Writing Project: Data Analysis

Project Overview

You will track one quantitative variable over at least 30 days, recording measurements consistently each day. Using Excel, you will summarize and analyze your data with tables, graphs, and descriptive statistics, then explain patterns, trends, and any unusual values in a 23 page APA-style paper.

For my Data Analysis project, I plan to track my daily caffeine intake over a 30-day period. Caffeine intake is a relevant variable because I consume it daily, easy to measure consistently, and it can be influenced by my daily routines such as Night shift schedule and academic demands.

Daily caffeine intake is measured on ratio level of measurement. It is recorded as a numeric count of caffeinated beverages consumed per day and includes a true zero value. Meaningful comparisons can be made between values, such as consuming twice as many caffeine beverages on one day compared to another. I will record the total number of caffeinated beverages consumed each day, including coffee, tea, energy drinks, and soda. Data will be recorded at the end of each day using a simple tracking log to ensure consistency. To lessen data gathering complications, I will use the same definition of caffeinated beverage throughout the 30 day period and will record data daily to reduce recall errors. There are no legal or ethical concerns associated with this variable, as it involves only personal data and does not include any protected health information, ensuring compliance with ethical research standards.

Example Variables

Could you measure the amount of total caffeine (in mg) instead? I would assume that most packaged beverages would say the caffeine amount and drinks you make (coffee/tea) could be estimated based on common averages (you’d have to look those up).

Data & Analysis Requirements

Using spreadsheet software (Excel), include:

• Table of all recorded data (minimum 30 values)
• Summary statistics table:
• Mean, median, mode
• Standard deviation
• Quartiles
• Possible extreme values (2 SD rule and 1.5IQR)
• Time-series plot
• Frequency Table (at least 6 class intervals)
• Histogram (at least 6 class intervals – note: histogram must be generated from frequency table)
• Identification and analysis of trends, patterns, and outliers

Written Report (23 pages, APA format)

Your paper should clearly explain:

• What you measured and how
• What the data show (tables and graphs)
• Patterns or trends over time
• Any extreme values and how they were identified
• Whether the data appear approximately normal (address skewness/symmetry)
• Possible explanations for trends or unusual values
• Any data collection issues and how they were handled

Formatting & Structure

• Typed, double-spaced, APA format
• Include labeled tables and figures (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1)
• Suggested sections:
• Title Page
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion/Conclusion
• References (if applicable)

Conditions

• Variable must be quantitative (interval or ratio scale)
• Measurement recorded every day for 30 days
• Excel required for tables and graphs
• APA formatting required

Learning Goals

By completing this project, you will practice:

• Tracking and organizing real-world data
• Analyzing trends and variability
• Identifying and explaining outliers
• Using Excel for statistical summaries
• Communicating results using APA-style writing

File Submissions

Please submit both your paper (with graphs and tables inserted) and your Excel file containing your data and your work.

Data Analysis Rubric

Data Analysis Rubric

CriteriaRatingsPointsPresentation of Data: Table

Included

Student has included a full data table that is properly formatted.

5 pts

Not fully included

Student has included a data table but the formatting is not correct or some elements are missing.

3 pts

Not included

Student has failed to included a table of data

0 pts

/5 pts

Presentation of Data: Summary Statistics

Included

Student has included a table of summary statistics that includes: mean, median, mode, standard deviation, range, quartiles, IQR, and a list of any possible extreme values.

10 pts

Included with minor errors

Student has included a table of summary statistics but has failed to included at least two requested values.

8 pts

Not fully included

Student includes some summary statistics in paper/write up, but did not include a table of summary statistics.

4 pts

Not included

Student fails to include summary statistics in write up (i.e. not addressed within paper and not included in table).

0 pts

/10 pts

Presentation of Data: Frequency Distribution

Included

Student provides a correct frequency distribution for their data and properly formats the table (i.e. units and labels). Frequency distribution also corresponds to histogram.

5 pts

Included with minor errors

Students includes a frequency distribution that has some minor issues such as: lacking units, lacking proper labels, does not correspond to histogram, etc.

4 pts

Included with major errors

Student provided an incorrect frequency distribution or one with major errors

2 pts

Not included

0 pts

/5 pts

Presentation of Data: Histogram

Included

Student provides properly formatted histogram complete with axis and graph titles.

