UNIT 5

Data Analysis Methods

Christian A. Mediran, MSIT

IT 305 – Quantitative Methods
 LESSON 1:
Introduction to Data Analysis

IT 305 – Quantitative Methods

 Data Analysis

Data Analysis is important to business to better understand the problems that an

organization might face and explore data in meaningful ways. Data are merely facts and
figures and when it is processed into sets according to context, it provides information.

DATA INFORMATION
 Data Analysis
DATA INFORMATION

› Each individual homework and test grade of a student › The student’s grade for each class.
in one class.
› The list of search results that includes a variety of cat
› Typing the words “cat videos” on your computer’s videos on the internet (output).
search engine (input).
› a person’s phone number (555) 123-7798
› 5551237798
› The freezing and boiling point of water in Fahrenheit
› 100, 212, 0, 32 and Celsius.

Data Analysis organizes, interprets, structures and presents the data into useful information that
provides context for the data. This context can then be used by decision-makers to take action
with the aim of enhancing productivity and business gain.

Data Analysis is the process of collecting, transforming, cleaning and modeling data
with the goal of discovering the required information.
 Types of Data
Quantitative Data Qualitative Data
› Quantitative Data can be counted, measured, and › Qualitative Data is descriptive and conceptual. It can
expressed using numbers. be categorized based on traits and characteristics.
“NUMERICAL” “CATEGORICAL”

https://www.intellspot.com/qualitative-vs-quantitative-data/
Data Analysis Process

https://www.g2.com/articles/data-analysis-process
 Data Analysis Process
1. Data Requirements Specification
Define why you need data analysis; Decide on the objectives; What to measure and How to measure.
The data required for analysis is based on a question or an experiment. Based on the requirements of
those directing the analysis, the data necessary as inputs to the analysis is identified (e.g., Population of
people). Specific variables regarding a population (e.g., Age and Income) may be specified and obtained.
Data may be numerical or categorical.

2. Data Collection
Data Collection is the process of gathering information on targeted variables identified as data
requirements. The emphasis is on ensuring accurate and honest collection of data. Data Collection
ensures that data gathered is accurate such that the related decisions are valid. Data Collection provides
both a baseline to measure and a target to improve.

3. Data Cleaning
The data that is collected must be processed or organized for analysis. Data cleaning is the process of
preparing data for analysis by removing or modifying data that is incorrect, incomplete, irrelevant,
duplicated, or improperly formatted.
 Data Analysis Process
4. Data Analysis
Data that is processed, organized and cleaned would be ready for the analysis. Various data analysis
techniques are available to understand, interpret, and derive conclusions based on the requirements.
Data Visualization may also be used to examine the data in graphical format, to obtain additional insight
regarding the messages within the data.

Statistical Data Models such as Correlation and Regression Analysis can be used to identify the relations
among the data variables. These models that are descriptive of the data are helpful in simplifying analysis
and communicate results.

5. Data Interpretation
The final step is interpreting the results from the data analysis. Now that you have your results, you need
to interpret them and come up with the best courses of action, based on your findings.
 Data Analysis Methods
Descriptive Analysis
The descriptive analysis method is the starting point to any analytic process, and it aims to answer the
question of “What happened?”. It does this by ordering, manipulating, and interpreting raw data from
various sources to turn it into valuable insights to your business.

Diagnostic Analysis
Diagnostic analysis answers the question, “Why did this happen?”. Using insights gained from statistical
analysis, analysts use diagnostic analysis to identify patterns in data. Ideally, the analysts find similar
patterns that existed in the past, and consequently, use those solutions to resolve the present challenges
hopefully.

Predictive Analysis
Predictive analysis answers the question, “What is most likely to happen?”. By using patterns found in
older data as well as current events, analysts predict future events. While there’s no such thing as 100
percent accurate forecasting, the odds improve if the analysts have plenty of detailed information and the
discipline to research it thoroughly.
 Data Analysis Methods
Prescriptive Analysis
Mix all the insights gained from the other data analysis types, and you have prescriptive analysis.
Sometimes, an issue can’t be solved solely with one analysis type, and instead requires multiple insights.

Exploratory Analysis
This method explores data relationships. Once the data is investigated, the exploratory analysis enables
you to find connections and generate hypotheses and solutions for specific problems. A typical area
of application for exploratory analysis is data mining.
 LESSON 2:
Descriptive Analysis

IT 305 – Quantitative Methods

 Descriptive Analysis
Descriptive Analysis
The descriptive analysis method is the starting point to any analytic process, and it aims to answer the
question of “What happened?”. It does this by ordering, manipulating, and interpreting raw data from
various sources to turn it into valuable insights to your business.

