Example Research Context & Quantitative Data Set

Abstract

Nearly all the statistical procedures are illustrated with reference to data emerging from a single coherent research context, described in this chapter. As you read, the variables used in the illustrations will remain familiar to you. The research context has been constructed to resonate not only with readers from a business background, but also with readers from social science, psychological, educational and health-related backgrounds. The research context and database are entirely fictitious and were created so that specific relationships and comparisons could be illustrated. Most of the procedures to be illustrated are performed on variables from this database using SPSS, with periodic use of SYSTAT, NCSS, STATGRAPHICS or R, as appropriate, for specific analytical and illustrative purposes. For certain more sophisticated procedures (such as time series analysis and Rasch models) and procedures involving different research designs (such as repeated measures designs), we extend the QCI research context to encompass new design aspects and additional data for the illustrations and to demonstrate the use of more specialised computer software programs. Finally, in this chapter, we discuss a range of quantitative stories that could be pursued in this database using the procedures illustrated in this book.