Quantitative Data Analysis for Information Science Professionals

Introduction

The chapter discusses basic aspects of quantitative data analysis as they relate to information sciences. It is based on the presentation and analysis of what is in the literature. It presents the following: background; the what and why of quantitative data analysis; fundamental concepts germane to quantitative data analysis; preparation of quantitative data analysis; quantitative data analysis methods; popular quantitative data analysis softwares; presentation of quantitative data; interpretation of quantitative data and advantages and disadvantages of quantitative data.

Quantitative data analysis skills are very necessary for an information science professional. The skills are necessary because the amount of information based on quantitative or statistical analysis is growing in our society (Geers, 2000) cited in Murtonen, Olkinuora, Tynjala, & Lehtinen (2008). Unfortunately, social science students in colleges or universities tend to have challenges in comprehending quantitative methods and statistics courses (Gal et al., 1997) cited in Murtonen et al. (2008). The challenges may be attributed to previous bad experiences with mathematics leading to anxiety towards statistics. The social science students will struggle with quantitative data when they finally join the world of work. For example, Goertzen (2017) states that librarians face a challenge of making sense of all the wealth quantitative data sources available to them and use them (data sources) in a way that supports effective decision making. They thus, together with other information science professionals, need some exposure to the basic quantitative data analysis aspects presented in this chapter. Take note that a more detailed justification of the chapter is presented under the sub section on the what and why of quantitative data analysis as well as one on statistics you will encounter later in the chapter.

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

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  Appreciate the nature and place of quantitative data analysis in information science research;

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  Appreciate the value of statistics in information science research;

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  Differentiate between descriptive and inferential statistics;

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  Carry out simple quantitative data analysis; and

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  Present and interpret quantitative data.

Background

Data is a general term with several meanings (Kerlinger, 1986). AED/TAC-12 Spring (2006) defines data as short hand for information or numbers, characters, images or other methods of recording, in a form which can be assessed to make a determination or decision about a specification. Data on its own has no meaning. It has meaning when interpreted and becomes information. There are two types of data, quantitative and qualitative data. The focus of this chapter is on quantitative data analysis.