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
view longer description
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
view longer description
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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