Part 1 of project. For The attorney

Final Project Guidelines

Overview

The final project for this course is the creation of a research paper. You will select a specific problem you see in the workplace (or, if you have limited work experience, that you would find it valuable to solve in your home life), and then identify what you wish to study. You must apply the theories and concepts from the course to interpret and formulate your hypotheses. Be sure to identify why the answer/solution matters. Once you have your hypotheses, go through the scientific method and statistical process to sample and answer the question. Be sure that you justify the statistical test that you use and either reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis based on the data. Your conclusion should be entirely data driven, with the implications clear.

Prompt

Statistics is the study that pertains to the collection, analysis, explanation or interpretation, and presentation of data. Interpretation of statistical information often involves the development of a null hypothesis—that whatever is proposed as a cause has no effect on the variable being measured.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

1. Statistical Argument: Propose an argument that answers the prompt. Include a strong thesis statement connected to data-driven evidence.

a. Topic Selection Select an appropriate topic and provide a detailed explanation of the significance.

b. Citations Paraphrase and/or integrate quotes effectively.

2. Data Collection: Once you finalize your research question, compile your research and collect raw data.

a. Organization : Include a clearly stated thesis and a well-organized body section of your paper.

3. Statistical Process : Using your knowledge of the scientific method and statistical process to analyze the data:

a. Descriptive Statistics: Ssummarize the population data by describing what was observed in the sample set numerically or graphically.

b. Inferential Statistics: Use patterns in the sample data to draw inferences about the population represented, accounting for randomness. These inferences may take the form of hypothesis testing (i.e., answering yes/no questions about the data), estimation (estimating numerical characteristics of the data), correlation (describing associations within the data), and modeling relationships within the data.

c. Null Hypothesis: Refer to a general or default position—that there is no relationship between two measured phenomena. Rejecting or disproving the null hypothesis is concluding that there are grounds for believing that there is a relationship between two phenomena or that a potential treatment has a measurable effect.

4. Primary-Source Analysis: Select sources in support of your thesis statement. Critically examine the sources in context of your paper topic. Remember that this is not based on opinion, but rather based on analysis of the statistical data. The source methodology supports your thesis statement.

Milestones

Milestone One: Topic Selection

In task 3-2, you will submit a 2–3-page paper summarizing your topic selection. Why did you select this topic? What is the significance? Which statistical method(s) will be used?

Milestone Two: Collection of Data

In task 7-2, you will submit your raw data. You do not need your analysis to have been completed yet, but you do need your data. Make sure to present data in a well-organized spreadsheet.

Final Submission: Research Paper

In task 10-2, you will submit your final research paper. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product.

Final Product Rubric

Format: Your research paper should be 10 to 15 pages, plus a title page and references page. The paper should have double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins, and APA citation style. The title page and references page will not be considered as part of the page count for this assignment.