Raw Data          

Quantitative research begins with raw data, the aggregate of specific detais that, on their own, have no meaning. Only when the researcher analyses the data does it become meaningful. Here's an example of some raw data from a web site (Dr. Write). The web server keeps a log of every entry: the number of requests per day, the total successful requests for web pages, the requests for pages per day, the files requested, and the like. Look at these and see what facts can be stated on the basis of the numbers below.

Web Server Statistics for AlbanyNet Inc.
========================================

Program started at Mon-29-Mar-1999 00:10 local time.
Requests from Mon-01-Mar-1999 07:21 to Sun-28-Mar-1999 23:54 (27.7 days).

Total successful requests: 5 724 (2 255)
Average successful requests per day: 207 (322)
Total successful requests for pages: 1 522 (519)
Average successful requests for pages per day: 55 (74)
Total failed requests: 1 051 (382)
Number of distinct files requested: 255 (122)
Number of distinct hosts served: 433 (197)
Number of new hosts served in last 7 days: 124
Total data transferred: 18 054 kbytes (5 679 kbytes)
Average data transferred per day: 667 646 bytes (830 699 bytes)
(Figures in parentheses refer to the last 7 days).
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Monthly Report

Each unit (+) represents 40 requests for pages, or part thereof.

Month     Pages    
Mar 1999: 1522: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Weekly Report

Each unit (+) represents 15 requests for pages, or part thereof.

Week Beginning     Pages    
Mar 1999: 1522: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
28/Feb/99: 212: +++++++++++++++
7/Mar/99: 266: ++++++++++++++++++
14/Mar/99: 485: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
21/Mar/99: 500: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
28/Mar/99: 59: ++++

Daily Summary

Each unit (+) represents 5 requests for pages, or part thereof.

Day     Pages    
Sun: 177: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mon: 223: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wed: 246: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Thu: 260: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Fri: 199: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sat: 219: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
198: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Daily Report

Each unit (+) represents 4 requests for pages, or part thereof.
Date     Pages    
1/Mar/99 17: +++++
2/Mar/99 31: ++++++++
3/Mar/99 53: ++++++++++++++
4/Mar/99 29: ++++++++
5/Mar/99 36: +++++++++
6/Mar/99 46: ++++++++++++
7/Mar/99 38: ++++++++++
8/Mar/99 26: +++++++
9/Mar/99 89: +++++++++++++++++++++++
10/Mar/99 37: ++++++++++
11/Mar/99 24: ++++++
12/Mar/99 25: +++++++
13/Mar/99 27: +++++++
14/Mar/99 42: +++++++++++
15/Mar/99 146: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
16/Mar/99 72: ++++++++++++++++++
17/Mar/99 51: +++++++++++++
18/Mar/99 60: +++++++++++++++
19/Mar/99 66: +++++++++++++++++
20/Mar/99 48: ++++++++++++
21/Mar/99 38: ++++++++++
22/Mar/99 34: +++++++++
23/Mar/99 54: ++++++++++++++
24/Mar/99 119: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
25/Mar/99 86: ++++++++++++++++++++++
26/Mar/99 92: +++++++++++++++++++++++
27/Mar/99 77: ++++++++++++++++++++
28/Mar/99 59: +++++++++++++++

Hourly Summary

Each unit (+) represents 3 requests for pages, or part thereof.

Hour     Pages    
0 57: +++++++++++++++++++
1 27: +++++++++
2 18: ++++++
3 4: ++
4 16: ++++++
5 19: +++++++
6 45: +++++++++++++++
7 15: +++++
8 25: +++++++++
9 100: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
10 122: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
11 76: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
12 153: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
13 103: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
14 84: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
15 107: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
16 100: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
17 38: +++++++++++++
18 105: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
19 43: +++++++++++++++
20 67: +++++++++++++++++++++++
21 79: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
22 67: +++++++++++++++++++++++
23 52: ++++++++++++++++++

Directory Report

Printing all directories with at least 0.01% of the traffic, sorted by amount of traffic.
Printing directories to depth 1.

Number of Requests %Bytes     Directory
3821 30.36% /images/
832 17.36% [root directory]
291 15.15% /skenktdy/
127 10.50% /infirmpg/
160 10.34% /AlbanyNetErrors/
46 6.16% /hometour?
133 3.33% /home/
107 1.77% /level3/
51 1.45% /docpg/
48 1.39% /labpg/
43 1.20% /overseapg/
37 0.84% /pharmpg/
21 0.25% htp:/

Request Report

Printing all requested files with at least 20 requests, sorted by number of requests.

Number of Requests %Bytes     File
3100.71% /images/docbtn.gif
3060.28% /images/labbtn.gif
3050.68% /images/overseabtn.gif
3050.46% /images/infirmbtn.gif
3040.48% /images/pharmbtn.gif
2990.79% /images/outpatbtn.gif
2863.42% /images/sublogo.gif
2484.02% /
2098.80% /images/banner.gif
1270.50% /images/redbutn.gif
1230.33% /images/enroll1.jpg
1090.77% /images/wizdum.gif
1011.21% /images/infirmary.gif
1001.62% /images/pharm.gif
1000.97% /images/lab.gif
99 1.16% /images/oversea.gif
990.81% /images/outpat.gif
99 1.15% /images/doc.gif
97 0.82% /images/research.gif
95 9.79% /AlbanyNetErrors/logo.jpg
84 0.85% /images/docban.gif
77 1.14% /images/mailslot.gif
74 1.01% /enroll.htm
65 0.52% /images/labban.gif
65 0.55% /AlbanyNetErrors/powered_by_sun.gif
61 1.56% /docpg.htm
54 0.32% /images/infirmban.gif
53 0.45% /images/outpatban.gif
50 0.89% /tour.htm
47 0.42% /images/pharmban.gif
44 1.11% /outpatpg.htm
43 1.26% /labpg.htm
40 0.39% /thanks.htm
40 1.11% /drgeorge.gif
39 1.31% /docpg/docpg.htm
38 0.96% /pharmpg.htm
36 0.37% /images/overseaban.gif
34 1.15% /labpg/labpg.htm
34 0.59% /skenktdy/skenktdy.htm
32 0.57% /home/home.html
31 1.02% /infirmpg/infirmpg.htm
30 0.34% /skenktdy/baker/1111.htm
27 0.73% /infirmpg.htm
26 0.54% /overseapg.htm
23 0.54% /research.htm
23 0.76% /overseapg/overseapg.htm
23 0.48% /home/infirmpg.htm
22 0.19% /skenktdy/
21 0.24% /skenktdy/baker/baker.htm
21 0.38% /wordplay.htm
21 4.91% /skenktdy/Bell1.wav
20 0.39% /skenktdy/12309.htm
20 0.62% /home/docpg.htm

This analysis was produced by analog2.11/Unix.
Running time: Less than 1 second.

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