Making the grade

Error and Uncertainty in Google Sheets

Evan Kramer

Instructor

Predicting students' grades

  • Term 1 grade
  • Term 2 grade
  • Mother's education level
  • Number of absences
  • Final grade

Data table with period 1, period 2, and final grades

Error and Uncertainty in Google Sheets

Weighted averages vs. linear models

  • Weighted average
    • Interim measures
    • Adjustable weights

Grades data table with weighted average column selected

Error and Uncertainty in Google Sheets

Weighted averages vs. linear models

  • Linear model
    • Lines of "best fit"

Positive correlation scatterplot

Error and Uncertainty in Google Sheets

Prediction methods

  • Weighted averages
    • Simple to compute
    • Good predictors for interim measures
    • Bad at generalizing
  • Linear models
    • Easily generalizable
    • Reasonable predictions from novel data
    • May oversimplify relationships
Error and Uncertainty in Google Sheets

Weighted averages

  • AVERAGE.WEIGHTED(values, weights)
    • values: data to average
    • weights: proportions

Data table with one weight for creating weighted averages

Error and Uncertainty in Google Sheets

Weighted averages

  • = 100 - F2

Data table with two weights for creating weighted averages

Error and Uncertainty in Google Sheets

Weighted averages

  • AVERAGE.WEIGHTED(B2:C2, $F$2:$G$2)

Data table with 30-70 weighted averages calculated

Error and Uncertainty in Google Sheets

Weighted averages

  • AVERAGE.WEIGHTED(B2:C2, F2:G2)

Data table with evenly weighted average

Error and Uncertainty in Google Sheets

Let's practice!

Error and Uncertainty in Google Sheets

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