Use of Spreadsheets for Research Data Collection and Preparation: A Primer

Successful research results from the combination of multiple elements, including an appropriate research question, study design, research method, statistical analysis, and interpretation of results. One element of research that is easy to overlook is proper data collection and preparation for analysis. If data collection or preparation is inadequately planned or executed, the data may not be analyzable by a statistician without significant effort spent on data cleaning. Even worse, the data may contain problems that can be resolved only through time-consuming revision or repeat data collection. In this review, we present some practical guidelines and best practices for preparing data that can reduce the work of subsequent analysis.