Skip to main content

Business School Library: Data Analysis

Data Analysis

As a researcher you have no doubt accumulated all sorts of data that you need to make sense of.  Information Services can help you by providing tools to help you do this, both on and off campus.

So what sorts of things are being offered?

How to Access these Tools

SPSS, SAS & NVivo* can all be downloaded onto your device (PC/Laptop/Mac) from the links on this page:

http://my.napier.ac.uk/IT/YourITServices/Pages/Software-For-Home.aspx

If you would rather not load software onto your device, all of these applications can be accessed via the core applications on an Edinburgh Napier networked PC.

They are also available via this route if you are off campus too, by using the Virtual Desktop Service.

*NB: NVivo can only be downloaded by students resident in the UK.

How to Install Virtual Desktop

SPSS Statistics 20

Statistics included in the base software:

  • Descriptive statistics: Cross tabulation, Frequencies, Descriptives, Explore, Descriptive Ratio Statistics
  • Bivariate statistics: Means, t-test, ANOVA, Correlation (bivariate, partial, distances), Nonparametric tests
  • Prediction for numerical outcomes: Linear regression
  • Prediction for identifying groups: Factor analysis, cluster analysis (two-step, K-means, hierarchical), Discriminant

 

SAS 9.1.3

SAS (Statistical Analysis Software) is a software suite developed by SAS Institute for advanced analytics, multivariate analysis, business intelligence, data management, and predictive analytics.

NVivo 12

NVivo is intended to help users organize and analyze non-numerical or unstructured data. The software allows users to classify, sort and arrange information; examine relationships in the data; and combine analysis with linking, shaping, searching and modeling.

The researcher or analyst can test theories, identify trends and cross-examine information in a multitude of ways using its search engine and query functions. They can make observations in the software and build a body of evidence to support their case or project.

NVivo accommodates a wide range of research methods, including network and organizational analysis, action or evidence-based research, discourse analysis, grounded theory, conversation analysis, ethnography, literature reviews, phenomenology, mixed methods research and the Framework methodology.  NVivo supports data formats such as audio files, videos, digital photos, Word, PDF, spreadsheets, rich text, plain text and web and social media data.  Users can interchange data with applications like Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, IBM SPSS Statistics, EndNote, Microsoft OneNote, SurveyMonkey and Evernote; and order transcripts from within NVivo projects, using TranscribeMe.