E-DATAAID: Analyzing Data Files [22819]

The Analyze command displays the Analyze dialog box, which is used to create and run descriptive statistics using the currently opened spreadsheet. The results of each analysis are displayed in the Table dialog in a table format that may be copied to the clipboard or exported to a text file. The Analyze dialog may be displayed using the Analyze command in the Tools menu, or by clicking the Analyze tool button.

All statistics are calculated based on the filtered spreadsheet. Thus, only displayed data is included in the analysis. If a value cannot be calculated for an analysis, the table of results will display “N/A.” A value may not be able to be calculated if the variable contains all string data, or does not include a sufficient number of observations. If an observation did not occur in the analysis, the table will display a blank value.

Creating an Analysis

To create an Analysis within E-DataAid, use the Analyze command via the Tools menu or the Analyze tool button.

Within the Analyze dialog, use the mouse or the Tab key to navigate between the available buttons and fields.

Name
Enter a name for the analysis in the Name field. The name supplied will be offered as a default name when saving the analysis as an .anl (E-Prime analysis) file. This field is optional, and does not affect the analysis if left blank. Analysis names may be up to 30 characters long, including spaces.

Variables List
The Variables list displays all variable names in the spreadsheet. Click and drag variables from the Variables list to enter them in the appropriate field (Column, Row or Data, respectively) in order to achieve the desired analysis. A variable may not have both a row and a column orientation, nor can it appear in the Rows list or Columns list twice. However, a variable may be moved between the Row and Columns lists by dragging a variable from one list and dropping it on the other. To remove a variable from a field, drag the variable from the current field (Column, Row or Data) back to the Variables list.
 

Columns
The Columns list displays the conditional variables to be used in determining the columns of the analysis. Variables may be reordered within the Columns list by dragging variables from one position and dropping them to their new positions within the list. Use of the Columns list is optional.  A separate column will be created for each combination of the levels of every variable in the list. For example, if Variable A (with two levels) and Variable B (with two levels) are added to the Columns list, the analysis will create a column for each combination of the levels of Variable A and Variable B (i.e., A1B1, A1B2, A2B1, A2B2). A variable entered in the Columns list may be binned if the variable contains integer data (see E-DATAAID: Binning Data [22821]).

Rows
The Rows list displays the variables used as the “BY” factor in the experiment. Variables may be reordered within the Rows list by dragging variables from one position and dropping them to their new positions within the list.  Use of the Rows list is optional. A separate row will be created for every combination of the levels of the variables in the Rows list. For example, if Variable A (with one level) and Variable B (with three levels) are added to the Rows list, the analysis will create three rows to accommodate each combination of the levels of Variables A and B (i.e., A1B1, A1B2, A1B3). Variables entered in the Rows list may be binned if the variable contains integer data (see E-DATAAID: Binning Data [22821]).

Data
The Data list displays the dependent measure in the analysis. At least one variable must be entered in the Data list for each analysis. The data for any variables entered in the Data field may be summarized using various statistical measures. Double click any variable in the Data field to designate a method by which that variable’s data may be summarized. By default the data is summarized by the condition mean.

To collect more than one statistic for the same variable, add the variable to the list one time for each statistic desired, and choose a different summary method for each instance of the variable from the Statistics dialog.

The following table lists the statistical measures by which data may be summarized:

Variables may be removed from the Data list by dragging them from the list and dropping them on to the Variables list. Variables cannot be moved from the Data list to the Rows or Columns lists, or vice versa. However, variables may appear in either the Rows or the Columns list in addition to the Data list.

Comments
The Comments field allows the user to enter up to two lines of additional comments concerning the analysis. Comments are included when an analysis is saved to an .anl file (E-Prime analysis file).

Filters
The Filters field displays any active filters applied to the spreadsheet. If no filters have been applied to the data, the Filters field remains blank. The Filters field is read-only. In order to apply or remove filters, it is necessary to use the Filter button, or return to the spreadsheet and use the Filter command.

Creating a New Analysis 

The New button on the Analyze dialog removes any variables from the Row, Column, and Data lists. It then clears the Name and Comments fields in addition to the table and plot options. Filters are not cleared, as filters apply to the spreadsheet and are merely displayed on the Analyze dialog. To clear any filters for a particular analysis, use the Filter command via the Tools menu or the Filter tool button. Before clearing the fields for a new analysis, the user is prompted to save the current settings.

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