Data Analysis

Reflection 5

Data analysis is never an easy topic for me, ever since I first learned it when doing my degree. However, despite saying that, I am not bad with SPSS. I know how to use SPSS quite well. My problem would be in analyzing the result. I am not so sure on how to interpret the result, like whether a relationship is significant or not, or whether something actually affects the other.  

Also, I do have issues in deciding whether I am choosing the right test for the right purpose. Of course, after listening to your lecture as well as preparing the summary, I have refreshed my memory on that (from my degree years). Definitely I will still to read more before I can decide on my data analysis procedure.

As for now, I am following quite well. I understand the difference between ordinal, nominal, interval and ratio as how I would need to know if I were to key-in the data into SPSS and I understand the use of standard deviation and mean (which is quite familiar to me since I am teaching Language Tests in School to Diploma in TESL students). Standard deviation basically describes the variability of the scores or the spread of the data. The bigger the SD, the more the variability and the further they might be from the mean.

The practice definitely helps, though I was a bit confused on how to decide which class did better. From my readings, it would have probably been easier to decide if we were told whether the distribution was normal or not, I think. Because if the SD is bigger, it means that the scores could be further from the mean, however, it could also mean that the scores are further towards the lower scores, right? At least that is what I understand. Not sure if that will help either, though. However, the practice does help.

All in all, the summary helps a lot even though at times, when my workload from work is too much to handle, the summary is too tedious to complete. But I have to admit and I understand that the idea behind it is to get us to read. At one point, it does work.