11.1 (New Book) Notes AM
Date: __________________________________
Goal: Classify and investigate study types
I. Classifying Studes
Parameter
Statistic
Bias
Random
Sample
Data is collected from responses given by members of a population regarding their characteristics,
behaviors, or opinions.
Survey
Ex.
In an experiment, the sample is divided into two groups
1.
2.
Experiment
Ex.
Members of a sample are measured or observed without being affected by the study
Observational
Study
Ex.
Classifying a Study
Ex. Determine whether each situation describes a survey, an experiment, or an observational study. Then identify the
sample and suggest a population from which it may have been selected.
A. A record label wants to test three designs for an album cover. They randomly select 50 teenagers from local high schools
to view the covers while they watch and record their reactions.
B. The city council wants to start a recycling program. They send out a questionnaire to 200 random citizens asking what
items they would recycle.
C. Scientists study the behavior of one group of dogs given a new heartworm treatment and another group of dogs given a
false treatment or placebo.
D. They yearbook committee conducts a study to determine whether students would prefer to have a print yearbook or both
print and digital yearbooks.
**Conclusion:
Choosing a Study
Ex. Determine whether each situation calls for a survey, an experiment, or an observational study. Explain your reasoning.
A. A pharmaceutical company wants to test whether a new medicine is effective.
B. A news organization wants to randomly call citizens to gauge opinions on a presidential election.
C. A research company wants to study smokers and nonsmokers to determine whether 10 years of smoking effects lung
capacity.
D. A national pet chain wants to know whether customers would pay a small annual fee to participate in a rewards program.
They randomly select 200 customers and send them a questionnaire.
Designing Studies
Survey: The questions chosen for a survey used in an experiment can also introduce bias, and thus, affect the study.
A survey question that is poorly written may result in a response that does not accurately reflect the opinion of the
participant. Therefore, it is important to write questions that are clear and precise:
Avoid the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ex. Determine whether each question is biased or unbiased. If biased, explain your reasoning.
A. Don’t you agree that the cafeteria should serve healthier food?
B. How often do you exercise?
C. How many glasses of water do you drink a day?
D. Do you prefer watching exciting action movies or boring documentaries?
Designing a Survey
Step 1: State the objective of the survey
Step 2: Identify the population
Step 3: Write unbiased survey questions
Mini Project: Design a survey – 3 questions minimum! Have 10 participants from your population take the survey.
*Use SurveyMonkey
Experiment: To avoid bias in experiments, the experimental and control groups should be randomly selected and the
experiment should be designed so that everything about the two groups is alike (except for treatment or procedure).
Ex. Identify any flaws in the design of the experiment, and describe how they could be corrected.
Experiment: An electronics company wants to test whether using a new graphing calculator increases students’ test scores.
A random sample is taken. Calculus students in the experimental group are given the new calculator to use, and Algebra 2
students in control group are asked to use their own calculator.
Result: When given same test, the experimental group scored higher than the control group. The company concludes that
the use of this calculator increases test scores.
Designing an Experiment
Step 1: State the objective and identify the population
Step 2: Determine the experimental and control groups
Step 3: Describe a sample procedure
Ex. A research company wants to test the claim of the following advertisement about plant food, “Taller tomato plants in just
3 weeks.”