Data Interpretation

Data: Dictionary of Merriam Webster defines it as, “factual information (such as measurements
or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation”.

Data means the facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis or things which are
known or assumed as facts, making the basis of reasoning or calculation. Data Types are as
follows:

a) Qualitative Data: Facts (information) required for theoretical/ qualitative analysis is called
qualitative data. For e.g. For recruitment purpose required data is name, ages, qualification,
hobbies, desirable, hobbies, references, future vision/ career objective, address, contact No
etc.

b) Qualitative Data: Facts (information) required for numerical/ quantitative analysis is called
qualitative data. For e.g. Data required for finding out age, average, mean, median, mode,
frequency, percentage, difference etc.

c) Computer Data: the quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by
a computer, which may be stored and transmitted in the form of electrical signals and recorded
on magnetic, optical, or mechanical recording media.

Data is based on facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis. Data in
numerical format helps us to draw conclusions by comparing the data.

Data Storage: It means collection of data for future use for different purposes. Almost all
organizations collect (store) the data (detailed information) of their employees and of customers
as well.

Data Management: It means to categorize the collected data as per similarities, groups, features,
need, level, qualification etc. All organization such as universities, institutions, companies etc.
use it.

Interpretation: Interpretation is the act of explaining, re-framing or showing your own

understanding of something. All organization such as universities, institutions, companies etc.
use it.

Data Interpretation: Data interpretation is an act of analyzing data with the objective to gain
useful information from it. It is done to draw conclusions from the given data. Different
statistical tools are used to represent the data in organized structures. Thus, it means explaining
with reference to the facts, figures, tables, charts, graphs etc. provided. The data could be in the
form of a table, graph, percentage, pie chart, histogram etc.

The two broadest and most common categories are: 1) quantitative analysis and 2) qualitative
analysis.

Tools and Techniques of Data Analysis: Pictographs, Bar graph, Pie charts, curves, frequency
etc.

Qualitative Data Interpretation

Qualitative data analysis can be summed up in one word – categorical. With qualitative analysis,
data is not described through numerical values or patterns, but through the use of descriptive
context (i.e., text). Typically, narrative data is gathered by employing a wide variety of person-
to-person techniques. These techniques include:

 Observations: Detailing behavioral patterns that occur within an observation group.

These patterns could be the amount of time spent in an activity, the type of activity and
the method of communication employed.

 Documents: Much like how patterns of behavior can be observed, different types of
documentation resources can be coded and divided based on the type of material they
contain.

 Interviews: One of the best collection methods for narrative data. Enquiry responses can
be grouped by theme, topic or category. The interview approach allows for highly-
focused data segmentation.

Specifically, the most popular and effective methods of qualitative data interpretation include the
following:

 Word and phrase repetitions – scanning primary data for words and phrases most
commonly used by respondents, as well as, words and phrases used with unusual
emotions;
 Primary and secondary data comparisons – comparing the findings of interview/focus
group/observation/any other qualitative data collection method with the findings of
literature review and discussing differences between them;
 Search for missing information – discussions about which aspects of the issue was not
mentioned by respondents, although you expected them to be mentioned;
 Metaphors and analogues – comparing primary research findings to phenomena from a
different area and discussing similarities and differences.