ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a concise review of issues researchers should consider in the preliminary stages of data analyses. This chapter addresses three main topics: initial data handling, cleaning up data and the initial steps of data analysis. Initial data handling refers to transcribing and coding data, choices of statistical packages, and structuring the data set. This is followed by a discussion of problems with and solutions for missing data and outliers. Finally, the chapter describes how to explore the data set prior to conducting analyses, including a discussion of graphical exploration of the data and testing for violations of statistical assumptions. We have attempted to provide non-technical and basic guidance while also referencing more thorough statistical references where readers may be interested in more details.
