Managing Data Using Excel

In many cases you are looking to see what effect the various predictor variables have on a particular response variable; in Table 1.8 you can see such a situation; an example of where you would use a regression analysis

In most cases you have a response variable (also known as the dependent variable) and a number of predictor variables (also called independent variables).

Being able to manage your data like this allows you great flexibility, especially with complicated data

Visualize your samples using graphs.

Correlation and regression

As your data becomes more complicated it becomes more difficult to maintain a sensible layout (Table 1.3).

Reporting: Disseminating your work is vitally important.

Analyzing: The method of analysis should have been determined at the planning stage.

Recording: The means of data collection should be determined at the planning stage although you may undertake a small pi

Planning: This is the stage where you work out what you are going to do: formulate your ideas, undertake background research, decide on your hypothesis and determine a method of collecting the appropriate data