Discussion questions on Statistical Techniques

Please answer in minumum 80 -100 words for each question. No APA formatting needed.

1) Select four variables that could be measured by nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scale. Classify them by measurement scale and select descriptive statistics that can be used to summarize data. Use the following table when posting your response:

 2) The measurement of the variables leads to data collect.  So.....

How would you define a variable? What is the difference between a dependent and independent variable? Do you think both variables are used in every research? Explain why or why not. Provide examples.

 What are data? What is the relationship between data and variables? What is your understanding of meaningful data?

3)  Does drinking alcohol affect reaction time? The alcohol is the independent variable; the reaction time is the dependent variable.  

Let's assume there have been 10 people randomly selected for this research and these two variables are measured and recorded for each person.  We have a table that looks like this:

What would your data look like in this spreadsheet?  (Don't have to run the real experiment -- just make it up :-)

 4)  Class -- an example of how to approach the problem below is attached with this dq.  This example along with the text material should give you the information you need to work through this problem.

Trudy Green works for the True-Green Lawn Company.  Her job is to solicit lawn-care business via the telephone.  Listed below are the number of appointments she made in each of the last 25 hours of calling.

9    5    2    6    5    6    4

4    7    2    3    6    3    4

4    7    8    4    4    5    5

4    8    3    3  

Use the above data to do the following -- please use Excel -- your text (particularly from Lind:  chapters 2 & 4) has great examples and instructions. See also the Week 2 example posted in the Course Materials Forum:

·         develop a frequency distribution (use the "histogram" function in Excel - Megastat can also do this),

·         use your frequency distribution to develop a bar or line graph (interpret your graph).  Be sure to carefully label your graph. 

·         compute the mean, median, mode, variance and standard deviation using the tools in Excel's Data Analysis.

Discuss your graph and statistics - particularly mean, median, mode, standard deviation -- with your grandmother from Sudan, Texas (very small, West-Texas town -- she didn't take statistics!)

5 )Select an article from a news magazine or research journal where data is displayed in a pie or bar chart - be sure to cite your source.  Briefly describe what the article is about.

Then, describe the data displayed in the chart and what conclusion you could draw. 

6)  Can mean, median, or mode be calculated from all statistical data? Explain why or why not. When is the mean the best measure of central tendency? When is the median the best measure of central tendency?  When is the mean the best measure of central tendency?

Discuss what the standard deviation of a set of data means

7) Why it is important to find the shape of data distribution before computing descriptive statistics? Do all variables follow normal distribution? Explain why or why not. Explain with examples.

8)  Explain STEM-AND-LEAF DISPLAY and provide an example.