting the findings effectively, making the data analysis more impactful.

Conclusion: Continuous Learning and Ethical Considerations

In the ever-evolving field of data analysis, continuous learning is crucial. Every data analyst must stay updated with new data analysis methods and techniques. This enhances their skills and ensures that their analysis is relevant and effective.

Equally important are ethical considerations in data analysis. Ensuring data privacy and security, respecting data governance, and maintaining quality control are all essential aspects of ethical data analysis. These considerations protect data integrity and the credibility of the analyst and the analysis.

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Research Methods in Business Studies

Chapter 8: qualitative data analysis.

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Qualitative research imposes specific analytical challenges. This chapter addresses important characteristics of qualitative research and qualitative data. Strategies and procedures to handle the analytical challenges are also dealt with, as well as validity and reliability issues in qualitative research.

• qualitiative data
• data reduction
• analytical activities
• theory and data
• triangulation
• generalization

About the book

• Chapter DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108762427.012
• Book DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108762427
• Subjects Business and Management, Management: General Interest
• Publication date: 12 March 2020
• ISBN: 9781108486743
• ISBN: 9781108708241
• Publication date: 17 January 2020
• ISBN: 9781108762427
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The Role of Data in Economic Research Analysis

September 17, 2024

Data is more than just numbers; it’s the lifeblood of economic research. Each shift in GDP or unemployment figures tells a story about the economy’s health. For those striving to excel in economic analysis, understanding these nuances is crucial. Even a slight error in interpreting inflation rates can lead to misguided policies or flawed market strategies.

At Rosenberg Research, we delve into vast datasets, from real-time stock exchanges to comprehensive IMF statistics. By meticulously analyzing these intricate data points, we provide insights that help clients accurately forecast economic shifts. Often, the integration of diverse sources reveals patterns that aren’t immediately apparent, emphasizing the value of deep exploration and advanced analytics.

The Foundation of Economic Analysis

Data is the cornerstone of economic analysis, much like ingredients are essential for baking a cake. Without accurate, reliable data, economists cannot make meaningful predictions or recommendations. Just as a doctor relies on tests to diagnose and treat a patient, economists use data to understand and forecast the health of an economy.

Driving Informed Decision-Making

Much like how a doctor requires a comprehensive understanding of a patient’s health, economists need a wide range of data to grasp the complexities of an economy. Indicators such as unemployment rates, inflation figures, consumer spending patterns, and stock market movements provide critical insights that guide decision-making in public policy and business strategy.

Accurate and up-to-date data allow economists to draw meaningful conclusions about the economy’s current state and future trajectory. This information supports timely adjustments in government policies, aids businesses in making strategic investment decisions, and helps individuals manage their finances effectively.

Influencing Economic Theories and Practices

Robust data enhances the reliability of economic theories and practices, much like new medical research informs doctors about treatment effectiveness. By analyzing historical data and identifying patterns, economists can develop predictive models for various economic factors, including inflation, unemployment, GDP growth, and market dynamics. These models enable better anticipation of potential economic shifts, facilitating proactive policy and strategy adjustments.

Impacting Global Insights

At Rosenberg Research, we understand that detailed analysis of comprehensive datasets is crucial for providing nuanced global economic insights. Our ability to harness intricate data sets enables us to offer clients informed perspectives on significant global economic trends.

These insights empower our clients to make well-informed decisions, anticipating and responding to changing market conditions. Our data-driven approach ensures that clients stay ahead of the curve in today’s dynamic economic landscape.

Common Data Sources in Economic Research

In economic research and analysis, data sources are fundamental. Economists rely on various datasets to gain insights into the complex factors influencing the economy. These sources form the backbone of economic projections, policy recommendations, and comprehensive reports that guide critical decision-making.

National Statistical Agencies

National statistical agencies, such as the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is a key source of economic data. These agencies collect, analyze, and disseminate crucial economic information, including national income and product accounts. Their data shapes our understanding of economic trends and informs government policies, business strategies, and academic research.

Financial Markets Data

Financial markets provide a wealth of real-time and historical data on financial transactions, market trends, and investment patterns. Stock exchanges and trading platforms offer insights into the pulse of financial markets, helping economists track investor sentiment and assess market dynamics’ impact on the broader economy.

International Databases

For a global perspective, international databases from institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are invaluable. These databases offer comprehensive economic data across a range of indicators, enabling cross-country comparisons and analyses of global economic trends. Such data is crucial for understanding the interconnectedness of international markets.

Surveys and Censuses

Surveys and censuses provide detailed insights into demographic trends, consumption patterns, and societal behaviors. Economists use these data sources to understand consumer behavior, employment dynamics, and regional disparities, adding context to their analysis of economic conditions.

