Analyysisuunnitelma

Analyysisuunnitelma is a document or blueprint that specifies how data analysis will be conducted within a project. The term is used in Finnish contexts to describe the planned approach to examining data in order to answer research questions, test hypotheses, or inform decisions. A typical analy sisuunnitelma outlines the analysis scope, objectives, data sources, data handling rules, analytical methods, tools, and expected outputs, and it may be part of broader project documentation.

Its purpose is to align stakeholders, clarify questions, support reproducibility, and guide data collection, processing, and interpretation throughout the project.

Core elements typically include the research questions or hypotheses, data sources and collection methods, data preparation steps, chosen analytical techniques (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods), software and tooling, sampling strategy, quality assurance and validation, ethical and privacy considerations, governance and approvals, timeline, roles, and expected deliverables.

The analy sisuunnitelma is usually prepared early in a project and updated iteratively as data become available or requirements change. It involves input from researchers, data scientists, and project stakeholders and aims to balance rigor with practicality.

It is used in academia, industry, and public sector contexts to improve transparency, reliability, and accountability in analysis, as well as to facilitate communication among team members and sponsors. Examples include plans for statistical analyses in research studies, data-driven decision projects in business, and evaluation work in public programs.

Related concepts include research plan, data management plan, and statistical analysis plan.