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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' 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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' 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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' 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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' 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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' 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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' 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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+ %ales* Info2 that summari


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+ %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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+ 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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+ %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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' 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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' 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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' 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

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Presenting Statistical Evidence

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