Planning the Report and Managing Data

Planning the Report and Managing Data Finding Sources Collecting Data Displaying Quantitative Information Interpreting Data

Planning the Report and Managing Data Finding Sources Collecting Data Displaying Quantitative Information Interpreting Data

Criteria for a Business Report Organized The reader can locate information quickly. Well Supported The reader can trust the information (facts and data). Useful The reader uses the report to make decisions and solve problems. Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Plan Your Approach Define the report purpose Analyze the intended audience Determine what data is needed to solve the problem or make a decision Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Secondary Data Primary Data Types of Data Secondary Data Data collected by someone else for some other purpose Primary Data Data collected by the researcher to solve a specific problem Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Types of Secondary Data Published (widely disseminated) Internet resources Journal, magazine, and newspaper articles Books Brochures and pamphlets Technical reports Unpublished (not widely disseminated) Company records (e.g., reports and emails) Legal documents (e.g., court records) Personal files (e.g., expense records) Medical records © ALEXARANDA/SHUTTERSTOCK MICROSTOCK MAN/CUTCASTER Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Evaluating Internet Resources Authority Accuracy and Reliability Purpose/Objectivity Coverage Currency NATTHAPOL VANASRIVILAI/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Evaluating Research Studies What was the purpose of the study? How was the data collected? How was the data analyzed? How consistent is the data with that from other studies? How old is the data? Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Planning the Report and Managing Data Finding Sources Collecting Data Displaying Quantitative Information Interpreting Data

When to Use Questionnaires The information can be provided easily and quickly The target audience is homogeneous Sufficient time is available Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Constructing the Questionnaire Content Organization Format Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Questionnaire Content Ask for information that is not available elsewhere Have a purpose for each question Use precise wording Use neutrally worded questions Ensure that the response choices are exhaustive and mutually exclusive Be careful about sensitive questions Pilot-test your questionnaire Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

What’s Wrong with These Questions? What is your age? ___ Which of the following is most important to you when you select housing? ___ Location ___ Proximity to school ___ Price ___ Size ___ Number of rooms Do you think that companies should block employee access to inappropriate websites that cause wasted time at work? Yes or No Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

What’s Wrong with These Questions? What percentage of new start-up companies failed in Michigan last year? Do you think it takes a long time for the average start-up firm to secure financing? Banks should set aside more funds for start-up companies because they are so important to the economy. __ agree __ no opinion __ disagree Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Questionnaire Organization Arrange the questions in some logical order Arrange the alternatives for each question in some logical order Give the questionnaire a descriptive title Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Use an easy-to-answer format Questionnaire Format Use an easy-to-answer format Ensure that your questionnaire has a professional appearance Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Planning the Report and Managing Data Finding Sources Collecting Data Displaying Quantitative Information Interpreting Data

Using Tables for Reports and Presentations Why Tables Are Useful What Tables Cannot Do Show numerical data in a more efficient and interesting way than with narrative text Be presented on a screen (with dense data) Provide more information than a chart does Show trends as obviously as a chart does Allow easy comparison of figures Capture attention as well as a chart does Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

HASCO EMPLOYMENT LEVELS How to Format a Table Cross-tabulations Table Number Table 3 HASCO EMPLOYMENT LEVELS As of December 10, 2013 Employee Type Total By Department Annual Admin Prod Sales Change Full-time nonexempt 389 27 345 17 -3.0% Full-time exempt 143 19 15 109 13.5% Temporary 31 4 22 5 5.3% Othera 21 13 8 -1.6% 584 63 382 139 5.9% Source: Madison County Facts—2011, Metropolitan State University Press, St. Louis, MO, 2011, p. 183. a Includes all special-project and work-for-hire employees. Title Subtitle Column Headings Source (optional) Footnote (optional) Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

How Can You Improve This Chart? Cost of Living Comparison: McLean, VA, and Beverly Hills, CA Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Chart Types Line charts show trends over time Bar charts compare items Pie charts show parts of a whole Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Creating Infographics Storyboard the content Choose graphics and styles Explain the data Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Planning the Report and Managing Data Finding Sources Collecting Data Displaying Quantitative Information Interpreting Data

Three Steps in Interpreting Data Determine the meaning of each finding by itself, in conjunction with each other finding, and in conjunction with all other findings. Isolation Context Synthesis SERGEJ KHAKIMULLIN/SHUTTERSTOCK Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

Discuss Overall Findings and… Trends Unexpected findings Data that reinforces or contradicts other data Extreme values Data that raises questions Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting