Database
Graham Tall research@grahamtall.com
September 2003
The underlying purpose of a database is that it can sort large amounts of information. The database aspect of Microsoft WORKS is used here, rather than Microsoft's ACCESS, because it is quicker to learn how to use.
I. Format of Microsoft Works Database. Data can be presented in two ways:
a) Form All the information for one record (questionnaire) can be seen on a single screen.
b) List
Similar in format to a spreadsheet - each record (questionnaire response) appearing as a
single
row of
data, with each column representing a ‘Field’ (question).
Only the the whole of the database, not both whole or part as in EXCEL, can be sorted. Advanced databases like ACCESS are programmable.
II. Inputting Information See Section VIII of Questionnaire.
III. Analysing Columns of NUMERICAL DATA
IF SPSS is readily
available, highlight and copy columns and paste them into either:
the Microsoft WORKS spreadsheet. Then and use 'SAVE AS' to save
the data as an EXCEL file, or
an EXCEL spreadsheet. SAVE the EXCEL file as EXCEL 4 or
earlier.
IF SPSS is NOT readily available and data is from a survey or questionnaire see Analysis Closed Ended Data.
IF SPSS is NOT readily available and data is columns of marks, the data can be analysed using a range of spreadsheet tests, see Statistical Tests.
IV. Analysing Columns of Open-ended Information
Analysing open ended questions can be done
using Microsoft WORKS database or, NUDIST. See:
Analysis Open Ended Data
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