Bio 412 
Biometry

Assignment #1

IMPORT    ANT: Read all of this handout before starting!!!

Goals:

1) Becoming familiar with the computer lab
2) Using the course web site
3) Using the MINITAB statistical program
4) Basic computing using MINITAB

A. Becoming familiar with the computer lab and saving files.

  1. Log into the computer using your WSU network ID and password. Please save any files you may create during this exercise on a jump drive or e-mail them to yourself.

B. Using MS Internet Explorer to access the Stat 412 web site.

  1. Internet Explorer is a computer program which allows users to connect to computers all over the world via the Internet. I have set up a web site for this course so that you can access notes, assignments and data files from anywhere. This works well for students who have computers at home and have internet access.
     
  2. To access the Stat 412 web site type the following address or URL into the line above the main screen: http://oasis.vancouver.wsu.edu
     
  3. Underlined and highlighted text is hyperlinked to further information. Simply click on the label for Courses and then Biometry to get more information. The site has a course description and philosophy, a general syllabus, assignments and data files. If you want to download a file click on the name of the file. After it is displayed simply save it to your disk for use with MINITAB.

C. Using MINITAB. Use your MINITAB help file, online manual, and class handouts as guides.

  1. To start MINITAB, select from the Program menu. It takes a minute to load.
     
  2. MINITAB has two basic windows: the session window and the data window. You will start up with both windows on the screen. The "active" window (the one you can type information into) is highlighted. To switch between windows you can either click on the desired window with the mouse or hit the CTRL-D (hold down the CTRL key button and press D) to select the data window or CTRL-M for the session window.
     
  3. The session window is where you will enter all MINITAB commands such as SUM, COUNT, etc. and view the resulting program output. In contrast, the data window is a spreadsheet which will contain your data in column format for viewing and editing.
     
  4. IMPORTANT: all of the Information in each window is saved in a MINITAB project: data, session text, graphs, etc.
     
  5. The data window is organized around columns. Each column has a default name denoted by C1 for column 1, C2 for column 2 and so on. MINITAB has hundreds of columns and you can use any of them to store data. The key thing to remember is where you stored your data so you don’t overwrite them with output from other commands.
     
  6. To start the assignment you will run through a series of MINITAB commands as described below.

D. Assignment: Measures of central tendency and graphing.

  1. Refer to the handout passed out in class. Make sure you  read the handout so you know what is going on. Then, repeat the steps by typing in the commands by yourself so you get the same results.
     
  2. To be able to enter commands directly (without the menu) you will need to "enable" the commands. Select the session window by clicking on it. Then pull down the editor menu and click on "enable commands" button if they are not already enabled
     
  3. The data for the assignment can be downloaded from the data access area, file named Tegula89.mpj.

E. Printing your session window.

  1. After you have completed the assignment save your MINITAB project file using FILE > Save Project (but see Step A above).
     
  2. If you want you can print out the session window using the File > Print session window command and go over the output (see below).
     
  3. If you want to edit the session you have two options. The easiest is to make the session window editable by using editor >  output editable command (the session window must be selected). After you delete or add text simply print the file out as you have before. Another option is to save the output as a text file using the File> save session window as command and use a word processor, such as MS Word, to edit your results (you can also copy and paste into Word if you know how).
     
  4. NOTE: you should always edit your name into the output file so that you can distinguish it from other people’s assignments
     
  5. After finishing the assignment go over the output and thoroughly describe each step in writing so that you know what is being done. Use the handout on homework assignments as a guide for what to write.

*** This assignment is due in class on Monday, Sept..15. ***