ECON2014 lectur notes 20051104134625

Topic VII : Other Topics: 

Topic VII : Other Topics Survey Ethics Basic Data Analysis Writing the Report

Survey Ethics I: 

Survey Ethics I Privacy : respondents may reject sensitive, intrusive questions Confidentiality : respondents being concerned about what happens to the data after collection Security Anonymity Who will the information be passed on to

Survey Ethics II: 

Survey Ethics II Censuses are likely to raise these issues due to the scale and scope Netherlands, 1981 : census abandoned West Germany, 1983 : census postponed US, 1940 : Census Bureau had to resist pressure to identify Japanese Americans for interment after Pearl Harbour

Survey Ethics III: 

Survey Ethics III Maintaining the standards are done through Legislation Code of Practice Training & Checking

Survey Ethics IV: 

Survey Ethics IV Legislation There are specific laws about Population Census & Official Statistics General legislation (eg. Data Protection Act)

Survey Ethics V: 

Survey Ethics V Codes of Practice Official Professional Market Research Agency Statistics Training and Checking Periodic training of statisticians

Basic Data Analysis I: 

Basic Data Analysis I Once survey data is collected : A programme to analyse the data is chosen The data is entered and cleaned The data is analysed

Basic Data Analysis II: 

Basic Data Analysis II SPSS SAS S-Plus STATA Minitab Systat GenStat Eviews RATS Some programmes used are :

Basic Data Analysis III: 

Basic Data Analysis III Analysis used is dependent on the type of variable under consideration Quantitative Data Use averages and variability to describe variables In tables the dependent variable usually forms the rows and the independent variable is usually the column

Basic Data Analysis IV: 

Basic Data Analysis IV Qualitative Data Usually described in terms of proportions or percentages Usually presented as frequencies in tables or charts Bar and pie pharts are most commonly used

Basic Data Analysis V: 

Basic Data Analysis V Main types of data analysis : Descriptive Inferential Descriptive Statistics Collect Organize Summarize Display Analyze Inferential Statistics Predict and forecast values of population parameters Test hypotheses about values of population parameters Make decisions

Basic Data Analysis VI: 

Basic Data Analysis VI There are two types of descriptive techniques Graphical Methods Numerical Methods

Basic Data Analysis VII: 

Basic Data Analysis VII Graphical Techniques Histograms Boxplots

Basic Data Analysis VIII: 

Basic Data Analysis VIII Pie Charts Bar Charts

Basic Data Analysis IX: 

Basic Data Analysis IX Numerical Techniques

Basic Data Analysis X: 

Basic Data Analysis X Mean : Uses all values Unbiased estimator of the population mean Affected by extreme values Used ONLY for interval/ratio variables

Basic Data Analysis XI: 

Basic Data Analysis XI Median : In the case where there are outliers it may be more representative of the data set than the mean Can be used for both interval and ordinal Does not use all values Not as easy to interpret

Basic Data Analysis XII: 

Basic Data Analysis XII Mode : Useful in describing nominal data Does not use all values Range : Easily understood Sensitive to extreme values Does not use all values

Basic Data Analysis XIII: 

Basic Data Analysis XIII Variance / Standard Deviation : The distortion caused by extreme values is not as great as with the range The main measure of dispersion Can ONLY be applied to interval variables In reports, the standard deviation is to be quoted

Writing the Report I: 

Writing the Report I The main sections of a research report are : Introduction/Purpose/Overview Literature Review Methodology / Study Design & Execution Analysis & Interpretation Discussion Limitations Conclusions & Recommendations

Writing the Report II: 

Writing the Report II Introduction/Purpose/Overview describes the research problem lets the reader understand what you see as the problem and the necessity of your proposed study Why is the study worth doing What is the research to achieve

Writing the Report III: 

Writing the Report III Literature Review Used to bring the reader up-to-date on previous research in the area Speak about theories related to your topic Highlight results from previous research (it is not enough to just say the research was conducted) Examine the variables used in other research Discuss the shortcomings or advantages of extant research

Writing the Report IV: 

Writing the Report IV Methodology/Study Design & Execution Population Sample frame (if any) Sampling method Sample size Data collection method Completion rate Data analysis methods to be used

Writing the Report V: 

Writing the Report V Analysis & Interpretation Present frequency tables Summarise data using techniques discussed (numerical and graphical) Discuss results, highlighting salient points or features

Writing the Report VI: 

Writing the Report VI Discussion Interpret the results produced by the study Use the findings from the literature review and compare with your results Must contain an interpretation of every result related to the objectives and hypotheses stipulated earlier

Writing the Report VII: 

Writing the Report VII Limitations Identify and discuss any unanticipated problems that have significantly affected the research design or otherwise affected the results of the study

Writing the Report VIII: 

Writing the Report VIII Conclusions & Recommendations Summaries main points from your discussion Make recommendations Suggest where future research may be directed

Writing the Report IX: 

For further information see : Babbie, E. (2004), The Practice of Social Research Writing the Report IX