Requirements for Project 1

Below is a checklist if items that must be addressed for Project 1.

• Think of a quantitative investigation that someone might contract out to have done.  Then go and perform this investigation and produce a report on it as though you were handing the report to the person paying for your services.  The purpose of the report is to make recommendations based on your findings, so be sure to make the recommendations throughout the paper.  Also include a statement on who has hired you and why.  Below are the items that the report must contain.
  
• A description of the sampling technique that was made and how the technique was applied.  You must use either simple random sampling, stratified sampling, or cluster sampling.  Discuss any bias that might have occurred due to your sampling technique.  Note that bias involves a misrepresentation of the population so that the sample data will not represent the population data.  Any findings of potential bias should provide a convincing argument why you think that your sample is more likely to have a higher or lower mean.  The variable must be quantitative and the sample size must be greater than 30.  Be careful not to use the word "random" without fully explaining what you mean.  Also note that simple random sample sampling is usually impossible to use.
  
  
• All relevant charts:  must include a histogram, stem and leaf, and box and whiskers; and may include pie, and line plot, etc. 
  
  
• An interpretation of each of the charts in the context your study.  Discuss what each chart says and does not say about the population.  Compare and contrast the charts and state what audience each chart might be best for. 
  
  
• A list of the summary statistics and an interpretation of each.  This includes the mean, variance, Standard Deviation, and several other statistics that have been mentioned in the class.  Pay special attention to the standard deviation, as it is the newly learned statistic for this project.  Project without at least a full paragraph devoted to the standard deviation cannot receive an "A" grade.  In particular, is the Empirical Rule appropriate or must you resort to Chebyshev's Theorem?  What does the rule or theorem say about your population?  Discuss how to use a z-score for your study. Make sure you interpret all statistics in this project in the context of the survey rather than just list the definitions.
  
  
• A synopsis of the importance of your findings.  Include recommendations that you will give to interested parties based on the mean, standard deviation, IQR, each of the charts, etc.  In your recommendations, include the specific values.  For example, if your study was on the age that students first learned the quadratic formula and the mean was 15.3, do not just say "The mean could be used to understand when people learn the quadratic formula."  Instead, you would write, "Students are learning the quadratic formula on average just after they turn 15.  Based on this, high schools should be leery about moving chemistry, which requires this knowledge, to the freshmen year."   Be sure to state who the interested parties are.  This should be incorporated throughout the paper not just at the beginning and end.
  
  
• A discussion of how further studies could be done in order to delve deeper into the topic.

Click here for a video on using Statcato for the project

Grading will be based on completeness, mathematical accuracy, proper use of statistical terminology, and your ability to communicate the results.  All charts and statistics must be computer generated.  The paper should be  typed, double spaced, and have 12 point font.  Note that for a scientific paper you should avoid the use of the pronouns "I", "me", "we", and "us".  Refer to yourselves as "the researchers" or "the authors".  This is a paper not a series of answers to questions.  The paper should be written in essay form and must provide proper citations of all sources used.  The Writing Center is an excellent source to get assistance on your writing and the MSC is a great place to go for statistics assistance.

Rubric for the Project Grades