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The document outlines various measurement scales for analyzing quantitative data, including nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales. It emphasizes the importance of using valid and reliable research instruments for data collection, detailing factors affecting reliability such as stability, internal reliability, and inter-observer consistency. Additionally, it introduces Cronbach's alpha as a measure of internal reliability, with a commonly accepted threshold of 0.8 for acceptable reliability.

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2 views3 pages

Additional Reading Material

The document outlines various measurement scales for analyzing quantitative data, including nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales. It emphasizes the importance of using valid and reliable research instruments for data collection, detailing factors affecting reliability such as stability, internal reliability, and inter-observer consistency. Additionally, it introduces Cronbach's alpha as a measure of internal reliability, with a commonly accepted threshold of 0.8 for acceptable reliability.

Uploaded by

Vũ Nguyệt Minh
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

How Do We Analyse Quantitative Data?

Measurement Scales

Here are some measurement scales that can be used for analysing quantitative data.

Nominal scales involve the use of numbers to indicate membership in one or more
categories.
Ordinal scales involve the use of numbers to rank or order scores from high to low.
Interval scales involve the use of numbers to represent equal intervals in different
segments on a continuum.
Ratio scales involve the use of numbers to represent equal distances from a known
zero point.

How Are Data Prepared for Analysis?

1. Collected data must be scored accurately and consistently.


2. Once scored, data must be tabulated and coded.

Figure 1: An overview of data analysis

Validity of the Instrument

What are research instruments?


Research instrument are the fact finding tools researchers use for data collection. Research
instruments can include questionnaire, survey, interview, observation and etc

Figure 2: An illustration for ensuring validity of data

It is important for researchers to use valid instruments, for the conclusions they draw are based
on the information they obtain using these instruments.

The term validity, as used in research, refers to the appropriateness, meaningfulness,


correctness, and usefulness of any inferences a researcher draws based on data obtained
through the use of an instrument.

Figure 3: Types of validity

Reliability of the Research


The term reliability, as used in research, refers to the consistency of scores or answers
provided by an instrument.
Errors of measurement refer to variations in scores obtained by the same individuals on the
same instrument.

The following are three prominent factors involved when considering whether a measure is
reliable by Bryman & Bell (2014):-

Stability: This consideration entails asking whether or not a measure is stable over time, so that
we can be confident that the results relating to that measure for a sample of respondents do not
fluctuate. This means that, if we administer a measure to a group and then re- administer it,
there will be little variation over time in the results obtained.

Internal Reliability: the key issue is whether or not the indicators that make up the scale or
index are consistent - in other words, whether or not respondents' scores on any one indicator
tend to be related to their scores on the other indicators.

Inter-observer consistency: When a great deal of subjective judgement is involved in such


activities, as the recording of observations or the translation of data into categories and where
more than one "observer" is involved in such activities, there is the possibility that there is a
lack of consistency in their decisions.

Cronbach's alpha is a commonly used test of internal reliability. It essentially calculates the
average of all possible split-half reliability coefficients. A computed alpha coefficient will vary
between 1 (denoting perfect internal reliability) and 0 (denoting no internal reliability). The
figure 0.8 is typically employed as a rule of thumb to denote an acceptable level of internal
reliability, though many writers accept a slightly lower figure (e.g.: 0.7).

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