Methods of Data Processing

Data Processing - dealing with editing, coding, classifying, tabulating and presenting data through chart
or diagram. It is a series of actions or steps performed on data to verify, organize, transform, integrate
and extract data in an appropriate output form for subsequent use.

Steps in Data Processing

1. Classification or Categorization

- process of grouping the statistical data under various understandable homogenous groups for purpose
of convenient interpretation.

2. Coding of Data

- necessary for efficient analysis and through it several replies may be reduced to a small number of
classes wgich contain the critical information required for analysis.

3. Tabulation of Data

- the process of summarizing raw data and displaying it in compact form for further analysis.

- may be manual, mechanical or electronic

4. Data Diagrams

- diagrams are charts and graphs used to present data and are also used to get the attention of the
reader.

Data Interpretation

Research Interpretation

- defined as an adequate exposition of the true meaning of the material presented in terms of the
purpose of the study

- results and discussions should be systemtic, logical and comprehensive.

Steps for Data Interpretation

1. Revisit the main and sub-problems

2. Describe the data

3. Plan for an appropriate way to present the data collected through tabular form, graphical or any other
way

4. Plug in additional information

5. Have closure or concluding statement in every data interpretation.

Basic Statistical Tool

Statistical tests are a major part of data interpretation. Sarno (2010) stresses that by statistical testing, a
researcher can compare groups of data to determine the probability that differences between results
are based on chance, thus the researcher can conclude the validity of the hypothesis.

Common Statistical Tools

1. The arithmetic mean, more commonky known as "the average," is the sum of the list of numbers
divided by the number of items on the list.

2. Frequency distribution is presented in tables or charts that show how many of your evaluation
participants fall into various categories of interest (Wilder Research, 2009)

3. The Pie Chart represents the percentage of that category.

4. The Bar Chart is equal to the frequency (number of observations) in the category. Leave space in
between the bars to emphasize that there is no ordering in the classes

5. Standard deviation is the measure of a spread of data around the mean. A high stndard deviation
signifies that data is spread more widely from the mean, where a low standard deviation signals that
more data align with the mean.

6. T-tests are used to test if the difference of means is statistically significant. It tests if the sample is
representative of the populations.

7. Pearson (r) Correlations is used to find correlation between at least two continuous variables. The
value for such a correlation lies between 0.00 (no correlation) and 1.00 (perfect correlation)

8. Chi-square test

 1st type - compares the frequency count of what is expected in theory against what is actually
observed
 2nd type - known as chi-square test with two variables or the chi-square test for independence