MAS183 Statistical Data Analysis & Databases

Semester 2 2010

Preparation of Assignments
(this should have appeared in the Unit Information)

Most assignments in MAS183 require calculations of some sort. Setting out these calculations (and
the associated formulae) in a word processor is not easy if you don’t already know how to do it (and
it’s not all that easy even when you do know how to do it). We do not want you to have to learn
mathematical type-setting in addition to SPSS and/or Excel, so we do not require that assignments be
typed.
In fact, we recommend that you do not type your MAS183 assignments.
The basic rules are these:
1. Lay out your work reasonably neatly.
2. If setting out a manual calculation:
a. Start with the formula, then put in the numbers, then show your working until you get
the final result.
b. Show only the working you actually use. Don’t invent working just because you think
it might keep us happy, but show enough steps to make your thinking clear to yourself
(and hence to us).
3. If using results calculated in SPSS or Excel:
a. Attach the relevant output. Note that you can copy-and-paste statistical output into a
document so that it takes less paper to print it out. You will lose marks if output is not
attached. For small data sets, it is appropriate to include the data with the output, and
it may help us when something goes wrong.
b. You do not need to describe to us the steps you took to obtain the output.
c. Do not provide a manual calculation as well.
d. In your answer, answer the question and refer to the printout. E.g., “Mean = 45.23,
median = 42.92, standard deviation = 5.29 (see attached output)”.
e. Do not simply say “see attached output”. Part of the exercise is that you need to show
that you can find the right numbers in output that usually includes lots of other
numbers as well.
4. For interpretive questions, an answer that gets full marks is usually only a few lines at most.
Leave the essays to humanities subjects. The hard part is knowing which short answer is
appropriate. Writing lots of text will not help you.
5. Fancy presentation is not really appreciated. Don’t bother with photo-quality paper for colour
graphs. Don’t put your assignment in a folder or plastic sleeve. There is no need for a title
page, footnotes, or bibliography. DO make sure that all pages (including the cover sheet) are
firmly stapled together. Pins and paper clips are not sufficient—it is a tough life inside those
assignment boxes!
6. Remember the iron rule: unless the cover sheet is completed and attached, your assignment
will not be marked.

If you can do all this in a typed document, that’s nice for you, but it won’t get you any more marks. In
fact, if there are problems with it, you may be asked not to type your work in future.

Note for INTERNAL STUDENTS: there is no provision for electronic submission of assignments.