ISSUES ON SOCIAL RESEARCH DESIGN
In any field of research, data is collected to make sure that the decisions made are wise, and based on the logical explanation. Several means are used in the collection of data. After it is collected, it is analyzed to come up with a logical conclusion. It is essential to use proper methods to assess the data based on the type of data collected. Quantitative data is one that cannot be placed in numerical form, while quantitative data can be counted. Quantitative data is analyzed based on the measures of central tendency, such as the mean and mode. On the other hand, qualitative data is analyzed from approaches such as discourse and policy analysis. This paper is an explanation of analytical approaches that are used for the different types of data.
Quantitative Methods
As stated earlier, the measures of central tendency are used in this classification of data. One of them is the mean. It is a measure that is used to find the average. It is a total of the values that are being evaluated, divided by the number of values. It is accurate in individual data and gets less and less accurate as groups of data begin being incorporated into the data. The mean is only applicable for data that is numerical since it involves summing up the values of the data, then dividing them by the total number of data sets.
The second method is the interquartile range. It is the use of the interquartile range. It is calculated by dividing the data into four parts called quartiles. The data is arranged in a particular order eg, descending or ascending, then a median is found. From there, the two halves are then considered, and the middle figure in each is subtracted to come up with the interquartile range.
Qualitative Methods
In this type of data, discourse analysis and policy analysis are used Discourse analysis is the assessment of language and its relationship to the context in which it is used. A word in one context may mean an utterly different thing in a different context. The second means is policy analysis. It is a method that analyses the effects of policies on the data and ideas of the people. Some of the policies are social and government policies n the people.