Guidelines for Papers

A good statistics paper is more than a compilation of statistical facts. It should be well-organized, demonstrate clear and sound reasoning, contain easily interpreted data displays, and be well-written, using complete sentences and proper grammar. Lab reports and papers are as much an exercise in communication as they are in statistical correctness. You should type your paper using a word processor like Word, with SPSS graphs and tables pasted into the document. The emphasis in your paper should be on clarity and communicating your message effectively. Here are some specifics.

1. Label your graphs clearly. Graphs should have titles and axis labels. Captions, titles, labels, and legends must be legible, complete, accurate, and clear. Graph the data in context. Show the scale of your axes. Choose a scale that illuminates the variation in the data. If two plots are to be compared, make their scales the same.
2. Variable names should be chosen well. Do not use the default SPSS variable names. If you're working with a height variable, call it height, not Var00001. Data have context. Always give the units of the data.
3. The precision of the data should dictate the precision that you report. If your variable is weight to the nearest 5 pounds, then the mean weight should not be given as 174.0351259 pounds. A good rule of thumb is that the reported precision should have one or two more significant digits than the precision of the data.
4. A picture is worth a thousand words. Use appropriate graphs to summarize your data. Examine data carefully enough to know what they have to say, and then say it with a minimum amount of adornment and verbiage. Do not just reprint the output of an SPSS session with all its tables and graphs. Never include a table or graph in your report that you don't discuss or refer to. Similarly, don't just list all the summary statistics that SPSS can produce. Choose the appropriate summary statistic(s) to use for your data.
5. Do not include too much technical or mathematical detail. Do not include the details of algebraic calculations. The focus of your paper should be on interpretation and understanding. If you feel you must include mathematical calculations, put them in the back of the paper in an appendix so that they don't detract from overall readability and clarity. Use the standard statistical symbols and notation that we use in class. Don't invent your own. If you need to use mathematical symbols or expressions that you can't get in Word then leave space and write them out neatly by hand. Again, it is most important that your report be clear and easy to read.
6. The tone of your discussion should be measured and objective. Sometimes questions posed in a lab may be ambiguous. This is to be expected, and reflects the nature of actual scientific inquiry. The aim of your analysis is not to give an exact answer to a mathematical problem, but rather to provide some understanding of the questions posed using data and statistical evidence. There is not always a mathematically "correct" answer to each question. What I'll be most concerned with is the logic of your argument and how you bolster your case using the data and the available evidence.
7. In attempting to answer the questions posed in the lab you might want to speculate for the reasons behind the phenomenon you are observing. This is fine and even desirable as long as it is clear to the reader which part of your argument is an objective statement of fact, and which part is subjective and speculative.
8. Proofread your report several times. Use the following questions to appraise your paper. I will be using them in grading.
   • Are the statistical statements correct?
   • Are the data displays informative?
   • Are the conclusions based on sound evidence?
   • Are the grammar and sentence structure correct?
   • Are the style and tone appropriate?