Building tables from data
Displaying frequency tables for small datasets might be feasible by hand, but we need technology to display frequency tables for larger datasets.
Let’s use technology to create a frequency table to understand the variable Enjoy Music for all [latex]1,007[/latex] students included in the survey. Follow these steps:
Go to the data analysis tool Describing and Exploring Categorical Data at https://dcmathpathways.shinyapps.io/EDA_categorical/
Step 1) Select the One Categorical Variable tab.
Step 2) Locate the dropdown under Enter Data and select From Textbook.
Step 3) Locate the dropdown under Dataset and select Young Adults: Enjoy Music. The frequency table will appear to the right. It will be easier to read if the categories are presented in order. Follow Steps 4 and 5 below to rearrange it if needed.
To rearrange the frequency table in numerical order from 1 to 5:
Step 4) Select the Customize Order box under Options.
Step 5) Locate the Choose Order of Categories box and sequentially select 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Refer to the frequency table you just created to answer Questions 3 and 4.
question 3
question 4
When exploring categorical data, it is helpful to convert the data from tables into charts or graphs. Bar graphs and pie charts provide visual summaries of data that help us quickly identify how the individual category frequencies relate to one another and to the total count.
