Application of non-parametric analysis technique amongst postgraduate education research: a survey of south african universities

The objective of this research was to determine factors that influence application of non-parametric analysis technique. The data emanated from research done by postgraduate students over a ten year period (1995- 2004) and archived by the project in postgraduate education research (PPER). A Survey of three South African universities was conducted. The classification of researches from chosen prominent universities were made by research title, research topic, target population, data collection method, and other diversity titles which were used to map the position of non parametric analysis. The sample in the three (3) universities included four hundred and twenty-one (421) sampled researches. The first finding indicated that the data presentation chapters of the sampled researches were all analysed using descriptive analysis without application of non-parametric technique. Thus, no sampled research applied nonparametric analysis technique. Secondly, the findings suggested that there was a relationship between research title and data analysis technique. Thirdly, there was association between research titles and target populations, which consequently influence choice of data analysis. Lastly, the dominant themes amongst the sampled researches were age, inclusive education and education.

Non-parametric analysis ,

Postgraduate Research ,

Parametric analysis ,

Research Methods ,

Data analysis. ,