Experience, i.e. Movement, Analyses

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Microsoft Excel includes a “pivot table” facility that allows users to group together information from a single series of columns, e.g. data applicable at a single point in time. However, in some circumstances we may want to analyse the characteristics (numbers in a given category, sums and averages across a given category) of data that is changing through time.

For example, we might have information on a varying group of individuals at two different points in time, the same individual being referred to by the same ID (e.g. name or code) at both times. The information might include a classification by type (and maybe a numerical data item which we are also interested in analysing). We might want to analyse how many individuals have moved from one category to another between the start and end of the period, as well as merely the numbers present at either the start or the end of the period.

This type of analysis is not so easily implementable via pivot tables because the individuals present at the start of the period may not be the same as the individuals present at the end of the period.

It is possible to carry out such an analysis using a database, or by creating a bespoke program, but if speed is of the essence and the analysis needed is relatively simple then it may be simpler to use the Nematrian MnExperienceAnalysisSinglePeriodCounts web function.

In the interactive variant, you can either enter the data using a specific delimiter, e.g. the character, or you can leave it blank, in which case you can copy a column (or a row) of numbers or text entries from an Excel spreadsheet and the web page should automatically recognise the separate inputs elements.