The statistics guide
Clear, practical answers to the statistical questions that come up while you analyse and write up your dissertation or thesis, from choosing a test to reporting it correctly.
June 16, 2026 · 6 minParametric vs nonparametric testsParametric tests assume a normal distribution; nonparametric tests do not. Here is how to check the assumptions and choose the right family for your data.Read article
June 16, 2026 · 7 minHow to choose the right statistical test for your dissertationMatch your research question and variable types to the correct test, with a decision table for the analyses most dissertations need.Read article June 15, 2026 · 6 minIndependent vs dependent variables, explainedThe independent variable is what you change; the dependent variable is what you measure. Here is how to tell them apart and why it matters.Read article June 15, 2026 · 6 minCorrelation vs causation in researchA strong correlation is not proof of cause. Here are the alternative explanations to rule out and how to phrase your findings safely.Read article June 14, 2026 · 7 minHow to write your dissertation results chapterStructure your results chapter by research question, report descriptives then inferential tests, and keep findings separate from interpretation. Here is how.Read article June 14, 2026 · 6 minANOVA vs t-test: when to use whichA t-test compares two means; ANOVA compares three or more at once. Here is when to use each test and why several t-tests inflate your error rate.Read article June 13, 2026 · 7 minHow to report statistical results in APA styleThe fixed order, the leading-zero rule, and copy-ready templates for t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, chi-square, and regression.Read article June 13, 2026 · 6 minHow to test for normality (and what to do when data is not normal)Check normality with the Shapiro-Wilk test, a Q-Q plot, and skewness together, and learn the legitimate routes when your data is not normal.Read article June 12, 2026 · 6 minUnderstanding p-values and significanceA p-value tells you how surprising your data are if nothing is going on, not how big or how important the effect is. Here is how to read and report it.Read article June 12, 2026 · 7 minHow to interpret your SPSS outputSPSS gives you a stack of tables but only a few cells answer your question. Here is how to read each box and turn it into supervisor-ready prose.Read article June 11, 2026 · 6 minHow to interpret a confidence intervalA confidence interval reports your best estimate and the uncertainty around it. Here is what the level really means and how to read the bounds correctly.Read article June 11, 2026 · 6 minDescriptive vs inferential statisticsDescriptives summarise your sample; inferentials generalise to the population. Here is what each covers and why a results chapter needs both.Read article June 10, 2026 · 7 minLinear regression assumptions, checkedA regression always prints numbers, even when its assumptions are violated. Here is how to check linearity, independence, equal variance, and normal residuals before you interpret a coefficient.Read article June 10, 2026 · 6 minEffect size explained, and why it mattersA p-value says whether an effect is real; the effect size says how much it matters. Here is what each metric covers and how to report it in your thesis.Read article June 9, 2026 · 7 minCleaning your data in SPSSCleaning your dissertation dataset in SPSS means checking variables, fixing codes, screening outliers, and handling gaps before you run a single test.Read article June 9, 2026 · 7 minHandling missing data in your dissertationGaps in your dataset distort every analysis unless handled properly. Here is how to classify why data is missing, choose a method, and document it for your thesis.Read article June 8, 2026 · 7 minPower analysis and sample sizeA power analysis turns a guessed sample size into a justified one. Here are the four inputs it needs and how to size a finite population.Read article June 8, 2026 · 6 minWhat is statistical power?Statistical power is your chance of detecting a real effect when one exists. Here is what it protects against and the levers that move it.Read article June 7, 2026 · 7 minInterpreting logistic regression resultsOdds ratios above 1 raise the odds, below 1 lower them. Here is how to read logistic regression output and judge whether the model fits.Read article June 7, 2026 · 7 minMediation vs moderation analysisA mediator carries an effect; a moderator changes its size. Here is how to tell mediation and moderation apart and model each one correctly.Read article June 6, 2026 · 7 minSPSS vs R vs Stata for your dissertationSPSS is fastest to learn, R is the most flexible and reproducible, Stata suits panel data. Here is how to pick the right one for your thesis.Read article June 6, 2026 · 8 minFactor analysis and Cronbach's alphaFactor analysis reveals a scale's hidden dimensions; Cronbach's alpha tests their reliability. Here is how to run and read both for a dissertation survey.Read article June 5, 2026 · 7 minQualitative data analysis methodsThematic, content, grounded theory, framework, and discourse analysis explained, with the shared coding steps and how to pick the right one for your thesis.Read article June 5, 2026 · 6 minAnalysing Likert-scale survey dataTreat single Likert items as ordinal and validated scales as interval. Here is how that choice sets your test and how to report the results.Read article