Introduction to Statistics, Final Project
2010
Overview:
You will identify a researchable (testable) hypothesis with measurable variables,
design a proper experiment, carry out the study, analyze the resulting data, and
then draw conclusions based upon your data.
Project Ideas:
The following are suggestions on the type of project you might do. I want you to develop
your project so that you will have fun with it and be interested in doing it.
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Does cold water rise to a boil faster than hot water?
Which paper airplane design is most effective?
Cognitive bias: Does packaging make a difference in a taste test?
Influence of music on exercise output
Microwave popcorn comparison: proportion of popped kernels for different
varieties
Comparison of various laundry detergents
Are upper-formers better at game reaction time?
Report:
Your report must include the following:
1.
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10.
Introduction telling what the project was/is about
Justification for doing the project (why are you interested in it?, why is it
important?)
Experimental design section
Clearly hypotheses--what do you anticipate will happen?
Description on how you carried out your study (This must be specific and
thorough … do not just say “randomly selected,” for example, but tell me
exactly how you did your selection.)
Actual data collected (perhaps as an appendix)
Presentation of the data graphically and/or in tables
Proper data summaries (e.g., 5-number summaries, mean, std. dev.)
Conclusions
Summary
You will type your report in Word. Any graphs that you cannot make with Excel (such as
boxplots) can be done neatly by hand. This report should be flawless—aesthetically
pleasing, with proper headings, attractive graphs (properly labeled), and appropriate
tables; grammatically correct; statistically correct; and read well.
I encourage lots of questioning along the way!
Timeline/Deadlines
1.
Thursday, May 6: Write a paragraph describing your proposed project. I must
approve the project before you can move forward. What is your central question?
What are your hypotheses? How will you carry out your design?
Bring your typed paragraph to class on this day. If you have an AP, you must
email your paragraph.
2.
Tuesday, May 11:
Items 1-6 on the list above (in the “Report” section).
3.
Thursday, May 13:
Your graphs, calculations, descriptive stats.
4.
Monday, May 17:
The whole thing!
At least 20% of your grade will consist of a score for meeting these deadlines and for
class participation during the project.