Creating Disaggregation Graphs
Using the Graph - Disaggregate Function
The GRAPH - DISAGGREGATE function, part of the GRAPH MENU in EZAnalyze, allows you to display disaggregated data visually. If you would like to learn more about disaggregation, start with learning how to use the DISAGGREGATE function of EZAnalyze. Examples of useful ways to use a disaggregation graph would be to show how boys and girls score on a standardized test, to depict how different ethnic groups have different dropout rates, or to show how dropout rates differ by ethnicity and gender using "double disaggregation.".
To obtain a disaggregation graph for your data, select the "Graph" option from the EZAnalyze menu in Excel, then select "Disaggregation".
In the "Disaggregation Graph" dialogue box, you will see two variable lists. In the variable list located under the heading of "Dependent variable" (glossary) select one or more variables from the list (NOTE: you can only choose one if you want to double disaggregate). In the next variable list box located under the heading "Categorical variable," choose the categorical variable that you would like to disaggregate your dependent variable(s) by (glossary). Typical categorical variables in education are ethnicity, gender, ELL status, and grade level.
OPTIONS:
- Statistic Reported - Choose the mean to obtain an average score, the sum to obtain the total summed score, or the N for each group in your categorical variable
- Graph Type - Choose a Bar, Area, or Line graph
- Double Disaggregation - Place a check in the box next to 'Then by categorical variable 2', and then select a second categorical variable. NOTE: You can not double disaggregate multiple dependent variables)
To create a "Double Disaggregation" graph of your data, place a check mark in the box next to "Then by categorical variable 2" and select your second categorical variable from the drop-down box.
Next, select the "Statistic Reported." This is how your dependent variable will be summarized. Selecting the mean will give you the average score on the dependent variable for each group, selecting the sum will give you the total summed score for each group, and selecting the N will tell you how many people there were in each group.
Next, select the type of graph you would like to create and click "OK". Bar charts and area charts are the most popular types of graphs for displaying disaggregated data; you might want to create both types of charts and choose the one you think is most appealing to you. If you are double disaggregating your data and select "area/line chart", a line chart will be displayed. This is an excellent way to display double disaggregated data.
When you click OK, EZAnalyze will create a results report containing the graph, and a the data contained in the graph. (click on "results report" for information on how to interpret this analysis and modify your graph