memo, graphs and table, statistic
zachzhang
memo2_assignment_rubric.docxMemo #2: Statistics in Practice (Final Summative Assessment)
ECON 2100
Winter 2021
Task
The goal of Memo #2 is to demonstrate your mastery of both descriptive and inferential statistics. You get to choose which dataset you'd like to work with and the variables that you want to explore. This memo (max 3 pages) will ask you to:
· Choose one dataset from the following three to explore
· Choose 2-4 variables from that dataset that interest you (be sure to note the level of measurement of each) and describe them using the appropriate statistics
· Include at least one descriptive statistics table generated using pivot tables, following the best practices laid out in Week 3's in-class exercise.
· Generate a confidence interval (level of confidence subject to your reasoning) to estimate the mean or proportion of one of the variables of your choosing.
· Create at least one graph to illustrate your findings (can be more if necessary!)
· Hypothesize a relationship between two of those variables that you have chosen - state your hypothesis in layman's terms very clearly in the piece. Even bold face or italicize it.
· Test the relationship using the appropriate inferential test and report the findings to a lay audience.
See the attached rubric for specifics on how you will be assessed.
Deliverables
· A 3 single-spaced page (3 is the absolute maximum length) memo
· The Excel file that you used to generate your analysis
Deadlines
This memo is due no later than Friday, March 12th at midnight.
Note on Instructor & Peer Assistance
· This assignment is to be done entirely independently. You are on the honor system here. Memos that look like one another or throw up any other red flags will be granted a grade of zero.
· If you require my assistance for any aspect of this, get help early – stay after class, come before class, or set an office hour appointment. Do not wait until 2 days before the assignment is due.
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Accomplished (3) |
Developing (2) |
Beginning (1) |
No Evidence (0) |
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Data Analysis (weighting x2) |
Student calculates appropriate descriptive statistics to illustrate trends in their data.
AND
Student correctly calculates confidence intervals to estimate the population parameters of the variable(s) articulated in the research question(s).
AND
Student chooses the appropriate inferential statistical test to explore the question posed in the memo.
AND
Student’s design decisions (i.e., level of confidence, reconstruction of variables) make sense and are well-justified in the Memo. |
Student makes some errors in either descriptive statistics, their confidence interval construction, or their inferential tests.
OR
There may be errors in the student’s design decisions on either the treatment of variables or the inferential tests. |
Student makes many errors in their confidence interval construction AND their inferential tests.
OR
There are many errors in the student’s design decisions on either the treatment of variables or the inferential tests. |
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Interpretation (weighting x2) |
Student addresses the central questions in the assignment prompt and thoughtfully frames the research question in terms of its real-world relevance.
AND
Student is careful not to overstate their results and addresses the limitations of their analysis relative to the research question(s).
|
Student addresses the central questions in the assignment prompt, but may exhibit difficulties utilizing appropriate statistical results to justify their assertions.
OR
Student fails to adequately address the importance and real-world relevance of their question(s).
OR
Student attempts to address the limitations of their analysis, but this section of the work is incomplete. |
Student mostly addresses the central questions in the assignment prompt, but more than one aspect in the column to the left is missing.
OR
Confidence intervals or inferential tests are grossly misinterpreted.
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Data Visualization |
Student thoughtfully illustrates the relationship that they explore with an appropriate form of data visualization.
One graph is included AND one descriptive statistics table is included. Both are formatted for publication. There is no copy-pasting from pivot tables.
This about incorporating the feedback that you received on Memo #1. |
There are slight errors in the student’s choice of data visualization.
This might include if a student copy-pastes their data table from pivot tables. |
There are major errors in the student’s choice of data visualization.
OR
Student’s choice of data visualization was inappropriate given the types of variables with which they are working.
OR
Student is missing either the graph or the table. |
Student is missing both graph and table. |
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Presentation: Spelling, Grammar, & Mechanics |
Student organizes memo in a clear and compelling way.
The writing is free of spelling and grammatical errors.
Student adheres strictly to the 3 page-limit. |
Student organizes the memo in a mostly clear and compelling way, but there may be factors that detract from the clarity and flow of the work.
OR
The writing contains some spelling and/or grammar errors. OR
Student fails to adhere to the 3-page limit. |
Memo is disorganized – the line of thinking is unclear.
OR
The writing contains many spelling and/or grammatical errors.
AND
Student fails to adhere to the 3-page limit. |
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Documentation of analysis |
Student provides an excel file of their analysis. |
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No excel file provided |
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TOTAL: ___/21 ___/40
GENERAL COMMENTS:
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Memo
#2:
Statistics
in
Practice
(Final
Summative
Assessment)
ECON
2100
Winter
2021
Task
The
goal
of
Memo
#2
is
to
demonstrate
your
mastery
of
both
descriptive
and
inferential
statistics.
You
get
to
choose
which
dataset
you'd
like
to
work
with
and
the
variables
that
you
want
to
explore.
This
memo
(
max
3
pages
)
will
ask
you
to:
·
Choose
one
dataset
from
the
following
three
to
explore
·
Choose
2-4
variables
from
that
dataset
that
interest
you
(be
sure
to
note
the
level
of
measurement
of
each)
and
describe
them
using
the
appropriate
statistics
·
Include
at
least
one
descriptive
statistics
table
generated
using
pivot
tables,
following
the
best
practices
laid
out
in
Week
3's
in-class
exercise.
·
Generate
a
confidence
interval
(level
of
confidence
subject
to
your
reasoning)
to
estimate
the
mean
or
proportion
of
one
of
the
variables
of
your
choosing.
·
Create
at
least
one
graph
to
illustrate
your
findings
(can
be
more
if
necessary!)
·
Hypothesize
a
relationship
between
two
of
those
variables
that
you
have
chosen
-
state
your
hypothesis
in
layman's
terms
very
clearly
in
the
piece.
Even
bold
face
or
italicize
it.
·
Test
the
relationship
using
the
appropriate
inferential
test
and
report
the
findings
to
a
lay
audience.
See
the
attached
rubric
for
specifics
on
how
you
will
be
assessed.
Deliverables
·
A
3
single-spaced
page
(3
is
the
absolute
maximum
length)
memo
·
The
Excel
file
that
you
used
to
generate
your
analysis
Deadlines
This
memo
is
due
no
later
than
Friday,
March
12
th
at
midnight.
Note
on
Instructor
&
Peer
Assistance
·
This
assignment
is
to
be
done
entirely
independently.
You
are
on
the
honor
system
here.
Memos
that
look
like
one
another
or
throw
up
any
other
red
flags
will
be
granted
a
grade
of
zero.
·
If
you
require
my
assistance
for
any
aspect
of
this,
get
help
early
–
stay
after
class,
come
before
class,
or
set
an
office
hour
appointment.
Do
not
wait
until
2
days
before
the
assignment
is
due.
