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Sorting Data
The first thing to do when looking at a new dataset is to orient yourself. This involves at looking at maximum/minimum values and sorting the data so it makes sense. Let’s look at the columns. We have data about the GDP, healthcare expenditure and life expectancy. Now let’s explore the range of data by simply sorting.
Walkthrough: Sorting a dataset
- Select the whole sheet you want to sort. Do this by clicking on the right upper grey field, between the row and column names.
- Select “Sort Range…” from the “Data” menu – this will open an additional Selection
- Check the “Data has header row” checkbox
- Select the column you want to sort by in the dropdown menu
- Try to sort by GDP – Which country has the lowest?
- Try again with different values, can you sort ascending and descending?
Tip: Be careful! A common mistake is to forget to select all the data. If you sort without selecting all the data, the rows will no longer match up.