1. THE PRESENTATION OF EMPERICAL AND QUALITATIVE DATA
Please be welcome!!

2. THE PRESENTATION OF EMPERICAL AND QUALITATIVE DATA
PAPER TITLE
THE PRESENTATION OF EMPERICAL AND QUALITATIVE DATA
 By
 C. Njerekai-Department, Graduate School of Business Management, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe
2011

3. 2. Steps For Data Presentation
Step 1: Write a suitable introduction
Step 2: Conceptually come up with the sub-headings for this section

4. Cont.
Step 3: Present the data for each of the sub-headings you formulated in step 2

5. Cont.
In the presentation of your results, the following points are worth noting:
The general layout of your results must be clear and pleasing to the eye.
Even ordinary laymen should understand the results.
Diagrams, graphs and charts should be appropriately used.

6. Cont. Identify trends, extremes e.t.c and comment on them.
Blend the trends, extremes e.t.c with existing related literature, new or established theories.

7. Cont.
Draw general conclusions to each of your sub-headings to this chapter. These are the conclusions you will want to refer to in the research.
Relate your results to their effects on professional practice.

8. Cont.
Avoid including general points, which, although important, will not be arising from your research results.
Where various methods of collecting data were employed, the results from these methods should be blended and discussed under the appropriate sub-headings for the section.

9. Cont.
The use of subjective quantitative terms such as ‘most,’ ‘some,’ ‘several’, ‘a large number,’ etc are wholly discouraged. As much as possible, these terms should be replaced by exact figures, percentages e.t.c as evidence that the variables in question were measured.

10. The general methods of representing the data
Use of tables – a table is a systematic arrangement of data or information in a format that allows the reader to observe variations or trends and to make comparisons (Blaxter and Hughes 1996)

11. CONT.
Uses of figures – bar charts, scatter graphs, pie charts, line graphs and maps.
 Descriptions/narratives

12. The various specific methods of representing data and when to use them
Tables are good for presenting precise numerical data.
Figures and photos give vivid evidence of research findings.

13. Cont. Do not use a graph to duplicate information already in a table.
 Use a line graph if you wish to demonstrate the relationship between two data sets or a dynamic comparison over time.

14. CONT. Use a flow chart to explain a process or system.
Use scatter graphs to portray the relationships or the strength of association between two or more variables.
Use a flow chart to explain a process or system.
Use a pie chart to show components that make up the overall total

15. cont.
Use histograms to show frequency distributions of observations for each class of variable
Use simple bar graphs to show changes in the totals of the dependent variables caused by changes in the independent variables. The changes in the dependent variables will be shown by changes in the height of each bar.

16. cont.
Component bar graphs are mostly used where changes in the total and an indication of the size of each component figure are required
Multiple bar graphs are mostly used where only changes in the actual values of the component figures are required and the overall total is of no particular importance (Kumar 1996).

17. cont
Fortunately, most of the methods that have been described in this section can be produced in a split of second by the computer as long as the data for the variables in question have been captured.

18. Hints on the use of tables and figures in text
Tables and figures should never precede their reference to them. This means that, you should not just plant figures or tables without first making reference to them.
Tables and figures should always immediately follow their reference to them unless they are part of the appendix.

19. Cont.
Figures and tables should be used to aid understanding and bring out the main findings of the research.
Do not present the same data in different ways for no apparent reason.

20. Cont.
Tables and figures should have titles derived from or related to the research problem and be numbered in Arabic numerals. Figures should be fully labeled.
Tables or figures sourced from secondary data sources must be acknowledged.
The figure or table title and the relevant figure or table should appear on the same page.

21. Cont.
Table or figure titles should preferably be typed in lower case, done in bold, aligned left and placed either below or above the table throughout the text.
Tables should not have unnecessary column and row spaces and should not protrude beyond the left and right margins of the text.

22. Cont.
A table or figure, which cannot fit on the remaining space of a page, should be placed on the next page. Put text to cover the remaining page space.
Only those tables and figures that represent relevant information to the research problem should be included in the text.

23. Cont.
All tables and figures should be neat, simple, accurate and well labeled.
CONCLUSION!!!

24. THE END!!
Thank You!!!