ENG 85-222 S1 TREATMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL DATA
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PROJECT 1: SIMPLE DATA ANALYSIS & COMPARISON
REPORT GUIDELINES
Winter 2016
v. 1.5
The final project report is due on
MARCH 11, 2016 BY 3:00 PM EST
This document contains general guidelines for the preparation of the Project Report I. Please note, that the guidelines are
general and for the sake of consistency all students are encouraged to follow them. However, it is quite possible that some
project contents and results are better stated in a different format/structure. In such cases, students should develop
appropriate modifications to the outline below and inform the instructor. Finally, if you have any questions or need any
clarifications, please email or make appointment to discuss.
THE DATA
The report is a summary of your work on the three data sets you have been assigned to analyze. The original data has been
provided in a form of an Excel spreadsheet, where data sets are arranged as columns. Data in each of the columns has been
generated from a different probability distribution each. Data sets are available in Resources>PROJECT 1>DataSets. You have
to locate the assigned file by the folder with the same name as two first letters in the assigned file name.
REPORT STRUCTURE
The report has to have all of the sections listed below, unless it is indicated otherwise (e.g., some sections are marked as
optional, meaning that you may decide to include them, even though they are not mandatory). In summary, a report should
consist the following elements/sections:
? Cover page
? Table of contents (optional)
? Executive summary
? 1. Introduction
? 2. Project work
o Data
o Analysis Approach/Procedures
? 3. Results/Discussion
? 4. Conclusions
? References
COVER PAGE: Project title, due date & name of the author (e.g., your name)
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Optional
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Maximum one page summarizing the key results and findings of the project work.
I. INTRODUCTION [0.5 pages]
Explain briefly how simple data analysis methods you are to use in this project can be used in your chosen engineering
discipline and for what purpose. Provide examples. What are the benefits and limitations of such analysis?
II. PROJECT WORK [4-6 pages]
Provide the details of the work carried out (i.e., what) and tools of analysis used (i.e., how), create corresponding subsections.
See Table on next page for summary of the details of required analysis.
ENG 85-222 S1 TREATMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL DATA
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WHAT TO DO FOR EACH DATA SET JOINTLY FOR ALL DATA SETS
Descriptive statistics:
? Range, min, max, count
? Mean, median, mode
? Standard deviation
? Kurtosis & skewness
Show formulas/procedures
and explain calculation
process
Summary table
Confidence intervals (95 & 99%)
? Mean
? Standard deviation
Show formulas/procedures
and explain calculation
process
Histogram 3 Graph Summary graph
Empirical rule (calculate % of
data points falling into ± 1, 2 and
3 std. dev.)
– Summary table
5-number summary:
? Min, Q1, median, Q3, max
– Summary table
Box plots (use the included Excel
file to generate the plots). You
may also use another means (e.g.
web applet or other software)
– Summary graph
Normal probability plot 3 graphs Summary graph
Time series graph (create a
column of consecutive numbers)
3 graphs –
It is assumed that you will use MS Excel to perform most of your calculations and create graphs. All calculations, graphs, etc.
that you generated to create your report have to be saved in your Excel spreadsheet, as you will have to submit it together
with your report on Blackboard. When graphing in Excel:
? Make sure that you do not use the graph default settings and change them to suit your needs (fonts, colors, etc.)
? When copying graphs make sure they have no boxes around them; in summary graphs use color to distinguish
among data sets
? All figures (and tables, too) have to be numbered and have captions (figures below, tables above)
? Individual graph size (without caption) should not exceed 1/3 of the page; make size of all your graphs the same.
? In general, pay close attention to the clarity of information conveyed (legibility) and graph aesthetics.
III. RESULTS/DISCUSSION [1-2 pages]
Here you can explain the significance of your findings by relating what you discovered about the data sets you have been
assigned. You should address the following:
? What can be said of the data sets in terms of variation, means, distributions?
? Can you identify the distributions from which the data originated (e.g., Normal or not?)
