Data Analysis in Research
Data analysis is crucial for research, especially for those researches that require monitoring of various parameters over a period of time. The importance of data analysis in research can be understood by analyzing, how medical researches are conducted. Most medical researches carried out these days, are aimed at ascertaining the cause of diseases. The methodology of research involves collecting data from different groups of people and then performing statistical analysis on this data to establish the true cause of disease.
In most circumstances an extensive database of information is generated during the data collection phase of research. Spreadsheets are not suited for handling so much data – so, dedicated database management systems such as MySQL or Oracle are used for data storage and retrieval. These database systems provide an elegant method for retrieval of data. In database parlance this technique is called Querying. Queries help in intelligently searching and evaluating the database for targeted data. The results obtained from querying are plotted on charts. These charts are then studied extensively to fulfill the purpose of the research.
There are several types of software applications which help in converting query results into charts, these include; reporting engines, flash charts etc. A reporting engine is a form of software which integrates with the database system and then produces charts based on query results. The problem with reporting engines is that they are database specific and offer very limited control.
Flash charts are always a better alternative to reporting engines. They can be used with all types of database and with greater flexibility. They facilitate extensive customization, which in turn helps in tailoring the appearance of charts. A significant advantage of using Flash charts is that they can be easily published on web.
Many different types of Flash charts are sold on the web, but for research, it is ideal to procure an XML based, light weight Flash charting application.
