You are a statistician! The goal of this project is to conduct a study and to “publish” your results (write a paper).
Part I (Due April 2nd) Pick a variable you want to study
a. Decide on a variable you wish to study and clearly identify it. Is it quantitative or qualitative? Discrete or continuous? Level of measurement?
b. Find an existing study or published parameter/statistic on this variable (give link to source).
c. What is the population in the existing study?
d. What is the population you wish to study?
e. Do you think the value in your study’s population will be greater, less than or just different from the existing study?
Part II (Due by April 9th) Write a survey and begin collecting data
a. Create a survey (possibly using Statcrunch) or data collection form and decide how you will gather data. Remember you want as random a sample as possible.
b. Collect your data and enter it into Statcrunch if necessary.
Part III (Due by April 23rd) Organize and Analyze your data in Statcrunch (Descriptive Statistics)
a. Create a frequency distribution of your data in Statcrunch
b. Create one Graph for quantitative data, two graphs for qualitative data
c. Describe your data with the appropriate statistics. For quantitative data describe center, shape, and spread.
d. Check for and address any possible outliers
e. Consider revising your hypothesis (claim).
Part IV (Due by April 30th) Perform Inference using Statcrunch
a. Verify that you can apply Central Limit Theorem
b. Construct a confidence interval using StatCrunch and explain what it means
c. Perform the appropriate hypothesis test using Statcrunch based on your claim
d. Address if you could have made a type I or II error and what that would mean
e. State your conclusion
Part V (Due by May 7th) Present your findings in a statistical article.
a. The paper is generally about 2-3 pages long including graphs and tables
b. Your output from Statcrunch should be incorporated into the narrative of your paper in the appropriate places (not just attached at the end)
c. Use the Grading Rubric to be sure that you have addressed all the relevant items
If I give you feedback and suggestions for revisions, the final revision is due by May 14th
Project Rubric
Introduction: (15 pts)
Clearly identify the variable you will be studying (2pts)
Is the variable quantitative or qualitative? (2pts)
If quantitative, is it discrete or continuous?
What is the level of measurement? (2pts)
Provide a link to the article/webpage where you found an existing study on this variable (2pts)
What is the statistic cited in the study? (1pt)
What is the population in the original study? (2pts)
What is the population of your study? (2pts)
Clearly state your hypothesis. (2pts)
Data Collection: (10 pts)
Describe how you collected data (1pt)
Include a survey or a link to the survey (3pts)
Describe the type of sampling you used (2pts)
What are some of the drawbacks with how you collected the data? (2pts)
How would you collect better data with more time and resources? (2pts)
Summarize your data using Statcrunch: (25 pts)
Include a well labeled frequency distribution (5pts)
Include one well-labeled graph for quantitative variable, two for qualitative variable (10pts for each graph)
If quantitative variable: (10 pts)
Describe the center, shape and spread using the most appropriate measures and explain why you chose those measures
Inferential Statistics using Statcrunch: (30 pts)
Confirm that you can use the Central Limit Theorem (5pts)
Generate a confidence interval on Statcrunch and explain what it tells us (10 pts)
Conduct a Hypothesis test on Statcrunch and write out the null and alternative hypotheses, the test statistic, the p-value and clearly state the conclusion (15 pts)
Conclusion: (10 pts)
What type of error (I or II) could you have made? Explain what this would mean for your study. (5 pts)
State the overall conclusion of your study (5 pts)
Overall Flow of Paper: (10 pts)
The paper is easy to read with the tables, graphs and other output from Statcrunch incorporated into the paper at the appropriate points.
Total = 100 points
If you would like to submit a rough draft for me to look at, please have it to me at least one week in advance of the due date.