The Stages of a Statistical Investigation

from Problem Solving: A Statistician's Guide, Christopher Chatfield, Chapman and Hall1988, chapter 2.

1. Make sure you understand the problem and then formulate it in statistical terms. Clarify objectives of the investigation.

2. Plan the investigation and collect the data in an appropriate way.

3. Assess the structure and quality of the data. Scrutinize for errors, outliers and missing values. Modify, if necessary, by transforming variables.

4. Carry out an initial examination of the data to obtain summary descriptive statistics and perhaps get ideas for a more formal analysis.

5. Select and carry out an appropriate formal statistical procedure.

6. Compare the findings with any previous results and acquire further data if necessary

7. Interpret and communicate the results