Article Analysis, Stats related (2 pages)

DR. S.SIDKOM •• Assignment

1 . According to metic^n cOlBm Testing Program fATC), dropout and f a i l n r e - t o - g r a d u a t e r a t e s have r i s e n , and the r a t e s are staggering. Currently the t o t a l percentage of students who vanish i s nearly h a l f of a l l entering American college students. However, they don't vanish i n equal proportions from a l l u n i v e r s i t i e s . Th"e U.SJL is n o t only countty with a droBoiit"- problem. Such a problem exists around the world.

Locate one a r t i c l e (or more) which taXes the-issue of r e t e n t i o n i n colleges and u n i v e r s i t i e s i n U.S.A., social cost of a t t r i t i o n and programs to deal with such issues In the t m i v e r s i t i e s and colleges w i t h data presented froni some source from "the point of view of UfldexlylTjg ass unctions, r e l i a b i l i t y or. relevance and w r i t e a commentary for t h a t a r t i c l e ejcplaining the author's point of view,

^ e following are some s t a t i s t i c a l commandments t o an a r t i c i e or p r e s e n t a t i o n which r e l i e s on s t a t i s t i c s or tias s t a t i s t i c a l iii4>lications: 1. I s a source given f o r the data or s t a t i s t i c s t 2- I s the source unbiased and reliable? 3. How were the data o£ s t a t i s t i c s obtained? 4. How-current are the data or s t a t i s t i c s ? 5. Are the s t a t i s t i c s r e l e v a n t t o the issue i n question?

Are t h e r e : other s t a t i s t i c s which support the conclusion reached? 7. Are there other s t a t i s t i c s which conferadict the conclusion reached? Bow are the contradictions t o be resolved? S. What sssaroptions underlie the s t a t i s t i c s and conclusion cbtain&d frora the»7 Are these assumptions r e a l i s t i c ? 9. Do the s t a t i s t i c s admit contraiaictory ' i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ? I f s o , how are these contradictions t o be resolved? 10. Do the arguments presented have numerical or s t a t i s t i c a d impUcatioas? Do these >iiaplication5 cost doubt on the arguments?