How to Analyse Data and Evidence: The Third Stage Of The Social Research Toolbox, QGAP [How-to Guide]

This guide offers an overview of some of the key tasks required for analysing qualitative and quantitative research data and evidence. As part of the social research toolbox, or QGAP, series, it considers what should happen once you have gathered data and evidence in pursuit of your research question. The guide begins with the important task of preparing your data for analysis which involves formatting it so that it is free from errors and that all identifiable features (which could compromise anonymity) are removed. It then considers the key features of social science data analysis – which are argued to be categorisation and comparison. Theory also plays an important role in this process as comparisons within our data are used to test, refine or develop theories. We finally discuss the use of software packages in the analysis stage and some of the possibilities they offer for managing, categorising and visualising relationships within your data.