How do I find patterns in my data for the SAT?

[technodisney]

I am currently stressing my head off.

I have collected a tonne of data for my SAT, 1000+ survey results and over 20,000 lines of data of Disney World wait times. I have worked out how to use pivot tables to easily sort those 20,000 lines of data month by month and attraction by attraction. But I can't find any obvious patterns in my survey results and I am so confused as to how to even present it in charts. And those 20,000 lines I just can't work out how to present it.

I have received full marks on the first two criteria that have been marked, the GANT chart and Analysing & Validating Data and currently ranked equal 1st in my class with one other person.

I guess what i'm asking for is any tips to help me sort through all this data. As I am just currently going in circles comparing numbers and not actually doing anything with it and therefore stressing, and I don't want to lose my no. 1 rank.

[S200]

I am currently stressing my head off.

I have collected a tonne of data for my SAT, 1000+ survey results and over 20,000 lines of data of Disney World wait times. I have worked out how to use pivot tables to easily sort those 20,000 lines of data month by month and attraction by attraction. But I can't find any obvious patterns in my survey results and I am so confused as to how to even present it in charts. And those 20,000 lines I just can't work out how to present it.

I have received full marks on the first two criteria that have been marked, the GANT chart and Analysing & Validating Data and currently ranked equal 1st in my class with one other person.

I guess what i'm asking for is any tips to help me sort through all this data. As I am just currently going in circles comparing numbers and not actually doing anything with it and therefore stressing, and I don't want to lose my no. 1 rank.

When you say you have been using pivot tables, do you mean in excel?

'Cause if so, you could maybe try a spark-line there?
Just a thought.

[technodisney]

When you say you have been using pivot tables, do you mean in excel?

'Cause if so, you could maybe try a spark-line there?
Just a thought.

Yeah I mean Excel.

I don't know what a spark-line is. I will look into it.

Thank you

[S200]

I learnt about them while doing this...

Beware. You need a spare hour to get where she is going...

Try around the 25-26 minute mark if you are already pretty comfortable with basic excel stuff.

[www]

It highly depends on what your initial hypothesis was for the SAT, but I have some ideas to get you started somewhere:

* Calculate average wait times for each month and plot them to see if certain months have higher average wait times (could this mean it's more busy in certain months? what could be the reason for the differences or no differences?)
* Calculate average wait time for each attraction and plot them to see if certain attractions have higher wait times (could this give you an idea of the most popular attractions?)
* Compare monthly wait times for specific attractions, maybe the ones with the highest average wait time (this would help you analyse if the waiting time for attractions over a time period are similar to wait times in certain months; what could this mean?)

Think about what answers you need to be able to support or reject your hypothesis, then go about trying to figure out to find those answers through your data. Your hypothesis does not need to be supported, it can be rejected if you cannot find any patterns to support your hypothesis (that is, even after attempting to find patterns through analysis/plotting, none of the data seems to support it).