Making Sense of the Numbers: My Top 3 Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques

As part of my PhD research on how China’s Higher Education Exchange Programs (HEEPs) influence PNG’s bilateral relations with China, I’ve spent the last few months collecting survey data from students, alumni, and public servants who participated in various HEEPs. These include the Chinese Government Scholarship Program (CGSP), Chinese Language Programs (CLPs), Public Sector Training Programs (PSTPs), PNG’s STEM scholarships, district-sponsored students, and privately funded learners. Now, with survey responses coming in from across the country and abroad, the focus shifts to analyzing the data. There are several statistical tools available for analyzing survey data, but not every technique is suited to every research project. Because my study uses an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design , the quantitative phase is not an end in itself—it informs the qualitative phase that follows. My goal is to choose analytical techniques that allow me to describe trends, compare experiences ...