Formatting hints and tips

It's worth thinking a bit about how you enter data as you collect it, before you get to trying to analyze it. Here's a pair of quick examples to help you think about the issues.

Example 1 - an experiment measuring a numerical outcome

Let's say you are running an experiment to see how light affects plant growth. You will expose plants to either light or dark environments, and measure their growth after a week. You have three volunteers, Ali, Beth and Cy who will each manage a pair of plants. So six plants in all.

How would you suggest the results get entered in a spreadsheet?

Table of average growth vs treatment

If this is your choice, read more here for a discussion.

Table of experimenter vs treatment

If this is your choice, read more here for a discussion.

Table with 1 row per plant

If this is your choice, read more here for a discussion.

Example 2 - an experiment measuring a categorical outcome

Let's say you are running an experiment to see whether light affects whether plants live or die. This time, each experimenter has 10 plants they will divide up between light and dark environments, and they will register the outcome as either "Lived" or "Died" after four weeks.

Table of treatment vs result

If this is your choice, read more here for a discussion.

Table of experimenter vs treatment and result

If this is your choice, read more here for a discussion.

Table with 1 row per plant

If this is your choice, read more here for a discussion.