Data Analysis Part One

Welcome to my third blog post! This time, I’m going to talk about how I analyzed the data I collected. 

As I mentioned before, when people were filling out the surveys, I watched the videos to count their blink rates. I then wrote down their blink rates on their surveys once they were done with them. Once I had all 50 surveys, I went through each one of them and counted the number of times that person choose a risky answer (out of nine questions total). 

So then I had 50 blink rates with their corresponding number of risky decisions. I put all of my data in a Google spreadsheet, and then figured out what I needed to do to find the p-value, which basically would tell me the significance of my results. 

In order to do this, I had to use MATLAB, which, according to their website, is a high-level technical computing language for algorithm development, data visualization, and data analysis.  

I figure my learning how to use MATLAB is similar to how Marco Rubio learned about EDM (did you know that he said he listens to EDM - electronic dance music that is mostly played at raves?) 

Marco Rubio’s staff: Okay, we need to find something that will make younger people like you more, Marco. 

*Staff google searches something along the lines of “what do teens like”*

*Results for music show up, someone sees an abbreviation called EDM* 

Marco Rubio, after he listened to one song and was briefed on what to say: I like EDM and know what it is! 

My research consultant, Bob: Okay Emily, you should learn how to use MATLAB to analyze your data. 

*Google searches something along the lines of “how to use MATLAB”* 

*Results show up for how to enter data, make graphs, and find certain values*

Me: I like MATLAB and know what it is! 

You see, both Senator Rubio and I have preliminary understandings of what each of our respective things are. Marco needs to learn that EDM is, in fact, not a clean genre of music like he says and that its culture is not really for the GOP. On the other hand, I only have a pretty basic understanding of MATLAB and therefore can’t really compare it (and therefore prefer it) to other types of computer languages. 

MATLAB is super useful though. I had to use codes to put all of the data in a graph and then find the p-value. When I ran it, the p-value was a matrix. I turned to my math teacher, Mr. Peacher, for help, and he sat down with me and we figured out how to run the codes. We both agreed that MATLAB is pretty confusing, but definitely a great tool to know how to use. My goal is to gain a better understanding of MATLAB and other computer languages so that in the future I will be able to analyze data and find exactly what I’m looking for. 

Next week, the results will be written about. Stay tuned! As always, thanks for reading. 

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