CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

This chapter outlines the types of analytics methods and their key
characteristics. It also describes the procedures and methods used in conducting the
survey. Additionally, this section explains the rationale behind the chosen
methodology. It details the steps taken to ensure the reliability and validity of the
survey findings.

3.1 Types of Data Analysis Methods in Research

(1) Quantitative Research Methods

Quantitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical

data. It can be used to find patterns and averages, make predictions, test causal
relationships, and generalize results to wider populations. Surveys, experiments, and
statistical analyses are common in quantitative research. This approach provides
measurable and statistically significant results, contributing to the empirical
understanding of phenomena. Quantitative data analysis employs statistical
techniques for processing and interpreting numeric data.

(2) Qualitative Research Methods

Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data

(e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be
used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.
Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing numerical data for statistical
analysis. Qualitative research is commonly used in the humanities and social
sciences, in subjects such as anthropology, sociology, education, health sciences,
history, etc. Techniques such as interviews, focus groups, and content analysis are
employed in qualitative research. This approach is valuable for gaining in-depth
insights into complex social, cultural, and psychological phenomena.

3.2 Description and Methodology of Statistical Analysis

This article discusses about the overview of EXCEL software and

methodology of types of analysis performed in EXCEL.

3.2.1 Excel

Microsoft Excel is a software program created by Microsoft that uses

spreadsheets to organize numbers and data with formulas and functions. It is a
versatile spreadsheet application that offers a wide range of features for data analysis,
management, and visualization. Excel is a powerful tool widely used in various fields
such as finance, accounting, business analysis, data management, and academic
research due to its robust features for data analysis, visualization, and collaboration.
Here is an overview of excel, including its features, common uses, and basic steps for
conducting data analysis.

(1) User Interface

Ribbon Interface: Easy access to tools and commands organized into tabs.

Workbook and Worksheets: Supports multiple worksheets within a single workbook

for organizing data.

(2) Formulas and Functions

Basic calculations and formulas: It offer a wide range of built-in mathematical and
statistical

functions for performing basic calculations and data manipulation.

Integration: Excel integrates with other Microsoft Office applications and can
import/export data from/to other software programs.

(3) Data Entry and Management

Cell-Based Structure: Organizes data in rows and columns.

Data Types: Supports various data types including numbers, text, dates, and formulas.
Data Import/Export: Imports and exports data in multiple formats such as CSV, TXT,
XML, and other Excel formats.

(4) Mobile and Web Versions

Excel Online: Provides a web-based version for accessing and editing spreadsheets
from any device with internet access.

Mobile Apps: Offers mobile applications for Android and iOS devices, enabling work
on-the-go.

(5) Data Visualization

Charts and Graphs: Creates various types of charts including bar, line, pie, scatter,
and area charts.

Conditional Formatting: Highlights cells with colors, icons, and data bars based on
specified criteria.

(6) Applications

Excel is widely used for financial analysis, budgeting, project management,

data tracking, and reporting across diverse industries.

3.3 Types of Analysis Performed in EXCEL

Excel is widely used for data analysis, but they have different strengths and
are suited to different types of analyses. It is a versatile tool that is widely used for
data management, visualization, and basic statistical analysis across various
industries and disciplines. Here's an overview of the types of analysis performed in
software:

(1) Basic Statistical Functions

Excel provides a range of basic statistical functions that can be used for data
analysis. These functions help in summarizing, analyzing, and interpreting data
effectively. Excel provides built-in functions for basic statistical calculations, such as
mean, median, mode, standard deviation, variance, etc.

(2) Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts

 Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts in Excel are powerful tools for summarizing,
analyzing, exploring, and presenting data. They enable users to transform large
datasets into meaningful insights through dynamic reporting and visualization.

(3) What-If Analysis

Scenario Manager: Analyzes different scenarios by changing input values.

Goal Seek: Finds the input values needed to achieve a desired goal.

Data Tables: Shows how changes in one or two variables affect outcomes.

(4) Data Visualization

Charts and Graphs: Creates various types of charts, including bar, line, pie, scatter,
and histograms.

PivotTables: Summarizes and analyzes large datasets with interactive pivot tables.

(5) Data Manipulation and Cleaning

Excel's spreadsheet capabilities make it useful for data manipulation,

cleaning, and organizing tasks, such as filtering, sorting, and formatting data.

In summary, Both SPSS and Excel offer powerful tools for data analysis, but
they cater to different needs. SPSS is more specialized for complex statistical
analyses and large datasets, often used in academic research and professional
statistical work. Excel, on the other hand, is highly versatile for general data
manipulation, basic statistical analysis, and visualization, making it a common tool in
business, finance, and everyday data handling tasks.

Excel offers a wide variety of chart and plot types that help in visualizing data
effectively. Here’s an overview of the different types of charts and plots you can
create in Excel:

(1) Column Chart

Description: Compares values across categories using vertical bars.

Usage: Suitable for showing changes over time or comparing different categories.

Types: Clustered, stacked, and 100% stacked column charts.

(2) Bar Chart

Description: Compares values across categories using horizontal bars.

Usage: Useful when category names are long or when comparing many categories.

Types: Clustered, stacked, and 100% stacked bar charts.

(3) Line Chart

Description: Displays trends over time by connecting data points with a continuous
line.

Usage: Ideal for showing data trends and changes over periods.

Types: Line, stacked line, and 100% stacked line charts.

(4) Pie Chart

Description: Shows the proportion of each category as a slice of a pie.

Usage: Best for showing parts of a whole.

Types: Pie, 3-D pie, exploded pie charts.

(5) Area Chart

Description: Emphasizes the magnitude of change over time by filling the area under
the line.

Usage: Useful for showing cumulative data trends.

Types: Area, stacked area, and 100% stacked area charts.

(6) Histogram

Description: Displays the distribution of a dataset by grouping data into bins.

Usage: Ideal for showing frequency distributions.

Types: Standard histogram.