Using Winstats to graph, describe, and analyze data

Download Winstats at http://math.exeter.edu/rparris/winstats.html. Save onto your computer.

Then unzip the file. The author updates the Winstats program routinely to make improvement
and fix bugs. So it is worth checking routinely.
Single Variable Data
Entering Data
Enter data into an Excel Worksheet, then highlight, and copy the data
In Winstats, select 1-Var Data under Window. (or Click F1)
Under File, click Paste from Clipboard. (of Ctrl+V)
If you want to change the number of decimal places show, under Edit, click Format
and change decimal place.
Descriptive Statistics
Under Stats, click Overall.
This will give you sample size, the 5-number summary, the mean, the interquartile range, the
standard deviation calculations for population (n) and sample (n-1), as well as other measures.
Graphs
Boxplots (with outliers represented as dots outside beyond whiskers)
o Under Stats, click Boxplot and Boxplot
Histograms
o Under Stats, click Histogram and then Number of Groups
o A little window for number of groups (or classes) to be used in the histogram
should appear. You can enter the number of classes you wish to use, OR use the
slider to examine what happens to the histogram as you increase or decrease the
number of classes. The histogram will appear and change accordingly as you use
the slider. (Recall: Generally, we want between 5 and 20 classes depending on
the sample size. Dont even approach the upper limits given by the program.)
Stemplots
o Under Stats, click Stemplot and then Stemplot

Normal Distributions
Under Window > Probability, click Normal. A window containing a picture of a
standard normal distribution curve will appear. You can confirm that it is standard
normal because the heading is titled Gauss(0.0000, 1.0000, x). Gaussian is another
way of describing normal data, the first number in the parentheses refers to the mean, the
second number refers to the standard deviation. A standard normal distribution has a
mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1.
Finding an area under the standard normal curve or the probability of being in a
particular region. Under Calc, click Probabilities A calculation window
appears. Enter the low or left z value for your region (if you are calculating a left tail,
entering a big negative will suffice) and enter the high or right z value for your region (if
you are calculating a left tail, entering a big positive will suffice). Click the probability
button. Next to this button, your desired area (or probability) will appear. Notice that the
program will also shade the region for which you calculate the area.
Finding a z-value based on a particular right tail area. If you know the area you need
in a tail, you may find the corresponding z-value. Enter that area in next to
significance and click the critical x button. The z-value corresponding to a right tail
of the entered area will appear to the left of the button. If you need the z-value for the
left-tail, make the value negative.
Finding values for any other normal distribution. Change to an alternate normal
distribution by clicking on Parameters under Edit. Enter the mean and standard
deviation for the desired normal distribution and click OK. The graph will change
appropriately. Now you may use the calculation window to find areas under the curve of
critical x values related to this distribution.
Students t Distributions
Under Window > Probability, click Student t. A window containing a picture of a tdistribution curve will appear. You must set the curve to reflect the distribution you
currently are investigating. Click on Parameters under Edit. Enter the degree of
freedom and click OK. The curve will now reflect your choice. The degree of freedom
entered will appear as the first number in the parentheses on the heading of the window
containing the curve.
Finding the area of a right tail. Under Calc, click Probabilities A calculation
window appears. Enter the t-value that bounds the tail under consideration in the box to
the right of x-value and click the tail probability button. Next to this button, your
desired area (or probability) will appear. Notice that the program will also shade the
region for which you calculate the area. (Recall: The curve is symmetrical about the
mean. So if you need a left tail area, enter in the associated positive t-value.)
Finding a t-value based on a particular right tail area. If you know the area you need
in a tail, you may find the corresponding t-value. Enter that area in next to significance
and click the critical x button. The t-value corresponding to a right tail of the entered
area will appear to the left of the button. If you need the t-value for the left-tail, make the
value negative.

Two Variables
Entering Data
Enter data into an Excel Worksheet (one variable per column), then highlight, and copy
the data
In Winstats, select Multi-Var Data under Window. (or Click F2)
Under File, click Paste from Clipboard. (of Ctrl+V)
If you want to change the number of decimal places show, under Edit, click Format
and change decimal place. Also click on column headings and enter variable name.
Graphing Data
Under Plot,, click 2D plot 1
A window titled Scatter plot appears. Select the column (1 or 2) that contains the
variable to be on the horizontal axis from the pull down menu hori axis. Select the
column (1 or 2) that contains the variable to be on the vertical axis from the options under
vert axis. Click OK.
A window with a scatterplot of your data appears. Notice that only the minimum and
maximum values are listed for the scale of the plot. For a better scale, click Grid under
the View pull down menu.