ABSTRACT
Statistical analysis is the process of separating out systematic eects from
the random noise inherent in all sets of observations. There are three general
steps in this process: collection, analysis, and assessment. For most people,
data collection is not diÆcult in that we live in an age where data are om-
nipresent. More commonly, researchers possess an abundance of data and
seek meaningful patterns lurking among the various deadends and distrac-
tions. Armed with a substantive theory, many are asking: what should I do
now? Furthermore, these same people are often frustrated when receiving
multiple, possibly con icting, answers to that question.
