1 Choice of analytical technique(s) Own experience of using quantitative methods & analytical techniques Background: Organisational Psychology Strongly influenced by positivist philosophical approaches; also pragmatism Analytical techniques I use frequently: descriptives, correlations, different types of regressions, factor analyses (exploratory), reliability analyses Analytical techniques I have used previously: (psychometric) meta- analysis, systematic review, statistical power analyses, pair comparison techniques Analytical techniques I would like to use (more): structural equation modelling incl. confirmatory factor analysis and multi-level modelling, longitudinal methods, cluster analysis…

2 Choice of analytical technique(s) (ctd.) Considerations when choosing analytical techniques: What works? i.e. what techniques can help me in answering my research question(s)? a) data collection (e.g. questionnaire); b) subsequent data analysis (e.g. regression) On the one hand: Dont use fancy methods if they wont help you in your research! But on the other hand: Be prepared to try new things and/or to adapt a technique used in a different subject area (e.g. medicine). Do you know how to do it? Important to get things right. Go on training courses if necessary & speak to experts. Recognise the limitations.

3 Choice of analytical technique(s) (ctd.) Where can you get help & advice from? Your supervisor(s). The academic literature – textbooks (basic & advanced) & journal articles discussing specific techniques. Your peers – anonymous analysts?? Quantitative analysis experts in your department or university. Training courses provided by your department/university, other universities, the ESRC etc. Other scholars – dont be shy. The internet has some useful information, too, e.g. (be careful to stick to trustworthy sources).