45-734 Probability and Statistics II (4th Mini AY 1997-98 Flex-Mode and Flex-Time) Homework Guidelines

45-734 Probability and Statistics II (4^th Mini AY 1997-98 Flex-Mode and Flex-Time)

Guidelines For Written Assignments For Statistics II

Homework must be neatly typed. There are two alternative formats that you may use in presenting your written results. Regardless of the approach you use, please integrate your results into your written solution so that the graders can readily find and interpret your answer.

Alternative 1:

Create a WORD document that integrates the relevant EVIEWS output (tables and graphs) with your commentary.

The regression tables in EVIEWS can be written to a text file by going into "Print Setup" under the "File" option and clicking the "Text File" button (be sure to put in a name and path -- the default path is where EVIEWS is installed). This text file can then be read by WORD or any screen editor and placed in the clipboard so it can then be pasted into WORD. In WORD, if you use "Courier New" font the spacing inside the table will be preserved. You can then simply type your text around it.

Graphs can be pasted into a word document as well. For example, after you run a regression; e.g., LS GNP C MILMOB, click on the "Resids" button on the table and a graph of the residuals will come up. Click on the middle of the graph and it will be highlighted with a blue border. Go to "Edit" and choose the "copy" option and a window will come up where you can copy the highlighted graph to the clipboard. You can then paste it into a WORD document (it comes up as a picture that you can manipulate).

Alternative 2:

You can simply write a legible narrative that clearly answers all the questions in the assignment and attach all the relevant EVIEWS tables and figures as appendices. In this narrative, if you discuss an equation, it is customary to present a regression equation as follows:

       DEPVAR = 8.99 + 7.12 INDEP1 + 7.77 INDEP2 - 3.33 INDEP3
               (7.11) (2.01)        (0.90)       (-2.11)

   R² = .881

In reporting results this way, you would substitute the actual names of your dependent and independent variables. Normally, either t-statistics or the standard errors should be reported in parentheses below the coefficients (I used t-statistics above).

If other summary statistics besides the R² are relevant, they should also be listed. The reader should not have to refer to your appendices in order to obtain the answer to the problem, but the supporting regression output and other computer output should appear in the appendices. When several regressions related to the same data are presented, it is customary to place them in a table with row (or column) headings identifying the variables.