Chapter 16
Preparing Data
for Analysis

Chapter 17
Techniques of Univariate
Analyis

Chapter 18
Conducting Bivariate and Multivariate Analyses

Chapter 19
Performing Inferential Statistical
Analyses

Part 4. Analyzing Data

After you have collected your data, you are ready to analyze it. But first, you have to prepare your data for analysis. In Chapter 16, "Preparing Data for Analysis," we describe ways of preparing data for analysis by hand or with the help of a statistical analysis package. After the data are prepared, analysis begins by describing each key variable, one at a time. In statistics, this process is known as univariate analysis; "uni" means one and "variate" refers to variable. Techniques of univariate analysis are covered in Chapter 17. After completing univariate analyses, researchers frequently move on to the simultaneous analysis of two or more variables or what is called bivariate analysis. "Bi" refers to two and, with variate, means two variables. The simultaneous analysis of three or more variables is called multivariate analysis. "Multi" means many, but in research done by a lone researcher, such as you may be, typically only three or four variables are analyzed together. Chapter 18, "Conducting Bivariate and Multivariate Analyses," shows how to conduct bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results of univatiate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses are frequently reported in the form of tables or graphs. Therefore, we also show how to construct and "read" tables and graphs.

Chapter 19, "Performing Inferential Statistical Analyses," explains the logic behind using data from a sample to estimate or infer characteristics of the population from which the sample was selected. Two frequently used forms of inference are explained and illustrated. These are: (1) estimating the value of a population mean, using data from a sample; and (2) conducting a statistical test of significance for a relationship between two or more variables in a population. Each is based on probability theory. Chapter 19, therefore, includes an introduction to probability theory and its use in making statistical inferences.   This chapter also describes how to conduct some frequently used tests of statistical significance.