You have your topic of interest to look at and a solid set of data. What must come next? An even better analysis. It is easy to assume that once you have the data it would be easy to prepare an analysis just by organizing your results and commenting on them. However, to be able to comment, first you need to be sure about how your data qualifies for your question. Afterwards, an effective method of statistics should follow your qualified data to give you better looking infographics, rather than many bits of numbers. Lastly, you can comment on your infographics, keeping in mind that not every parallel line means there is a causality. So let’s have a look at those steps in a quick way and try to find the answer to the question: How can we conduct a good analysis?

Preparing your data for a detailed examination is usually the best place to start your efforts. You can have a look at to the data in your hand by separating them according to their dimensions and descriptions. Dimensions could vary from numeric entries such as time, scores, usage frequencies to qualitative ones such as products, suppliers, organizations and places. Descriptions of those dimensions is especially criticial to see and understand how your data will relate to your topic of analysis. Only then you will be able to select the most meaningful data set from the pool you already have. It is good to put an emphasis on the word “already” at this point. The reason to this is, data must always consist subjective opinion of masses which you can define as a sample universe or, scientific observation. Your own opinions just can’t classify to be your solid data. This is super important to keep in mind before taking a big challenge on your shoulders.

So you have selected what you would like to dive deep into. Now it is important to select the statistical method you are going to use to determine whether your data is meaningful or not. Maybe you will even have outliers to single out. How to decide on one though, is a serious question. Altough methods themselves is out of topic for this blog piece, there are multiple tips you can use while making a decision. Firstly, be careful about whether your data is made up of historic collection or prospective in nature. Secondly, there must be a goal to your efforts. You are not putting all those hours only to have fun, right? Goals could change the method you choose very drastically. To aid a decision making process, you can choose to move forward with ANOVA type analysis. For forecasting purposes however, a cohort analysis could yield better results and an visualized table. Visiualization of your data at the end of this stage especially important if you are going to comment on it. Artists erase their pencil marks on their pictures before showcasing them in art galleries after all. So people can comment on them too!

Translating figures or simple words into meaningful sentences could still pose a strong challenge even after preparing expert charts. Again, by not losing the sight of your goal, you can interpret what your data mean for your question. Using different graphs side by side provides even greater analytic power to the user. Computers of today however, are still far away from making use of complex data to provide you with complete guidance and strategy reports. So, keep trusting to your mind and guts. There are other options too to get good results on the other hand. You may consider hiring a one-time service of a consultancy company to have a look at your data. This can even be the best option, if lives, jobs or something serious is at stake.

In short, best insight can only be gathered if the preparation is right and with right tools. Without those, fun parts whould mean much other than fun itself. Still, though there is no perfect prescription for analysis planning which means, you can always improve your process. So keep on perfecting to have your best results.