Unit of analysis.
The basic observable entity being analyzed by a study and for which data
are collected in the form of variables . Although a
unit of analysis is sometimes referred to as the case or
"observation," these are not always synonymous. For instance, in public
opinion polls, the unit of analysis is usually a single person and the
answers to the survey questions by one person constitute a "case." In a
census, however, a "case" could be considered the household because all the
data for one household is collected on one survey instrument; the household
"case" may contain different variables for the different units of analysis:
a physical housing structure, a family within the structure, a person within
the family. Contrast with Unit of observation.
Deck