Statistical Methods for Economic Analysis

In economic research, data isn’t just observed—it’s analyzed to uncover patterns, relationships, and make forecasts. Economists rely on several statistical methods to interpret this information. Let’s explore some key statistical methods used in economic analysis.

Regression Analysis

Regression analysis is a fundamental statistical method used to estimate relationships among variables. For instance, it helps economists understand how changes in interest rates impact consumer spending. By quantifying these relationships, regression analysis reveals how one variable affects another, such as the relationship between income changes and spending or saving patterns.

Time-Series Analysis

Time-series analysis involves examining data collected at specific intervals—daily, monthly, or yearly. This method helps economists identify trends, cycles, and seasonal variations in economic variables like GDP growth, inflation, or unemployment. For example, it can predict consumer spending spikes during the holiday season, aiding in economic forecasting.

Econometric Models

Econometric models combine economic theory with mathematics and statistical inference to quantify economic phenomena and test hypotheses. These models are essential for creating precise economic forecasts. At Rosenberg Research, we use advanced econometric models to understand complex interactions between economic variables and make accurate predictions about future trends.

Techniques for Accurate Economic Predictions

When it comes to making reliable economic predictions, one can’t rely on crystal balls or lucky guesses. What we need are solid techniques and tools that help us navigate through the complexity of economic trends and behaviors. So what are these techniques that play a pivotal role in forecasting?

Machine Learning Algorithms

Machine learning algorithms have transformed economic analysis by identifying complex patterns in extensive datasets. These algorithms, through methods like supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning, can predict economic trends with higher accuracy than traditional methods. They are especially valuable in high-frequency trading, risk management, and financial forecasting, allowing institutions to adapt to changing market conditions and provide insights for informed decision-making.

Scenario Analysis

Scenario analysis involves creating multiple hypothetical scenarios to assess how different economic policies or external shocks might impact an economy. By evaluating these scenarios, economists gain a comprehensive understanding of potential risks and opportunities, enabling better strategic planning. This technique is vital for anticipating the effects of geopolitical events, trade policies, and environmental factors, helping organizations prepare for a range of possible outcomes.

Leading Indicators

Leading indicators, such as consumer sentiment indices and business investment figures, provide early signals of economic shifts. These indicators help economists assess the economy’s overall health and predict future developments. For instance, a rise in consumer sentiment may indicate increased spending and economic growth, while changes in business investment can signal corporate expansion or contraction plans.

At Rosenberg Research, we integrate machine learning algorithms, scenario analysis, and leading indicators into our analytical framework to deliver robust and actionable economic predictions. By leveraging these advanced techniques, we help clients navigate the complexities of the global economy with confidence.

Benefits of Data-Driven Economic Policies

Improved decision-making.

Data-driven policies enable more informed decision-making by providing policymakers with reliable and relevant data. This allows them to address economic issues like poverty, unemployment, and inflation with precision. Instead of relying on intuition or anecdotal evidence, policymakers can create and implement strategies that align with current economic realities.

Enhanced Transparency and Accountability

Basing policies on concrete data naturally promotes transparency and accountability in policy formulation. This approach fosters public trust, as it becomes evident that decisions are grounded in tangible information rather than speculative guesses.

Economic Stability

Data-driven policies contribute to economic stability by allowing governments to predict and mitigate potential downturns proactively. This foresight enables the implementation of preventive measures that support sustainable growth, rather than merely reacting to crises.

Rosenberg Research’s commitment to data-driven insights aids in shaping policies that foster sustainable economic growth. By systematically analyzing diverse economic indicators, we help guide policymakers in crafting strategies that not only address immediate challenges but also contribute to long-term stability and prosperity.

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Scientific Computing and Data Analysis (Financial Technology)

• September 2025
• September 2024

1 year full-time

Durham City

Course details

Developments in fields such finance, physics and engineering are increasingly driven by experts in computational techniques. The financial services sector has always been at the forefront of data analytics, and those with the skills to write code for the most powerful computers in the world and to process the biggest data sets can give a company a competitive edge.

Our suite of Masters in Scientific Computing and Data Analysis (MISCADA) offers an application-focused course to deliver these skills with three interwoven strands:

• Computer Science underpinnings of scientific computing (algorithms, data structures, implementation techniques, and computer tool usage)
• Mathematical aspects of data analysis and the simulation and analysis of mathematical models
• Implementation and application of fundamental techniques in an area of specialisation (as well as Financial Technology we offer options in Astrophysics, Computer Vision and Robotics, or Earth and Environmental Sciences)

The MISCADA specialist qualification in Financial Technology introduces you to the mathematical principles behind modern financial markets, and elements of programming and communication in the context of the financial industry. Financial technology draws on tools from probability theory, statistics and mathematical modelling, and is widely used in investment banks, hedge funds, insurance companies, corporate treasuries and regulatory agencies to solve such problems as derivative pricing, portfolio selection and risk management. You can find out more here .

