Overview
This lecture demonstrates how to create a side-by-side box plot using Excel 2016, including data preparation, chart creation, and customization.
Preparing Data
- The data includes grades from students at three locations: Diamond, Harlem, and Rotterdam.
- A lookup formula is used to match location numbers to their names for clarity.
- The formula is copy-pasted down to fill in all location names for the dataset.
Creating a Box Plot in Excel 2016
- Go to the "Insert" tab and select "Insert Statistics Chart."
- Choose the "Box and Whisker" chart option.
- If the chart appears empty, select the data series for grades.
- Add horizontal category axis labels using the location names.
- Clicking OK generates a side-by-side box plot comparing the grades by location.
Customizing the Box Plot
- Adjust the vertical axis maximum to 100, matching the grading scale.
- To remove the chart title, select and delete it.
- Add or modify the vertical axis label to "Grade."
- Customize series options to hide individual data points if desired.
- Change the box fill color for better visibility of the mean (marked by an X).
- Customizing the chart enhances readability and presentation.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Box Plot (Box and Whisker plot) — A chart that displays the distribution of data based on minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile, and maximum.
- Series — A group of related data points plotted in a chart.
- Category Axis — The axis in a chart that displays category names (e.g., locations).
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice creating a side-by-side box plot with sample data in Excel 2016.
- Adjust chart elements and formatting for clarity and presentation.