702-3 Four pages 2/4 in excel descriptive analysis
RESEARCH PAPER: DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT GUIDE
I. GETTING STARTED
To use the Descriptive Statistics feature in Excel, the Data Analysis ToolPak must be
activated.
To see if Data Analysis ToolPak has been activated:
1. Look at the top middle of the excel screen and select Data.
2. Look at the top right of the Excel screen and find Data Analysis.
If you see this, you do have the Data Analysis ToolPak activated. Please proceed to the next
section: II. Calculating Descriptive Statistics
If you do not see this: Install the Data Analysis ToolPak by following the instructions outlined in
the Watch item in Module 3: Week 3 titled: How To Add Analysis ToolPak in Excel.
II. CALCULATING DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS:
Step 1
Open and save the Revenue Data located in the Revenue Analysis Worksheet located in the
assignment resources.
Follow the instructions using the TOTAL INCOME TAXES TOTAL SALES TAX data, including
the column heading. You can use the Analysis ToolPak add-in to generate descriptive statistics.
1. On the Data tab, in the Analysis group, click Data Analysis.
Note: Can’t find the Data Analysis button? Review the Analysis ToolPak in Excel located in the
assignment resources.
2. Select Descriptive Statistics and click OK.
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You will see the following dialog box:
\
For the first set of Descriptive Statistics: MONTHLY TAX COLLECTIONS, STATE A
Select the range B2:C105 as the Input Range—Highlight and Drag.
Select Label in First Row
Select New Worksh Select Summary Stati Select OK.
For the second set of Descriptive Statistics: MONTHLY TAX COLLECTIONS, STATE B
1990
Page 2 of 3
You will see the following dialog box:
\
For the first set of Descriptive Statistics: MONTHLY TAX COLLECTIONS, STATE A
Select the range B2:C105 as the Input Range—Highlight and Drag.
Select Label in First Row
Select New Worksh Select Summary Stati Select OK.
For the second set of Descriptive Statistics: MONTHLY TAX COLLECTIONS, STATE B
1990
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Select the range F2:G105 as the Input Range—Highlight an Select Summary Statistic Select OK.
Each result will appear as a separate sheet in the Worksheet and will look as follows:
Note: Since the data come from two different data sets, State A and State B (with different
means), one cannot simply compare the standard deviations. You need to compare the data
using the Coefficient of Variation. To compute the Coefficient of Variation, you must divide the
standard deviation by the mean (standard deviation/mean) and then compare the Coefficients of
Variation.
Page 3 of 3
Select the range F2:G105 as the Input Range—Highlight an Select Summary Statistic Select OK.
Each result will appear as a separate sheet in the Worksheet and will look as follows:
Note: Since the data come from two different data sets, State A and State B (with different
means), one cannot simply compare the standard deviations. You need to compare the data
using the Coefficient of Variation. To compute the Coefficient of Variation, you must divide the
standard deviation by the mean (standard deviation/mean) and then compare the Coefficients of
Variation.