DETERMINATION OF APPROPRIATE STATISTICAL PROCEDURES FOR QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS IN MATHEMATICAL SCIENCESAND EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

Abstract

This study is a peer review into the determination of the appropriate statistical procedures for quantitative data analysis in mathematical sciences and educational research. Diverse statistical formulas were discussed. Appropriate parametric and non-parametric statistics for data analysis were identified. Data and its types, underlying assumptions and rationale regarding the utilization of any statistic, as well as the process of determining the appropriate statistical technique for any data analysis were also explained. Implications for improvement in research data analysis and results reporting were also drawn. The study recommended among others that: researchers should endeavour to understand the basic assumptions and the rationale underlying the use of any quantitative statistical technique before utilizing it for data analysis to ensure the reliability of their research findings, and researchers should do well to compute nonparametric tests using appropriate statistical procedures or transform those data which could not meet
the parametric assumptions before computing the proposed parametric test appropriately.