The Process of Statistical Analysis in Psychology
Web Activities
Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.
Activity 1:
Making Charts Based on Types of Data
Your book discusses which charts are used to represent different types of data. In this exercise, you will practice creating a chart based on data provided.
Go to this link: https://i.redd.it/c6eclnynydxy.png
- Identify the categories you will use in the chart (from the legend).
- What kind of chart should you use?
- Count up the states in each category and enter the data into Excel as described in your book.
- Create your chart as your book describes.
Activity 2:
Appropriate representation of data in charts
Your book discussed how charts can be somewhat misrepresentative of the data they contain for various reasons, one being the range presented on the X or Y axis. In this activity, you will examine several charts and determine if the data could be presented differently.
Go to this link: http://drugabuse.com/featured/drug-and-alcohol-abuse-across-generations/
- Look at the graphs. What is your first impression regarding usage rates of alcohol and marijuana? Are they the same or is one higher or lower?
- If you said the same for question one, look carefully at the y axis and revise your answer. If you said they were different, good job!
- How does the uniform presentation of the charts impact interpretation of the data?
- Which drugs, if their charts were lined up side by side, would look most similar in terms of graph lines but be most different in terms of values?
- How would you represent the data if you were a researcher?
Activity 3:
Making an APA style table
Your book discussed making an APA style table to convey the results of data. In this exercise, you will apply that information.
Go to this link:https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-four-types-of-vin-diesel-movies/
Scroll down until you get to the scatterplot of movies grouped into four categories. Create a table (in Word or Excel) with the rows being the four categories and the columns being (a) number of movies in the category, (b) average amount made, and (c) average Rotten Tomatoes score.
Make sure your table is congruent with APA style in terms of font style and size, cell borders, and spacing, as described in your book.