Create a Microsoft® Excel® spreadsheet with the two

Determine the appropriate descriptive statistics.

Note: If the data was normally distributed, use the mean and standard deviation. If the data was skewed significantly, use the median and interquartile range.

Numeric Variable Name1

Distribution: State if not normally distributed

Numeric Variable Name2 (if applicable)

Distribution: State if not normally distributed

Attribute Variable Name (if applicable)

Create a bar chart. Describe the proportions.

Descriptive Statistics Interpretation

Numeric Variable Name1

Describe the variable in laymen terms.

Numeric Variable Name2 (if applicable)

Describe the variable in laymen terms.

Appendix A

Raw data used in the analysis

Fit data to one page.

Appendix B

Charts and Tables

This part of the paper will include items that are then cited in the body of the paper. Usually, large items are placed here not to distract from reading the paper.

Descriptive Statistics and Interpretation Example

Interpretation Phrases

Central Tendency:

Mean = average of a set of data

Median = half or equal number of data is above and half or equal number of data is below. It is a midpoint in an ordered (sorted) set of data, a physical location

Mode = most frequent value in a set of data

Dispersion:

Standard deviation = variation

Interquartile range (IQR) = the middle 50% of the data

Range = the difference between the largest and smallest value of the data

Confidence Interval: (data must be normal)

There is 95% confidence that the population average is between _____ and ____ units.

Normal or significantly skewed data:

MegaStat: Descriptive statistics Normal curve goodness of fit p-value

• Normal, p-value > .05

• Significantly Skewed, p-value < .05

Histogram: Eyeball the histogram.

• Normal data will have a symmetrical or slightly skewed shape.

• Significantly Skewed shape will have extreme skewness

Use phrase combinations: Normally distributed: Mean and Standard Deviation, Not normally distributed: Median and IQR

Descriptive Statistics

Body Weight (Lbs.)

See the histogram in Appendix A, and descriptive statistics in Appendix B.

Age

Distribution is not normally distributed

See the histogram in Appendix A, and descriptive statistics in Appendix B. A scatter plot is in Appendix C.

Education Level

Thirteen percent of the subjects have no high school degree while 44% have high school degree. Forty three percent have a college or college graduate degree. See the bar chart in Appendix D.

Descriptive Statistics Interpretation

Interpretation

Body Weight

One hundred subjects were randomly selected. Their body weight was observed between 99 and 234 pounds. Their average weight was 149 pounds, with a variation of plus or minus 30 pounds. One half or more were above 149 pounds. There is 95% confidence that the population body weight average is between 144 and 155 pounds.

Age

The data was significantly skewed. One hundred subjects were randomly selected. Their ages were between 18 and 74 years, with a variation of plus or minus 10 years. One half or more subjects were 36 years of age or older. The middle half of the subjects’ ages fell between 27 and 47 years. The most frequent age was 36 years.

APPENDIX A

Body Weight and Age Histograms

APPENDIX B

Descriptive Statistics Body Weight and Age

APPENDIX C

Scatterplot Body Age versus Weight

APPENDIX D

Bar Chart Education Level