? Comment on the effectiveness of the format of the information (e.g., graphs or tables) compared to raw data.
IV. CONCLUSIONS [0.5-2 pages]
In this last section you focus on the main things you have learned from the investigation and, if appropriate, on the practical
applications of your investigation. In short, this section should include:
? Summary (restated) of the project problem and a brief summary of the results
? Recommendations on future work on this topic based on the results
REFERENCES
Throughout your report refer to the specific parts of the textbook, providing guidelines regarding analysis techniques (e.g.,
graphs or calculations) you are using. You may also include any other, relevant references. Use the following format (also
called Harvard style) in listing references in the alphabetical order:
[1] Author(s), Publication/Book title, Journal/Publisher, Year (and page numbers if it is a technical paper)
[2] Website XYZ <http://address.com> viewed on a particular date DD-MM-YY
Please remember, that while this section contains a list of references, calls to those references should be placed whenever
appropriate throughout the report. Commonly used general rules of citing sources and references can be found at the
following website
http://www.aresearchguide.com/styleguides.html
ENG 85-222 S1 TREATMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL DATA
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REPORTAPPEARANCE AND SUBMISSION
Project reports have to be submitted in both hard copy and electronically, however the electronic copy submitted via
Blackboard is considered only a backup. The primary copy is a hard (printed) copy. It has to be provided by the due date
either in class or in the IMSE office in 3022 CEI (ask the secretary for a time stamp).
The hard copy of the final report submitted for grading has to have professional appearance, including the following:
? Has to be typeset in word processing program
? Main report body has to be printed on white 8.5”×11” paper; single sided b&w printing (color printing optional).
? Have two covers (front and back) printed on cardboard stock
? Have a transparent plastic front cover
? Be bound with either spiral or comb binding (stapling or using a three-ring binder does not count as binding)
Notes:
1. Ideally the report should be about 10-12 pages long including cover page, references, acknowledgements, etc., but
certainly should not exceed 15 pages.
2. All pages (including the References) should be numbered. Do not number the cover page.
3. Use font size 12 pt (font Times or New Times Roman are preferred); 1-inch margins all around and 1.5 line spacing.
4. Final report is due on March 11, 2016 @ 3:00 pm. NO EXCUSES FOR MISSING THE DEADLINE ARE ACCEPTED.
5. Provide one bound hard copy to the instructor (drop it off in the IMSE Dept. office) and electronic copy (either pdf or
MS Word file) and copy of your Excel work file, both submitted via course website on BlackBoard.
6. Handwritten reports are not acceptable.
Tips for a good report:
? Use numbered headings and sub-headings with titles that mean something and help the reader follow what you
are doing
? Number all tables (e.g., Table 1) and graphs (e.g., Figure 5), give them reasonable captions (e.g., Fig. 5 Linear
Regression Fit to the Data) and refer to them in the text, with a discussion of each table and graph.
? Read through your work at least once. Do you think it is easy to read? Would another student be able to follow
and understand what you are doing?
? Use the spell-checker on your computer, and check that the corrections that Word has made are the right ones–
three is nothin wurse than tiring to reed soemthing with speeding mistakes!!
PROJECT GRADING GUIDELINES
The Final Project report is worth 15 percent of your final grade. The marks will be distributed according to the following
scheme:
A. COMPLETENESS [2 PTS.]
Following the guidelines
B. QUALITY OF WRITING AND LOGIC [5 PTS.]
Logical flow
Grammar and spelling, etc.
Reference calls to the textbook and other relevant sources
C. STATISTICAL CONTENT OF THE REPORT [8 PTS]
Complete, clear explanations of analysis procedures
Correct computations
Quality of graphs, tables, etc., in communicating concepts
Appropriate use of statistics (statement and checking of assumptions, manipulation of data)
Quality of explanations
0.000
2.000
4.000
6.000
8.000
10.000
12.000
-3.000 -2.000 -1.000 0.000 1.000 2.000 3.000
Data X
Z-score