Additions

Math M15 – Project Outline – Due 9/30

Names of students (only one form per group):

1. What is your topic? This should be some sort of conjecture. (ex: Oreo Double Stuff cookies don’t really have double the filling.)

2. What/who is your population? Are they people or things? Describe the individuals carefully.

3. We will gather the following sets of quantitative data:

4. We will gather the following sets of categorical data:

5. How many will be in your sample? (Minimum: 30)

6. How will you go about drawing your sample? Go into detail. If you use a survey form, remember your wording (show me the survey before you begin collecting data).

Math M15 – Project Guidelines

Statistics is the study of how best to collect, summarize and draw conclusions from data, in the face of the reality of variation. As such, it is an essential tool in today’s society. This project is intended to give you first-hand experience in using the ideas of statistics to solve a problem or answer a question of your own choosing. It will include topics that we cover throughout the semester, such as: designing an experiment, data analysis, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and correlation/regression.

This is an optional project. If you complete this project and your project score is higher than an exam score, then I will replace your lowest exam score with the project score (because life happens). Your group should consist of one to three people. Each member of a group will earn the same grade.

The final submission for your project may either be a written paper or a 10-minute presentation to the class. Presentations will occur during the last two weeks of class (TBD on schedule). If you choose to give a presentation, your slides (or whatnot) are due on or before Friday, December 8th at 11:59PM. Written reports are also due at this time and should be submitted via email to ldrane@vcccd.edu.

Your group will need to:

1. Define an experimental question of interest. (“What is your favorite color?” is boring…) 2. Identify one or more response variables for your question. 3. Identify factors that might affect the response variable. 4. Develop a data collection plan. You may collect your data via an experiment, observational study or

survey. If you choose a study, you may obtain your data through appropriate sources, including the internet.

5. Perform your experiment/collect your data. 6. Summarize the data using graphical and numerical techniques discussed in the course that best

portray and describe the data you collected (such as concepts from chapters 2 and 3). 7. Apply methods of formal statistical inference from class (confidence intervals or significance testing

and correlation/regression) that are appropriate and illuminating. 8. Make appropriate conclusions based on the analysis you performed. 9. Present your project in the form of a research paper or presentation, including all the above

information.

You must fill out a project outline (due 9/30) and get my approval before you begin collecting data.

Project grades will be determined based on the following criteria:

➢ (10 points) Originality and appropriateness of the study topic. ➢ (10 points) Appropriateness of the response variable(s) chosen. ➢ (10 points) Quality of the data collection. ➢ (20 points) Relevance and completeness of the analysis made of the project data. ➢ (20 points) Appropriateness of the real-world conclusions made based on the data. ➢ (10 points) Quality of paper or presentation. ➢ (10 points) Clarity and appearance of the final report. ➢ (10 points) Adherence to the guidelines provided in this handout and any oral instructions given in

class.