The world around is talking about data analysis. Whether one talks about analysis of consumer behaviour or a perspective to the critical metrics of six sigma or maybe any other programme that is actually data driven it is all related to data analysis. The good news here is that not only is the available data more than ever before but there are available an enormous range of software options which simplify the understanding of the data which otherwise is difficult to comprehend.
The options that are available for data analysis have a large gamut of options available. They range and vary from paper pencil option to a calculator to a more customized system that would very precisely take care of the smallest of detail tailored as per the needs of the researcher. However they would cost much more than the conventional systems and could go up to millions of rupees.
Talking of the extreme ends of the gamut, unless the researcher really enjoys calculations on fingers or has a huge amount of money lying idol to splurge, a software package sitting somewhere between these two extremes is what would work the best. However, that still leaves the researcher a wide variety of software packages to choose from and one needs to administer in a research.
When one talks about picking up data analysis software, there isn’t any right or wrong choice. What works best for a particular researcher may depend on more than one factor.
The first factor to consider is to analyse the person who will be using the software. The statistical skills of the person in terms of, whether he is an expert, novice or a blend of both. Will the data be analysed day in day out or once in a while? When this is figured out, it helps to match options with needs so as it can be avoided to choose any wrong package that is either too difficult to handle or does the wrong thing entirely
It depends on kind of research, the variables and the amount of data.