presenting statistical evidence
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Presenting Statistical Evidence and
Graphical Information in Written Work
Nicholas Shunda
University of Connecticut
!pril "##$
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%oday&s !genda
' Perspectives on graphical and statistical information in(riting
' )iscussing information or results of other studies
' )iscussing your o(n information or results*
+ Statistics* Summary statistics, graphs-plots, regression analysis
+ %heory* E.uations, graphs-figures
' Conclusion
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Some Perspectives
on Good Writing
' !n argument is the centerpiece of good (riting0good (riting is persuasive
' %he information in tales, graphs, etc2 is part ofyour argument0 you need to tell your reader (hatthe information says as (ell as (hat it means
' 3ake your discussion of the information suchthat your reader cannot help ut interpret theevidence in the (ay that you do
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Some Perspectives
on Good Writing
' 4%ales and graphs are (riting, and the
usual rules of (riting therefore apply5%he
reader (ants statistics given in the
simplest form consistent (ith their use5
%ales, graphs, diagrams, and displayed
e.uations should elucidate the argument,
not oscure it6 73cCloskey, "###, p2 89$:2
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Some Perspectives
on Good Writing
' 4%he purpose of charts, tales, and other
graphics is to summari
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Info2->esults of ?ther Studies
' %ypically, not much detail is necessary
' Sufficient information* Summary of research .uestionand methods, main findings, and conclusions
' )etail is only necessary if a prior study&s results areparticularly interesting or important to your research*
+ )id the study find a result that is at odds (ith the rest of theliterature@
+ )oes your research confirm or reAect this study&s results@
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Info2->esults of ?ther Studies
' Bou may encounter a particularly convenientfigure, graph, or piece of statistical information inpast research or from a statistical agency
' %here is no prolem (ith reproducing a figure,graph, tale, or numerical information from aprior study 7or statistical agency, etc2:
' If you reproduce a past study&s figure, graph,tale, or numerical information, e sure to citethe original source
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' Why does it matter@ It is the most important part of yourresearchH
' Bou are trying to make an argument* (hy should your
reader elieve you@
' Statistical, graphical, and mathematical informationprovide*
+ Fackground on your prolem + Support for your claims + %ests of your hypotheses + Illustration of your argument
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' Information supporting your argument*
+ Statistics from data 7taular and-or graphical:
+ Estimates from a regression model + E.uations derived from a model
+ Digures to illustrate ho( a model (orks
' %ell your reader (hat the information says as
(ell as (hat it means in the conte=t of your
economic theory
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' General tips*
+ !ll figures, graphs, and tales need a title
+ Digures-graphs* 4Digure NumerJ* %itle of figureJ6 + %ypically at the ottom of the figure
+ %ales* 4%ale NumerJ* %itle of taleJ6
+ %ypically at the top of the tale
+ Kelp your reader* %itles should e self9e=planatory andstate the theme of the information
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' General tips*
+ Digures and tales (ith self9e=planatory titles are not
enoughH
+ >eference the figure or tale in the ody of your te=t
+ )o not simply refer the reader to your results and
then let her do the thinking0 dra( conclusionsH
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' General tips*
+ )iscuss the contents of the figure or tale*
' Interpret the information for your reader
' What does the figure or tale sho(@
' !ny interesting information you (ant your reader tokno(@
' Ko( is the information related to your argument@
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' General tips*
+ Leep these t(o slogans in mind (hile (riting*
12 I need to (rite aout my results
"2 %he interpretation of my results is as important as
my results
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' Statistical information* Summary statistics
+%(o forms* 12 %ales, "2 Graphs
+ Purpose*
' Fackground information
' Illustrates trends 7or differences:
' What trends are there in the data@ Changes over
time5across countries, firms, etc2@
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' Statistical information* Summary statistics
+ %ales* Info2 that summari
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' Statistical information* Summary statistics
+ %ips for tales*
' )on&t let the tale stand alone
' E=plain its contents to your reader
' %hink aout .uestions that the data can ans(erand discuss them in the te=t of your paper
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' Statistical information* Summary statistics
+ Digures-graphs* Misual summaries of your data
+ What to include*' Clear, descriptive title of the figure' If a graph, clear laels for a=es and curves
' If a graph, a clearly laeled key to distinguishcurves
' Units of measurement for each variale
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' Statistical information* Summary statistics
+ %ips for figures*
' )on&t let the figure stand alone
' E=plain its contents to your reader
' What does the figure sho(@
' What are the important trends-differences@
' Ko( does it relate to the point you (ant to make@
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' Statistical information* >egression analysis
+ %ypical format for a tale of regression results* Whatcould improve this tale@
+ %ips for tales*
' )iscuss estimates on important variales0 provide interpretation
' !re the estimates statistically significant@ Economically significant@
' )o the results confirm your theory@ )o they reAect it@
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' 3athematical information* E.uations
+ %reat e.uations as part of a sentence*
' If an e.uation ends a sentence, a period 72: should follo( it
' If an e.uation is part of a clause, a comma 7,: should follo( it
' 3aAor e.uations deserve numers, minor ones do not
' E=plain and interpret parts of any displayed e.uation
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Info2->esults of Bour >esearch
' 3athematical information* Digures-graphs
+ Digures should illustrate and simplify your model, not oscure it
+ Digures need clear, descriptive titles
' 4Digure NumerJ* %itle of figureJ6
' %ypically at the ottom of the figure
+ Digures need laels for anything that is not ovious to the reader
+ Bou must reference the figure in the ody of your te=t and thendiscuss its interpretation and meaning
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?nline >esources
' ?nline Writing a at Purdue University*
+ http*--o(l2english2purdue2edu-(orkshops-hype
rte=t-apa-parts-tales2html
+ http*--o(l2english2purdue2edu-(orkshops-hype
rte=t-apa-parts-figures2html
+ Frief comments on the purpose and use of
tales and figures in (riting
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Conclusion
' Cost* It takes time to format tales, figures,
graphs, and e.uations
' Fenefits 7huge:*
+ %he support for your argument (ill e stronger, and
your argument (ill e more convincing
+ >eaders may 7gaspH: enAoy reading your (ork and it
may ecome influential
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>esources for Writing
in Economics' Steven !2 Greenla( Doing Economics: A Guide to Understanding
and Carrying Out Economic Research. Koughton 3ifflin Company2Ne( Bork2 "##82
' http*--college2hmco2com-economics-greenla(-research-1e-students-inde=2html
' )eirdre N2 3cCloskey Economical Writing. Waveland Press, Inc2Prospect Keights2 "###2
' http*--(((2(aveland2com-%itles-3cCloskey2htm
'>oert K2 Neugeoren The Student’s Guide to Writing Economics. >outledge2 Ne( Bork2 "##;2
' http*--(((2routledge9ny2com-shoppingcart-products-productdetail2asp@skuOisnO#1;$#1"/8parentidOpcO