How to Create a Mean Standard Deviation Plot in Excel

When working with datasets that contain multiple groups or categories, it's often useful to visualize the mean and standard deviation of each group. In this article, we will walk you through the steps to create a mean standard deviation plot in Excel.

Step 1: Enter the Data

First, let's enter some sample data into Excel. The following table shows the points scored by various basketball players on three different teams:

| --- | --- | --- | --- |

| Team A | 65 | 75 | 90 |

| Team B | 55 | 70 | 85 |

| Team C | 60 | 80 | 95 |

Step 2: Calculate the Mean and Standard Deviation for Each Group

To calculate the mean and standard deviation for each team, we will use Excel's built-in functions. In cell H2, enter the formula `=AVERAGE(I2:I4)` to calculate the mean score for Team A. Then, copy this formula down to each cell in column H to calculate the mean score for each team.

In cell I2, enter the formula `=STDEV.P(I2:I4)` to calculate the standard deviation of scores for Team A. Then, copy this formula down to each cell in column I to calculate the standard deviation for each team.

Step 3: Plot the Mean and Standard Deviation for Each Group

To plot the mean and standard deviation for each group, we will use Excel's chart feature. First, highlight the cell range H2:H4. Then, click on the 'Insert' tab in the ribbon and select the 'Clustered Column' chart type.

Once you've inserted the chart, right-click on the chart and select 'Error Bars'. In the 'Error Bar Options' window, select the 'Custom' button under 'Error Amount', then select the 'Specify Value' button. In the 'Specify Value' window, enter the formula `=H2` to specify the mean value for each team.

Next, click on the chart again and select 'Error Bars' > 'More Options'. In the 'Error Bar Options' window, select the 'Standard Deviation' option under 'Error Amount', then enter the formula `=I2` to specify the standard deviation value for each team.

Adding Standard Deviation Lines

To add the standard deviation lines to each bar in the chart, click anywhere on the chart and then click on the green '+' sign in the top right corner. Select 'Error Bars' > 'More Options', then select the 'Custom' button under 'Error Amount'. In the 'Specify Value' window, enter the formula `=H2+I2` to specify the upper standard deviation value for each team.

Repeat this process to add the lower standard deviation line by entering the formula `=H2-I2`.

Final Chart

The final chart will show the mean number of points scored by each team, with the top of each blue bar representing the mean and the black lines representing one standard deviation above and below the mean. This chart provides a visual representation of the spread of scores for each team.

By following these steps, you can easily create a mean standard deviation plot in Excel to visualize the distribution of your data.

Mean standard deviation plot in excel