Analysis of the Dining Preference of People - Research Paper Example

Research methods employ several ways in the data collection process, and data can be classified as qualitative or quantitative. In data collection measurement of the responses by assigning numerical values to be used for data analysis is an important aspect. Scaling methods in measurement can be classified into nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Nominal data can be figures just meant to represent a particular response. A questionnaire using multiple-choice items can be nominal data. In this type of response choice, A can have no direct relation to choice B, etc.

Ordinal scales or ranking scales are values arranged according to levels in increasing order such as great, greater, and greatest. Responses have direct relationships with each other. Interval measurement uses responses arranged in equal intervals such that if response A is 1 unit lower than B then response C must be one unit higher than B, etc. A ratio is an interval data but a measure of two values. These data classification although widely used and accepted have faced several criticisms as to its validity (Velleman & Wilkinson, 1993).

In studies involving surveys, the most common approach is obtaining responses using a list of possible replies or rating an idea through a given scale. Based on the above classification, these data can be nominal or ordinal. The study involved 10 respondents and the data were obtained using the questionnaire presented in Appendix A. Using questions with multiple choice responses, respondents were asked about frequency, reasons, and other concerns in dining out. The result of the survey showed that 60% of the respondents dine frequently from 3 to 5 times in a week, 30% dine at least once to 2 times weekly while about 10% dines more often at more than 6 times weekly or an average of 1 meal every day.