INTERPRETATION
OF DATA
Why interpret research results?
For example,
*What does it mean that 55 youth reported change in behavior,
*25 % of participants rated the program a 5 and 75 % rated it a 4?
What do these numbers mean?
DATA INTERPRETATION
The intelligence and logic of the
researcher are required in this
part.
The
analysis
and
interpretation will be the bases
of the findings of the study.
What is Interpretation in Research?
Interpretation refers to the task of
drawing inferences from the data
that has been collected, analyzed,
and presented after an analytical
and or experimental study.
It involves making “inferences pertinent to the research
relations” investigated from where generalizations are drawn
(Calderon & Gonzales, 1993).
Interpretation reflects the researcher’s
own understanding of the research
results which are guided by logic and
reason, established theories and
previous findings.
It is simply the process of
attaching meaning to the
data.
What are the two types of data to
interpret?
Qualitative
Quantitative
Data
Data
This requires
Qualitative
* UNDERSTANDING
* DIGESTING
Data
* SYNTHESIZING
* CONCEPTUALIZING
requirements
* DESCRIPTIONS OF
BEHAVIORS, EXPERIENCES,
and limitations
AND IDEAS
Qualitative Interpretation tends to be
more subjective in nature and many times
can be influenced by the researcher’s
biases.
(Leed & Ormrod, 2001)
The interpretation includes
the voices of the
participants. The
researchers should neither
say more than what the data
says nor less than the data
before them (Chenail,2012)
Types and Examples of Q ualitative Data
NOMINAL DATA (Nominal S cale)
-attributes or properties and cannot be
calculated
• Open-ended Approach
What is your highest qualification?
ORDINAL DATA
- V ariables have natural ordered categ ories
and distances between the categ ories are
not known
Question with a 5 point Likert Scale:
Example 1: How will you rate the new
BTS meal of Mc Donalds?
• Closed-ended Approach
1. Very good
Example 1. : What is your highest
2. Good
qualification?
3. Neutral
- LPT
4. Bad
- CPA
5. Very Bad
- RN
- PhD
Example 2: How will you rate you
experience working with us?
Example 2: Which of the following
1. Very good
payment platforms are you familiar with? 2. Good
-Paypal
3. Neutral
-Gcash
4. Bad
-Paymaya
5. Very Bad
Quantitative
Data
This is also known as numerical
data. Interpreting this in order to
make predictions is known as
Inferential Statistics.
Some measures used in
inferential statistics include the
standard error of the mean,
estimators, and the p-value.
Quantitative Data
• Demographic Data
-age, monthly income, asset and liability values
Note: Demographic data such as Sex, Gender,
Ethnicity/Nationality, Civil Status,
Employment status are usually Qualitative in
nature
• Answers to closed-ended
Survey Items
Example: Rating Scale from 1-5 for a certain
product, where, 1=Horrible, 2=Bad,
3=Average, 4= Good, and 5=Excellent
whereas a rating of 2.5 would mean the
product is below average.
• Scores on Standardized
Instruments
• Attendance Data
Example: SF2 Daily Attendance Report of
Learners
Example 1: RPMS-IPCRF Resuls-based
Performance Management SystemIndividual Performance Commitment
and Review Form
- Other examples: Psychological Tests
and Inventories
Data Interpretation
There are levels of
interpretation considered in
organizing the discussion of the
results from the data.
Level 1 - data to be collected are compared
and contrasted
Levels of Interpreting the Data
Level 1data collected are
compared and
contrast
Level 4relate or connect the
interpretation of data
with theory or with
review of related
literature
S ample Interpretation of Data
Important reminders in
interpreting a data:
1. Never use the word “proof” or “proves”
-No single scientific investigation ever proves anything.
2. Be objective and critical.
-Data-driven thinking and not personal
3. Never twist or alter the analysis of the data gathered.
-Unexpected result does not mean a bad or incorrect research
4. Ask technical assistance from professionals
-Have your interpretation be checked by a Statistician/Mathematician, a
reputable Researcher, and/or a Grammarian
-
It is absolutely essential that the task
of, interpretation be accomplished with
PATIENCE in an impartial manner and
also in correct perspective.
-Prof. A. Balasubramanian, 2017
“Data are just summaries of
thousands of stories-tell a few
of those stories to help make
the data meaningful.”
- Chip & Dan Heath