Survey Project
Introduction
Most survey projects lead to generation of significant data both quantitative and qualitative. However, the gathered data remains meaningless in its raw form, but processing and presentation as well as analysis of the collected data makes the data meaningful thereby enabling the conclusions to be made. Therefore, this survey project presents tabulation, presentation, calculations and data analysis of data gathered concerning the minutes spend commuting for a one-way on an average workday. The data is on 30 incidences using five different means of transport such as private car, train, walk/bike, carpool and bus.
Tabulation and presentation of data
Table 1: Frequency distribution table
| 1-10 | 11-20 | 21-30 | 31-40 | 41-50 | 51-60 | 61-70 | 71-80 | 81-90 | Total | |
| Private car | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 19 |
| Train
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Walk/bike
|
0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Carpool
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bus
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total
|
3 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 30 |
Figure 1: Bar Graph
Figure 2: Pie chart
Calculation of the proportions:
Private cars = 19/30 x 360o = 228o
Train = 5/30 x 360o = 60o
Walk/bike = 3/30 x 360o =36o
Carpool = 2/30 x 360o = 24o
Bus = 1/30 x 360o = 12o
Finding central tendencies and range
Mode = This is the number which is occurring most frequently, and this data there are three numbers occurring four times each such as 20, 30 and 45.
Mean = this is the total sum divided by the number of occurrences.
Mean = ∑xi/n
= 1,065/30
= 35.5
Median = This is the central number is a series and in this case no particular number is exactly at the centre.
Therefore, we take the sum of the two central numbers and divide them by two as shown below:
= 30+30
=60/2
=30
Range = this is the difference between the largest number and the smallest number.
= 90-10 = 80
Data analysis
The data on the five means of commuting to work such as private car, train, walk/bike, carpool and bus are divided into 9 classes or groups. However, the widths of each class/group were as follows: 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, and 81-90. This ensured that the total number of bars were 9. Moreover, according to the frequency distribution table shown in (Table 1) each of the group had varied frequency from the other one mean the frequency for each group was unique from the other one. For instance, the frequencies for the 9 groups outlined above were: 3, 8, 5, 4, 5, 1, 1, 2, and 1 respectively. This constitutes a cumulative total of 30.
In addition, the data was represented using two types of charts i.e. a bar chart and a pie chart. The first chart to present the data is a bar chart which shows the data according to the frequency distribution table. The bar graph shows the data according to their respective 9 groups and their subsequent frequencies. Moreover, the data is also represented using a pie chart where the largest proportion is taken by the private cars followed by train, walk/bike, carpool and bus which accounts for 228o, 60o, 36o, 24o and 12o respectively. This implies that most of the people preferred to private cars as their means of commuting to work.
Furthermore, when the central tendencies are considered the mode was found to be shared by three numbers such as 20, 30 and 45 which appeared four times each. The median was found to be 30 obtained after dividing the sum of two central number by two since there was no an outright central number. The mean was found to be 35.5 obtained after dividing the total sum with the number of occurrences. Finally, the range is 80 obtained after subtracting the least number (10) from the largest number (90).
References
ASTM International, (2002). Manual on Presentation of Data and Control Chart Analysis. New York, NY: MNL.
Lewis-Beck, M. S. (1995). Data Analysis: An Introduction. Boston, MA: Sage Publications Inc.
