The Research Advisors: Research Methodology, Study Design & Statistical Analysis

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FAQs

If you have any research and/or analysis related question that is not answered below, please contact us. We are happy to help.
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I just have a couple things I need advice on. How small a project will you take on?

	I just have a couple things I need advice on. How small a project will you take on?

	We will be happy to provide assistance at whatever level is needed. However, experience has taught us that the earlier we are involved in a project, the smoother the process. So it would better to seek our advice sooner, rather than later.

What types of research projects have the members of The Research Advisors worked on in the past?

The Research Advisors have worked on and provided advice for a wide range of research and analysis projects. The following is a sample of these projects:

Pricing evaluation for a software customer support services operation
Website feature/attribute requirements for radio stations
The organization costs & benefits of telecommuting
Dissertation analysis of undergraduate persistence/retention rates
Multivariate analysis of server and client memory requirements
The analysis of consumer views of alternatives to home delivery for a package shipper
Website feature assessment for small business banking
Communication effectiveness of an OTC drug web site.
Public opinion assessment of nuclear power plant decommissioning options
Market segmentation study for a frequent traveler program

How much will it cost?

	How much will it cost?

	The Research Advisors offers competitive rates for research project management and advisory services. Generally, discounts are available to students and not-for-profit organizations. Please see our “Terms” page for specific pricing options.

What specific types of research expertise are available from The Research Advisors?

	What specific types of research expertise are available from The Research Advisors?

	In addition to Doctors Boyd and Manheim, we maintain a network of specialists who will be able to assist in such diverse areas as conjoint, CHAID, and decision tree analysis, as well as focus group facilitation, content analysis, and web-survey programming. See the “Bios” page for a description of the experience for Paul Boyd and Patt Manheim.

How long will it take?

	How long will it take?

	It’s hard to say. We always provide you with an estimate after our initial (no fee) consultation.

I have started a research project, but find I need some help. Can you fix a project once it has been started?

Usually, but not always. It depends on how far along you are and the extent to which resources have been already committed to the project.

It is best to seek our advice as early in the research process as possible. We have found that, all too often, data are collected in a manner that precludes the types of quantitative analyses the researcher expects to conduct. Proper planning and instrument design can eliminate this problem.

I have collected data, but don’t know how to analyze it. What should I do?

The analysis plan for data is typically set up during the research design process – so that the research instrument may be designed to capture data of the appropriate level for the desired analysis.

When that is not possible, we are usually able to suggest an analysis plan that will address the needs of the project. We are quite familiar with the quantitative processes that allow researchers to convert raw data into actionable information.

I have data that was collected by someone else (e.g., employer, foundation, another department in my organization). Can I use it for my study?

The use of what is known as “secondary data” is fairly common in research. The primary benefits are that the data already exists (precluding your need to conduct original data collection) and that the costs of acquiring such data is generally low. However, there are a number of possible problems with secondary data:

The data may be too old for drawing conclusions about current situations.
The definitions used for the variables may be different than the ones you need for your research.
The methods by which the data were collected may not meet the standards of rigorous research.
The sample used may not be representative of the population of interest for your research.

We can help you to determine the extent to which the data you have can be used in your study.

What software should I use to analyze my data?

For most projects it just doesn’t matter. Simple analyses can be performed using spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel ®. There are also “add-in” programs for Excel, such a MegaStat (distributed by McGraw-Hill Irwin), that add basic statistical capabilities to Excel.

More complex analyses – typically those involving more than two variables in a single analysis (multivariate analyses) – will require more sophisticated software. SPSS ®, SAS ®, and NCSS are typical of the statistical packages currently used for these purposes. We can assist you in the selection and use of an appropriate package for your analytical needs.

I was told to use {conjoint analysis, CHAID, logistical regression, time series analysis, et cetera}. Say what?

We are proficient with the quantitative tools that allow you to draw conclusions from your data. We will be happy to discuss with you the analytical options available to you given the data you have collected (or plan to collect). All of these techniques – conjoint analysis, CHAID, logistical regression, time series analysis, et cetera – and many others are either statistical procedures that have specific data requirements or research designs that require unique data collection methodologies.

We will be happy to discuss with you which techniques are appropriate for addressing your research goals with the data you have in hand (and to perform these analyses if you so need).