5 pts

Included with minor errors

Student provides histogram but graph his minor formatting errors (i.e. missing units, missing label, etc)

4 pts

Included with major errors

Student provides histogram with major errors (i.e. doesn’t match data) or graph that isn’t a true histogram (i.e. time series graph shown as a bar chart).

2 pts

Not included

0 pts

/5 pts

Presentation of Data: Time-Series Graph

Included

Student provides properly formatted time-series plot complete with axis and graph titles.

5 pts

Included with minor errors

Student provides time-series plot but graph his minor formatting errors (i.e. missing units, missing label, etc)

4 pts

Included with major errors

Student provides time-series plot with major errors (i.e. doesn’t match data) or graph that isn’t a true time-series plot (i.e. line graph that doesn’t have time as horizontal axis).

2 pts

Not included

0 pts

/5 pts

Mechanics: Length

Fully Addressed

Paper is appropriate length

2 pts

Partially Adressed

Paper is not appropriate length

1 pts

/2 pts

Mechanics: Grammar and Spelling

Fully Addressed

Proper grammar and spelling are used throughout paper.

2 pts

Partially Adressed

Grammatical or spelling errors are present throughout the paper.

1 pts

/2 pts

Mechanics: Introduction and Conclusion

Fully Addressed

Student includes an introduction and a conclusion for their paper.

2 pts

Partially addressed

Student does not include either introduction or conclusion for their paper.

1 pts

Not Adressed

Student does not include introduction or conclusion for their paper.

0 pts

/2 pts

Mechanics: APA formatting

Fully Addressed

Proper APA formatting is used throughout paper.

2 pts

Partially Adressed

Some formatting errors are present throughout the paper.

1 pts

/2 pts

Mechanics: Headings

Fully Addressed

Section headings are used throughout paper.

2 pts

Partially addressed

Some section headings are omitted.

1 pts

Not Adressed

No section headings are used.

0 pts

/2 pts

Analysis: Variable and Measurement

Fully Addressed

Student fully addresses what variable they measured and explained their process for data collection.

10 pts

Partially Addressed

Student addressed what variable they measured but did not explain their process for data collection.

5 pts

Not Addressed

Student did not address their chosen variable and did not explain their process for data collection.

0 pts

/10 pts

Analysis: Patterns and Trends

view longer description

Fully Addressed

Student fully addresses what patterns and trends they observed and provides a reasonable explanation.

10 pts

Partially Addressed

Student addresses what patterns or trends they observed but does not provide a reasonable explanation.

5 pts

Not Addressed

Student did not address any patterns or trends in their data or provide any explanation.

0 pts

/10 pts

Analysis: Extreme Values

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Fully Addressed

Student identifies extreme values (peaks or valleys on time-series plot) provides a reasonable explanation – or – the student explains why no extreme values were observed (i.e. explains consistency of data).

10 pts

Partially Addressed

Student addresses extreme values (or lack thereof) they observed but does not provide a reasonable explanation.

5 pts

Not Addressed

Student did not address any extreme values or provide any explanation.

0 pts

/10 pts

Analysis: Distribution of Data

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Fully Addressed

Student appropriately describes the shape and spread of the distribution and correctly utilizes descriptive statistics.

10 pts

Partially Addressed

Student partially addresses the shape and spread of the distribution (i.e. only address the number of peaks but not the symmetry) or describes the shape and spread of the distribution without using a proper histogram (i.e. describes the time-series plot instead of histogram).

5 pts

Not Addressed

Student did not describe the shape and spread of distribution.

0 pts

/10 pts

Analysis: Normality of Data

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Fully Addressed

Student fully addresses the Normality of their data by using skewness, symmetry, and the histogram to support their decision .

10 pts

Partially Addressed

Student partially addresses the Normality of their data but either does not offer support or does not correctly support their decision.

5 pts

Not Addressed

Student did not address the Normality of their data.

0 pts

/10 pts

Analysis: Complications

Fully Addressed

Student specifically addresses what complications they ran into and how they dealt with those complications – or – Student specifically addresses what they did to avoid complications.

10 pts

Partially Addressed

Student only mentions what complications they ran into but does not mention what they did to deal with the complications – or – student only mentions that they did not have any complications but does not explain what they did to avoid complications.

5 pts

Not Addressed

Student does not address complications in their paper.

0 pts

/10 pts

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