Discussion Post
Using the Excel Sheet and descriptive statistics page; you will write up your analysis for the 20 participants.
You learned about the statistical software applications used to analyze data for research analysis. For this discussion, you will use the Excel sheet provided to run descriptive statistics, create graphs and respond to the following:
1. How could you use Excel descriptive statistics for data analysis research?
2. What are your plans for learning more about Excel and how will the information you learned about this software be of benefit in your future analysis of research data?
Step I: Entering Data
Open a blank worksheet in the Excel program
You will now use Excel to view a sample dataset
Dataset Options
In many cases, researchers may have the data from their study in another software package like Microsoft Excel. However, if the data is unavailable in a software spreadsheet you can manually enter the data.
Option: Manual Data Entry
In the Worksheet window, type "Age" in C1. Enter the numbers as shown in the dataset below. Enter the remaining data as shown below (set up your column labels i.e., variable). The measure reflects math anxiety and the study variables (cringe, uneasy, afraid, worried, understand) the math anxiety range is from 1-5 with low being the least and 5 being the highest.
|
Age
|
Cringe
|
Uneasy
|
Afraid
|
Worried
|
Understand
|
|
28
|
5
|
3
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
|
34
|
2
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
25
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
5
|
|
56
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
|
23
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
|
29
|
1
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
|
30
|
3
|
3
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
|
59
|
2
|
5
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
|
45
|
4
|
2
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
|
38
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
|
33
|
3
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
|
47
|
4
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
24
|
1
|
5
|
3
|
4
|
4
|
|
29
|
5
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
|
53
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
2
|
1
|
|
48
|
4
|
4
|
1
|
5
|
3
|
|
27
|
2
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
4
|
|
34
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
|
26
|
4
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
|
36
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
Step II: Click on the Excel tab for Add-Ins; if you do not see statistics; you will need to open the file option; click on Add-ins; click on ok; a box will open which will allow you to choose the Statistics package; place a checkmark in the box and click ok. How to Run Descriptive Statistics
Now that your data is in Excel, you will look at the descriptive statistics for this dataset. Select the data in all the columns except the top with words for the columns; however, you have the file completed and a picture of the descriptive statistics. See the end of the page for a copy of the excel sheet and descriptive statistics output.
Task
How could you use Excel descriptive statistics for data analysis research? Document your experience running descriptive statistics. Use the results in the Session Window to support your response. Then add to your discussion the information you learn writing up your analysis.
Step III: Excel and Graphs
You will now look at graphing. Select insert graph located at the top of the sheet; highlight the data you want to use for a chart; select the type of chart; select ok. Try using the histogram feature for one of the variables and select "Ok". You can create other Histogram graphs by choosing different variables. You can also choose from the other ten graph choices on the insert chart function.
Task
What are your plans for learning more about Excel and how will the information you learned about this software be of benefit in your future analysis of research data? Copy and paste your graph(s) into a Word document and attach it to your discussion response.