PSY325: Statistics for the Behavioral & Social SciencesWeek one Discussion

Data Analysis

For this discussion, you will organize data sets into meaningful
number groupings, calculate basic descriptive values, and communicate
written critiques of statistical analyses.

This exercise requires the use of a descriptive statistics calculator. 
You can find this tool in some versions of Excel (as part of the Analysis ToolPak) or you can use one of the many free online descriptive calculators such as the  by Calculator Soup. 

To begin, come up with 20 different data points (that will form a set
of data) and enter them into the first column of an Excel spreadsheet. 
The data points can be any numbers you want as long as there are 20 of
them. 

You will then use the descriptive statistics option in your
descriptive statistics program or calculator.  This is explained in
Chapter 1 of your course text.  You should get an output similar to the
image in Figure 1.1. 

This output must contain the following values: mean, standard error,
median, mode, standard deviation, sample variance, kurtosis, skewness,
range, minimum, maximum, sum, and count.  Address the following points
in your initial post: 

• Begin your discussion by reporting your results for each of the values listed above. 
• Based on this output, which single value best describes this set of data and why? 
•  If you could pick three of these values instead of only one, which three would you choose and why? 

It is important to note that the answers to these questions may be
different for each of you since you are each using unique sets of data.