The descriptive analysis is a sort of data research that aids in describing, demonstrating, or helpfully
summarizing data points so those patterns may develop that satisfy all of the conditions of the data. It is
the technique of identifying patterns and links by utilizing recent and historical data.

https://www.lido.app/post/data-analysis-101-the-types-of-analysis-you-can-conduct
 Descriptive Analysis
Measures of Frequency
It measures how frequently a certain event or response is likely to occur. This is the prime purpose of
measures of frequency to make like a count or percent.
Frequency Distribution provides the information of the number of occurrences (frequency) of distinct
values distributed within a given period of time or interval, in a list, table, or graphical representation.
 Descriptive Analysis
Frequency Distribution for Ungrouped Data

Ungrouped Data which is also known as raw data are data that has not been placed in any group or
category after collection.
 Descriptive Analysis
Frequency Distribution for Grouped Data

Grouped Data is the type of data which is classified into groups after collection. The raw data is
categorized into various groups and a table is created. The primary purpose of the table is to show the
data points occurring in each group.
 Descriptive Analysis
Frequency Distribution Graph

Bar Graph is a way of summarizing a set of categorical data. It displays the data using several rectangles,
of the same width, each of which represents a particular category. Bar graphs can be displayed
horizontally or vertically, and they are usually drawn with a gap between the bars (rectangles).

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/edu/power-pouvoir/ch9/bargraph-diagrammeabarres/5214818-eng.htm
 Descriptive Analysis
Frequency Distribution Graph

A Histogram is a way of summarizing data that are measured on an interval scale (either discrete or
continuous). It is often used in exploratory data analysis to illustrate the features of the distribution of the
data in a convenient form.

https://mathmonks.com/histogram
 Descriptive Analysis
Frequency Distribution Graph

A Line Graph is commonly used to display change over time as a series of data points connected by
straight line segments on two axes.

https://www.cuemath.com/data/line-graphs/
 Descriptive Analysis
Measures of Central Tendency

A measure of central tendency describes a set of data by identifying the central position in the data set as
a single value.

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/mean-median-and-mode-in-r-programming/
 Descriptive Analysis
Measures of Central Tendency

known as arithmetic average ,defined as the sum of the values in the data group
divided by the number of values.

https://ledidi.com/academy/measures-of-central-tendency-mean-median-and-mode

Example:
Scores of 6 students: 12 10 18 16 20 24
Mean(x̄) = (12 +10+18+16+20+24)/6
x̄ = 16.67
 Descriptive Analysis
Measures of Central Tendency

(centermost/middlemost) is the point on the scale of scores/measures/cases below

which one half of the score lie above which the other half lie.

Example: Example:
When N is odd, the median is the middle score. When N is even, the median is the average of
20 15 13 11 8 7 6 the two middle scores
Median is 11 21 18 15 14 11 8 8 7
Median is (14+11) / 2 = 12.5

Example:
When several score have the same value as the mid-score
15 15 14 11 9 9 9 6 5
Median is 9
 Descriptive Analysis
Measures of Central Tendency

the most frequently occurring observation in a data set. (value that has the highest
frequency) A data distribution with one mode value is called unimodal whereas
distributions with more than one mode values is called multimodal (they can be
bimodal, trimodal etc.)

Example:
15 15 14 11 9 9 9 6 5
Mode is 9
 LESSON 3:
Descriptive Analysis
using Spreadsheets
Measures of Frequency

IT 305 – Quantitative Methods

 Measures of Frequency
Measures of Frequency

It measures how frequently a certain event or response is likely to occur. This is the prime purpose of
measures of frequency to make like a count or percent.

Using COUNT/COUNTIF Functions

COUNT
Used to count the number of cells that contain numbers.

COUNTIF
Used to count cells based on one criteria.

COUNTIFS
To count cells based on multiple criteria
 Measures of Frequency
Using COUNT Function

Syntax: =COUNT (value1, [value2], ...)

Using COUNTIF Function

Syntax: =COUNTIF (range, criteria)

range - the range of cells to count.

criteria - the criteria that controls

which cells should be counted.
 Measures of Frequency
Using COUNTIF Function

Syntax: =COUNTIF (range, criteria)

Syntax: =COUNTIF (range, criteria)

 Measures of Frequency
Using COUNTIFS Function

Syntax: =COUNTIFS (range1, criteria1, [range2], [criteria2], ..)

 Measures of Frequency
Using FREQUENCY Function

Frequency function returns a frequency distribution, which is a list that shows the frequency of values at
given intervals.
Syntax: =FREQUENCY (data_array, bins_array)
data_array - an array of values for which you want to get frequencies.
bins_array - an array of intervals ("bins") for grouping values.

To create a frequency distribution:

1. Enter numbers that represent the bins you want to group values into.
2. Select the same size as the range that contains bins, or one greater if want to include the extra item.
3. Enter the FREQUENCY function as a multi-cell array formula with control+shift+enter.
 Measures of Frequency
Using PIVOT Table

To insert a pivot table, execute the following steps.

1. Click any single cell inside the data set.

2. On the Insert tab, in the Tables group, click PivotTable.

3. Excel will display the Pivot Table window to be filled in.

 Measures of Frequency
Using PIVOT Table

To insert a pivot table, execute the following steps.

4. The PivotTable Fields pane appears. To build a pivot table,

drag fields into one the Columns, Rows, or Values area.

Suggested Online Resources:

https://exceljet.net/excel-functions/excel-count-function
https://exceljet.net/excel-functions/excel-countif-function
https://exceljet.net/excel-functions/excel-countifs-function
https://exceljet.net/excel-functions/excel-frequency-function
Thank You!

IT 305 – Quantitative Methods