Step Four: Analyzing and Interpreting the Results
Depending on the size of the sample, the entrepreneur can hand-tabulate the results or enter them on a computer. In either case, the results should be evaluated and interpreted in response to the research objectives that were specified in the first step of the research process. Often, summarizing the answers to questions will give some preliminary insight. Then data can be cross-tabulated to provide more focused results. For example, the entrepreneur may want to compare the results to questions by different age groups, sex, occupation, location, and so on. The Web-based survey tools mentioned above and discussed late in the Advice to an Entrepreneur box also can provide data analysis support. Continuing fine-tuning can provide valuable insights, particularly regarding the segmentation of the market, which is discussed later in this chapter.