Data Reduction

Data Reduction and Communication

Typically, research findings are communicated in research reports with complex numerical data, often presented in large data tables or complicated charts and with dense statistical formulas that are challenging for many people to understand. Even audience members who have advanced education and research training may experience difficulty interpreting the meaning of raw numerical research findings and identifying implications from these findings. This is a serious problem because it makes it unlikely that many individuals who could potentially benefit from understanding the results of scientific research can actually understand and use the research findings. This common problem with communicating research findings effectively also makes it challenging for different audiences to evaluate the strength and accuracy of research findings.

Data reduction is a systematic scientific communication strategy that is designed to make research findings easily accessible to various audiences so they can examine the meanings of the research findings, identify applications for the findings, and assess the overall validity and utility of the research. Because research studies are typically conducted to provide insights into complex problems and issues, it is imperative to present the findings in ways that key audiences can understand and use to guide relevant decisions, practices, and policies. In essence, data reduction is an important research process for communicating scientific study findings to people who might benefit from learning about key research results.

[Page 340]There are many common communication problems related to the presentation of numerical data in research reports. Some people have problems with numeracy (the ability to effectively reason and make sense of numerical concepts). These people may be easily confused by the presentation of numerical research results. Low levels of numeracy can distort risk perceptions, judgments of probability, and interpretations of research findings. Some strategies for presenting numerical information in ways that will make sense to diverse audiences, even to those individuals with low levels of numeracy, include the use of simple descriptive statistics, such as mean (averages), mode (most frequent scores), and dispersion (the spread within a data set) to describe research results; the use of bolding, asterisks, or underlining to highlight key and significant findings; and the use of discretion (e.g., only reporting the most pertinent numerical information and thereby limiting the amount of numerical information provided, which in turn reduces the risk of information overload for audiences of research reports).

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