There’s great synergy between the modules and you will be given plenty of opportunities to put your learning into practice from the start of the course. Our research-led approach allows you to take some of the newest theoretical ideas and directly translate them into working codes in their respective application areas. If you have an undergraduate degree in a science subject with a strong quantitative element, including computer science and mathematics and want to work at the highest level in financial technology, either in academia or in industry, then this could be the course you’re looking for.

Course Structure

Core modules:.

Introduction to Machine Learning and Statistics provides knowledge and understanding of the fundamental ideas and techniques in the application of data analysis, statistics and machine learning to scientific data.

Introduction to Scientific and High Performance Computing provides knowledge and understanding of paradigms, fundamental ideas and trends in High Performance Computing (HPC) and methods of numerical simulation.

Professional Skills provides training in areas such as collaborative coding, project management and entrepreneurship. It will build the skill you need to communicate novel ideas in science, and reflect on ethical issues around data and research.

The Project is a substantive piece of research into an area of financial technology, scientific computing or data analysis, or a related area in cooperation with an industry partner. The project will develop your research, analysis and report-writing skills.

Financial Technology: Algorithmic Trading and Market Making in Options develops your knowledge of financial theory, with a particular emphasis on asset valuation, portfolio management and derivative pricing. In this module you will also develop a critical understanding and appreciation of current research in financial theory and its applications to professional practice.

Financial Mathematics introduces the mathematical theory of financial products and provides advanced knowledge and critical understanding of the pricing of financial products and derivatives.

Plus optional modules which may include:

• Advanced Statistical and Machine Learning: Foundations and Unsupervised Learning
• Advanced Statistics and Machine Learning: Regression and Classification
• Data Acquisition and Image Processing
• Performance Modelling, Vectorisation and GPU Programming
• Advanced Algorithms and Discrete Systems
• Computational Linear Algebra and Continuous Systems

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This degree is organised by the Department of Computer Science with specialisations offered in collaboration with the Department of Mathematical Sciences, the Business School, the Department of Physics and the Department of Earth Sciences. Teaching and learning methods are varied, they include a combination of lectures, practical classes/computer labs, independent study, research and analysis, a project (dissertation) and coursework. Some modules also include group and individual presentations.

You will also be given the opportunity to work with a wide variety of high-quality computer kit and software. This includes HPC systems such as GPU clusters, systems with heterogeneous architectures and specialist software installations (such as performance analysis tools), AI tools and data acquisition tools.

Assessment 

Assessment takes a combination of forms including coursework, presentations and a project which is worth one-third of your total mark. You will complete your dissertation-style project on a topic of your choice from within the contributing academic departments. In the financial technology steam this will usually be Mathematical Sciences or Computer Science, or in close cooperation with on of our industrial partners.

Entry requirements

A UK first or upper second class honours degree (BSc) or equivalent

• In Physics or a subject with basic physics courses OR
• In Computer Science OR
• In Mathematics OR
• In Earth Sciences OR
• In Engineering OR
• In any natural sciences with a strong quantitative element.

We strongly encourage students to sign up for a specialisation area for which they already have a strong background or affinity. At the moment, the course targets primarily Physics, Earth Sciences and Mathematics (finances) students. If you do not have a degree from these subjects, we strongly recommend you to contact the University beforehand to clarify whether you bring along the right background.

Please note that standard business degrees are not sufficient, as they lack the required level of mathematical education.

Additional requirements

Programming knowledge on an graduate level in both C and Python is required.

Some undergraduate-level mathematics, covering linear algebra, calculus, integration, ordinary and partial differential equations, and probability theory.

There is a minimum SPEAKING requirement of IELTS 6.5/ TOEFL iBT 25/ Cambridge Scale 176/ Pearson Academic 62 for this course.

English language requirements

Fees and funding

The tuition fees for 2025/26 academic year have not yet been finalised, they will be displayed here once approved.

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated) .

Please also check costs for colleges and accommodation .

Scholarships and Bursaries

We are committed to supporting the best students irrespective of financial circumstances and are delighted to offer a range of funding opportunities. 

Career opportunities

Engineering and computing sciences, school of, department information.

Find out more:

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• Date: 01/09/2023 - 31/08/2024
• Time: 09:00 - 17:00

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