Week 9 Discussion For this week’s discussion, you will use Excel sheet provide to run descriptive statistics
University:
SOUTH UNIVERSITY
Week 9 Discussion For this week’s discussion, you will use Excel sheet provide to run descriptive statistics
Paper Instructions
Discussion Questions
By the due date assigned, post your response to the assigned discussion questions in the below Discussion Area. It is important to support what you say with relevant citations in the APA format from both the course materials and outside resources. Include the South University Online Library in your research activities utilizing not only the nursing resource database, but also those pertaining to education, business, and human resources.
No later than by the end of the week, review and comment on the discussion question responses posted by at least two of your peers. Be objective, clear, and concise. Always use constructive language. All comments should be posted to the appropriate topic in this Discussion Area.
Discussion Question
Using the Excel Sheet and descriptive statistics page; you will write up your analysis for the 20 participants.
This week, you learned about the statistical software applications used to analyze data for research analysis. For this week’s discussion, you will use Excel sheet provide to run descriptive statistics, create graphs and respond to the following
How could you use Excel descriptive statistics for data analysis research?
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?
Refer to this week’s readings and video tutorials before starting this two part discussion question assignment.
Step 1 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 not available in a software spreadsheet you can manually enter the data. Option 2 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 the highest.
| Age | Cringe | Uneasy | Afraid | Worried | Understand |
| 28 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 34 | 25 | 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 | 1 | 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 2 Click on 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 Statistics package; place a check mark 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 that has words for the columns; however you have the file already completed and a picture of the descriptive statistics..See end of page for a copy of the excel sheet and descriptive statistics output.
Discussion Question Part 1
How could you use Excel descriptive statistics for data analysis research? Write about your experience running descriptive statistics. Use the results in the Session Window to support your response. Then add to your discussion with the information you learn writing up your analysis.
Step 3 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 shown on the insert chart function.
Discussion Question Part 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? Copy and paste your graph(s) in a Word document and attach to your discussion response.
We Work Hard So That You Don’t
We’ll write a 100% plagiarism-free paper in under 1 hour.
Sample Answer
Discussion Question Part 1
The use of Excel descriptive statistics for data analysis research would entail summarizing and simplifying the given data. This would result in meaningful information that will determine and establish the relationship between research variables (Becker et al., 2019).
For example, in the research, I deployed excel statistics for data analysis in giving summaries of the responses from the research participants against their age. The different categories demonstrated in the table show their varying responses in summary.
Through using the outcomes in the Session Window, the responses’ categories included “cringe,”, “uneasy,”, “afraid,” “worried,” and “understand.”
The respondents’ age ranged from 23 years being the youngest and 59 years as the oldest. The simplification of data based on the respondent’s age and against their responses ensures that researchers can easily produce outcomes and demonstrate the overall effects of their interventions.
The use of excel statistics to describe data and interpret core information is important as it allows one to understand the various formulas involved in getting the averages and even the total sum (Gokyay, 2020). For instance, the AutoSum feature allows one to add together a range of cells and displays the total in the cell below the selected range. The implication is that the excel workbook has cells named and one just drags to the cell that want to involve in getting the AutoSum.
Again, from running the descriptive statistics, it is essential for one to be keen when entering data. Errors emanating from omission, arithmetic and any other can result in misinterpretation. As such, entering wrong data leads to poor results and hence wrong interpretation. Therefore, it is important to enter accurate data and conduct other aspects of descriptive statistics in a professional manner.
Discussion Question Part 2
Learning more about Excel and the use of the information about the software is critical to attaining expected outcomes. The excel software is important for descriptive statistics as discussed in this previous part of this discussion. Imperatively, my plans for learning more about this software are broad and exciting.
Firstly, I want to continue doing practice by using different data sets and exploring the different aspects as highlighted by the tabs used in the software. Exploring the different faces of the histograms and other features that one can use in their descriptive statistics will be important for me to improve my understanding and use of the software (Neyeloff et al., 2017).
Secondly, I plan to allocate more time to research on the use of descriptive statistical analysis. Through this approach, I would analyze the different theories and practices used by researchers when dealing with excel software in descriptive statistics. The information from such studies will improve my understanding of the different approaches to statistical analysis as advanced by various researchers. This will give me vast knowledge and understanding of the different approaches that researchers apply when dealing with Excel software to display outcomes of their studies.
I also plan to consult my instructors and also share my understanding of the Excel software with classmates through discussion to learn more about their applications. The discussions are important as they will provide an opportunity to share my experience and knowledge about approaching this topic.
The information obtained through this approach will be important in understanding the different approaches to research and how one can leverage the Excel software to enhance interpretation of data presented to them in an easy manner for effective dissemination to others (Quintela-del-Río et al., 2018). The implication is that commitment and dedication will be key in improving overall understanding of the information used in descriptive statistics.
References
- Becker, L. T., & Gould, E. M. (2019). Microsoft power BI extending excel to manipulate, analyze, and visualize diverse data. Serials Review, 45(3), 184-188. https //doi.org/10.1080/00987913.2019.1644891
Gokyay, O. (2020). An easy MS Excel software to use for water distribution system design A real case distribution network design solution. Journal of Applied Water - Engineering and Research, 8(4), 290-297. DOI 10.1080/23249676.2020.1831975
Neyeloff, J. L., Fuchs, S. C., & Moreira, L. B. (2018). Meta-analyses and Forest plots using a
- Microsoft excel spreadsheet step-by-step guide focusing on descriptive data analysis. BMC research notes, 5, 1-6. DOI https //doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-52
Quintela-del-Río, A., & Francisco-Fernández, M. (2017). Excel templates a helpful tool for teaching statistics. The American Statistician, 71(4), 317-325. DOI 10.1080/00031305.2016.1186115
We Work Hard So That You Don’t
We’ll write a 100% plagiarism-free paper in under 1 hour