Analyzing Data

Qualitative techniques

a type of data analysis technique in which are generally easier to use because they do not rely on numerical data. That fact also makes them more open to subjective biases but also easier to understand and interpret.

Content analysis

a method for summarizing diagnostic data in which it is a popular technique for assessing qualitative data, especially interview data, is _, which attempts to summarize comments into meaningful categories. When done well, a content analysis can reduce hundreds of interview comments into a few themes that effectively summarize the issues or attitudes of a group of respondents.

Force-field Analysis

a method for summarizing diagnostic data where it derives from Kurt Lewin’s three-step model of change described in Chapter 2. Called force-field analysis, this method organizes information pertaining to organizational change into two major categories: forces for change and forces for maintaining the status quo or resisting change. 13 Using data collected through interviews, observations, or unobtrusive measures

Quantitative techniques

a type of data analysis technique in which it can provide more accurate readings of the organizational problem. These measures are routinely produced by most statistical computer software packages. Therefore, mathematical calculations are not discussed here.

Means. Standard deviations, and frequency distributions

a quantitative technique in summarying data in which one of the most economical and straightforward ways to summarize quantitative data is to compute a _ for each item or variable measured. These represent the respondents’ average score and the spread or variability of the responses, respectively.

Correlation coefficients

a quantitative technique which is a addition to describing data, quantitative techniques also permit OD practitioners to make inferences about the relationships between variables. _ are measures of the strength of a relationship between two variables.

Scattergram

a quantitative technique which is a diagram that visually displays the relationship between two variables. It is constructed by locating each case (person or event) at the intersection of its value for each of the two variables being compared.

Difference test

It can be used to compare a sample group against some standard or norm to determine whether the group is above or below that standard. It also can be used to determine whether two samples are significantly different from each other.