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We carry out research to test hypotheses, and we do that by getting hold of data.
Hopefully, if our experiments are planned and executed correctly, we can get hold of
good data that can tell us something unique about the world.
While the first part of any experiment – the planning and execution – is critically
important, it is only half the battle. How the data is treated is just as important, and
analyzing good data in the right way can lead to groundbreaking findings and insights.
Data analysis is often seen as the most scary aspect of completing research, but it
doesn’t have to be that way. While you’ll need to understand what to do with the data,
and how to interpret the results, software that is designed for statistical analysis can
make this process as smooth and as easy as possible.
A great number of tools are available to carry out statistical analysis of data, and
below we list (in no particular order) the seven best packages suitable for human
behavior research.
1. SPSS (IBM)
SPSS, (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) is perhaps the most widely used
statistics software package within human behavior research. SPSS offers the ability to
easily compile descriptive statistics, parametric and non-parametric analyses, as well
as graphical depictions of results through the graphical user interface (GUI). It also
includes the option to create scripts to automate analysis, or to carry out more
advanced statistical processing.
4. Microsoft Excel
While not a cutting-edge solution for statistical analysis, MS Excel does offer a wide
variety of tools for data visualization and simple statistics. It’s simple to generate
summary metrics and customizable graphics and figures, making it a usable tool for
many who want to see the basics of their data. As many individuals and companies
both own and know how to use Excel, it also makes it an accessible option for those
looking to get started with statistics.
6. GraphPad Prism
GraphPad Prism is premium software primarily used within statistics related to
biology, but offers a range of capabilities that can be used across various fields.
Similar to SPSS, scripting options are available to automate analyses, or carry out
more complex statistical calculations, but the majority of the work can be completed
through the GUI.
7. Minitab
The Minitab software offers a range of both basic and fairly advanced statistical tools
for data analysis. Similar to GraphPad Prism, commands can be executed through
both the GUI and scripted commands, making it accessible to novices as well as users
looking to carry out more complex analyses.
Conclusion
There are a range of different software tools available, and each offers something
slightly different to the user – what you choose will depend on a range of factors,
including your research question, knowledge of statistics, and experience of coding.
These factors could mean that you are at the cutting-edge of data analysis, but as with
any research, the quality of the data obtained is reliant upon the quality of the study
execution. It’s therefore important to keep in mind that while you might have
advanced statistical software (and the knowledge to use it) available to you, the results
won’t mean much if they weren’t collected in a valid way.
We’ve put together a guide to experimental design, helping you carry out quality
research so that the results you collect can be relied on.
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