Exploring Aggregate Data

This section on exploring aggregate data is split into four tasks. In order to complete these tasks you must download the following Excel spredsheet to your computer.

• Workingdataset.xls

You may find it easier to work through these tasks with this PDF step-by-step guide.

• Dataset Tasks (467KB)

You will use a basic statistical package, Excel to carry out some straightforward data analysis tasks on an international time series aggregate dataset. The data used here are from the OECD Factbook, an online resource that provides free data and commentary on world economic, social and environmental trends. By the end of these tasks, you will be able to:

• produce summary statistics;
• derive a variable;
• produce a chart in Excel;
• add trend lines and moving averages to an aggregate time series;