ABSTRACT
Once the researcher has collected and cleaned the data, the analysis can begin. The research process typically places data analysis after a statement of the research questions, a review of the literature, presentation of the hypotheses, and description of the data and the methods to be used. However, the methods used for data analysis are limited on the one hand by the knowledge of the researcher, and on the other by elements of the research design itself. Thus, the methods used for analyzing data vary depending on whether the data is collected through an experimental or quasi-experimental (e.g., survey) design; whether the variables to be analyzed are quantitative (continuous or discrete) or qualitative=categorical (nominal or ordinal); whether the study is cross sectional or longitudinal; whether the data is obtained from a sample or from a population; and if the data comes from a sample, whether the sample size is large or small.
