STEP 2: Using a Poll Form
SOFTWARE: Microsoft Word
WHAT TO DO:
You will be using a basic Word document that you can print out for conducting your poll.
1. Open the Word form Mars Poll.
2. Add additional questions to the end of the Word document.
* Click the text add your own question.
* Type a new question.
3. Print out the Word document and use it to collect information from classmates, friends, neighbors, and family members.
4. Close Word. On the File menu, choose Exit. Do not save your changes.
5. After you have gathered your data; return to Step 3 of this activity.

STEP 3 Entering Your Data
SOFTWARE: Microsoft Excel
WHAT TO DO: When your polling is complete, use the Mars Project Excel worksheet to store your data. Follow these steps:
1. Open the Mars Data Excel worksheet.
2. Click the Sample Data tab to view sample data.
3. Minimize the Mars Project Help window to see the chart, by clicking the
Minimize button on the Help menu bar.
4. When you're ready to continue this activity, click the Help button on the Task Bar.
5. Click the Poll Data sheet tab. As you enter your data, the chart will update. The chart shows data or the first 15 surveys you entered.
6. On the File menu, click Save. In the Save In box, choose a location to save your file.
7. In the File Name box, type Your Name Mars Project Data.
8. In the Save As Type box, choose Microsoft Excel Workbook.
To find the average response for each question, click cell E28 – the average row in the Q1 column. You can view the formula in the Formula bar above.

STEP 4 Analyzing Your Data
SOFTWARE: Microsoft Excel
WHAT TO DO: Once your data has been entered on the Poll Data sheet, it's time analyze it. One way to look at the data is by gender. Follow these steps:
1. Open the Mars Project Data worksheet you created in Step 3, if necessary.
2. Click the Poll Data - by Gender tab. This sheet is a duplicate of the Poll Data sheet and has your data already entered.
3. Highlight the "First Name" label cell (B15), click the Data menu, click Filter, and then click Auto Filter.
* This creates a pull down menu of all the variables in your data (such as M and F for gender).
* When you select a filter, Excel will show only the rows that match. You can then average these subsets, find their percentages, or create charts for them using the same steps you followed above.
4. Click the drop down arrow next to the Gender column and select M or Male. You should now only see Male responses in the list.
5. Click the drop down arrow next to the Gender column and select F or Female. You should now only see Female responses in the list.
6. Turn off Auto Filter: Click the Data menu, click Filter, then click Auto Filter.

SOFTWARE: Microsoft Excel
WHAT TO DO: Creating a chart is a good way to compare the response to a question. Follow these steps to create a chart to show the differences by gender to question #1-6
1. Make sure that you're on the Excel Sheet Poll Data - by Gender.
2. Highlight cells C10:J12.
3. Click the Insert menu, then click Chart.
4. Click Next. Click Next again to go to step 3 of the Chart Wizard.
5. Click the Titles tab, click the Chart Title box, and type Answers by Gender.
6. Press TAB.
7. In the Category (X) Axis box, type Questions.
8. Press TAB.
9. In the Category (Y) Axis box, type Average.
10. Click Finish. Drag your chart to an empty area on the sheet.
11. Repeat the above steps to create additional charts.
12. On the File menu, click Save.
13. Exit Excel. On the File menu, click Exit.

(Adapted from Microsoft Classroom Office Tools)

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