data analysis project

To begin:

•    Log in to MyMathLab.
•    Click on StatCrunch on the left side of the course homepage.
•    In the middle of the screen, click on “datasets from your textbook.”
•    On the left panel, click on Chapter 2, Picturing Variation with Graphs.
•    Then, click on Homework Exercise 28. The data should appear, with three columns of data: animal, gestation and longevity. You will explore both the gestation and longevity variables for your report.

Once you have the data, you will describe each variable separately. Some of these data summaries will be covered in Module 3.

Using StatCrunch:

1.    For each variable, create three graphs, for a total of 6 graphs:

o    dotplot
o    histogram
o    stemplot (called “Stem and Leaf” in StatCrunch)
You can create these by clicking on “Graph” above the data table and choosing the appropriate type of graph. For some graph types, when you click “Next,” you can create appropriate axis titles (make sure you do this). Once you see the graph, click Options and then copy. You can paste each graph into your Word document. Note that the stemplot uses units of tens, not ones (so 187 is rounded to 190, and then represented as 19).

2.    Summarize each variable. With the data open, click on “Stat” at the top of the table. Then choose “Summary Stats” and then “Columns,” and follow the directions from there.

Calculate, report, and draw conclusions:

3.    Using the summary statistics from StatCrunch, report on the following:

o    Identify the minimum and maximum values of each variable, and which animal they represent. You may need to look through the data itself for some of this information.
o    What is the median of each variable?
o    What are the first quartile and third quartile of each variable? Calculate the inter-quartile range.
o    What are the mean and standard deviation of each variable?
o    How much to the mean and median differ? Why are they the same or different?
o    Are there any outliers? Which animals are they?

4.    Write three additional interpretations using the graphs, identifying what you can learn about the relationship between longevity and gestation period.

Write your answers to these questions in clear, complete, grammatically correct sentences. Be sure to support all of your conclusions with evidence from the graph or statistical summaries.

When you hand in your report, make sure you answer all parts of the questions above. Your submitted report should be written in complete, grammatically correct sentences, as a document in MS Word. Use a 12-point font. Make sure your name, the date, and “Project I” appear at the top of the file. Please name the file YourLastName_ProjectI.

Compose your work using a word processor (or other software as appropriate) and save it frequently to your computer.  When you're ready to submit your work, click Browse My Computer and find your file.   Once you've located your file click Open and, if successful, the file name will appear under the Attached files heading.  Scroll to the bottom of the page, click Submit and you're done.   Be sure to check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors before you post it.