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    By: National Council of Professors of Educational AdministrationAs a part of collections: "Making Microsoft Word User-Friendly for Dissertations, Theses, and Manuscripts: Part II", "Making Microsoft Word User-Friendly for Dissertations, Theses, and Manuscripts"

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Creating a Bar Graph

Module by: John R. Slate, Ana Rojas-LeBouef. E-mail the authors

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Note:

This chapter is published by NCPEA Press and is presented as an NCPEA/Connexions publication as a "print on demand book." Each chapter has been peer-reviewed, accepted, and endorsed by the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (NCPEA) as a significant contribution to the scholarship and practice of education administration.

About the Authors

  • John R. Slate is a Professor at Sam Houston State University where he teaches Basic and Advanced Statistics courses, as well as professional writing, to doctoral students in Educational Leadership and Counseling. His research interests lie in the use of educational databases, both state and national, to reform school practices. To date, he has chaired and/or served over 100 doctoral student dissertation committees. Recently, Dr. Slate created a website (Writing and Statistical Help) to assist students and faculty with both statistical assistance and in editing/writing their dissertations/theses and manuscripts.
  • Ana Rojas-LeBouef is a Literacy Specialist at the Reading Center at Sam Houston State University where she teaches developmental reading courses. Dr. LeBoeuf recently completed her doctoral degree in Reading, where she conducted a 16-year analysis of Texas statewide data regarding the achievement gap. Her research interests lie in examining the inequities in achievement among ethnic groups. Dr. Rojas-LeBouef also assists students and faculty in their writing and statistical needs on the Writing and Statistical Help website.

About the Editors

  • Theodore B. Creighton, is a Professor at Virginia Tech and the Publications Director for NCPEA Publications, the Founding Editor of Education Leadership Review, and the Senior Editor of the NCPEA Connexions Project.
  • Brad E. Bizzell, is a recent graduate of the Virginia Tech Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, and is a School Improvement Coordinator for the Virginia Tech Training and Technical Assistance Center. In addition, Dr. Bizzell serves as an Assistant Editor of the NCPEA Connexions Project in charge of technical formatting and design.
  • Janet Tareilo, is a Professor at Stephen F. Austin State University and serves as the Assistant Director of NCPEA Publications. Dr. Tareilo also serves as an Assistant Editor of the NCPEA Connexions Project and as a editor and reviewer for several national and international journals in educational leadership.

In this set of steps and screenshots, readers are provided with directions on creating a basic bar graph from descriptive statistics previously calculated. The bar graph, once generated, can then be inserted into a dissertation or manuscript. We encourage the use of graphs because they are excellent visual depictions of statistical information.

Note:

A Bar Graph is sometimes referred to as a Column Graph

Step One

First open a word document (Microsoft Word or other)

  • √ Insert
  • * Chart

13.1.png

  • * You will be prompted to choose the type of chart you would like to create (e.g., bar, pie, line, area, or surface) that illustrates your statistical output.
  • * Scroll down to see all options, however in this chapter, we will create a bar graph chart.

13.2.png

  • * Click on the actual “chart”
  • * Click OK

13.3.png

Two screens will “pop” up. A chart with graphs and an excel spreadsheet

13.4.png

***** Make sure to continue to SAVE your work!!!!

Step Two

Using the excel spreadsheet, create the categories and series, depending upon your information.

  • * You can use your SPSS output data (mean scores) to input data
  • * For example, if you have a table with the following information:
Table 1: Descriptive Statistics for Hispanic Students TAKS Mathematics Passing Rates by Year
School Size M
Very Small Schools  
2003–2004 77.60
2004–2005 76.41
2005–2006 79.02
2006–2007 83.00
2007–2008 83.13
Small Schools  
2003–2004 81.71
2004–2005 79.30
2005–2006 81.94
2006–2007 84.26
2007–2008 85.22
Large Schools  
2003–2004 84.71
2004–2005 81.27
2005–2006 83.34
2006–2007 85.80
2007–2008 86.53
  • √ Decide which variables will be the categories and series (the categories will be the title that appears under the graphs & the series will be the key).
  • √ Begin filling in your columns and rows in the excel file.
  • √ The first column will be, using the table information above, will contain the years.
  • √ The second column will be Very Small Schools, the first grouping cited in the table above.
  • √ This is handled by highlighting each cell and typing the information within the cell, as shown in figure below
  • * The illustration below demonstrates step by step how you can fill your columns/rows
  • * The first row would be filled (using the table 3 information above) with the very small schools first
  • * The graph to the right will instantly appear as you type in the numbers in the row (see arrows)

13.5.png

  • * Next, insert Column "C" with the title "Small School" and insert data (as illustrated in Table 3):
  • * The graph to the right will instantly appear as you type in the numbers in the row (see arrows):

13.6.png

  • * Next, insert Column "D" with the title "Large School" and insert data (as illustrated in Table 3):
  • * The graph to the right will instantly appear as you type in the numbers in the row (see arrows):

13.7.png

  • √ You can also make your cells larger or smaller by placing your mouse between the cells until you are able to move the lines over:

13.8.png

  • √ You can switch back and forth from the excel spreadsheet to the chart, using the tabs on the bottom of your excel sheet

After inputting your information, your chart will resemble the following:

13.9.png

Step Three

If you decide to change the color of your chart:

  • * You must be at your chart and click on the actual graph (this will make Chart Tools appear above in the option area)
  • √ Go to Chart Tools
  • * Design
  • * “Chart styles”
  • * “Change Chart Type”
  • * Click the down arrow, which will give you many different options
  • * Highlight a chart style

13.10.png

If you decide to change your chart layout:

  • √ Chart Tools
  • * Go to Tab designated “Design”
  • * Chart layouts (not to be confused with tab titled “Layout”)
  • * Click the down arrow, which will give you many different options

Make sure that your cursor is within the actual graph so that chart tools appear. The chart tools will only appear if your cursor is within the graph that you are trying to change.

13.11.png

If you decide to change your design to a different chart:

  • √ Chart Tools
  • * Design
  • * Go to Change Chart Type (furthest left hand icon)

Make sure that your cursor is within the actual graph so that chart tools appear. The chart tools will only appear if your cursor is within the graph that you are trying to change.

13.12.png

  • * Choose a different design (your data will transfer to another design)
  • * You can scroll down to choose a different design
  • * Click on design
  • * Click on OK
  • * You can now change color, arrangement of bubbles, using the same steps as mentioned above

13.13.png

If you decide to insert a title at the top of the figure.

  • √ Chart Tools
  • * Design

13.14.png

  • * Go to Change Chart Layouts (not to be confused with tab titled “Layout”)

13.15.png

  • * Click the down arrow until you see the graph with the “Title”
  • * This will give you many different options for titles and graph layouts

13.16.png

  • * Click on to Graph section titled Chart Title to enter your new title.

13.17.png

  • * Enter the title of your graph

13.18.png

In APA 6th edition style, you will need to type Figure 1. (if the first figure) and a longer title for the figure immediately below the graph.

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