Project: Topic
FDMAT 222–Biostatistics
Brigham Young UniversityIdaho
Bro. Craig Johnson
Updated May 20, 2009
Objectives
Potential Topics
Statistics is the science of collecting,
analyzing, and interpreting data in
order to make educated decisions. It
is much more than
a collection of facts
and methodologies.
This project, which will be completed as a group,
gives you the opportunity to practice many aspects of the application of Statistics. For many
students, the project solidifies their understanding of statistics as they see a start-to-finish application of the principles. The ideas discussed in the
course are brought together into one experience.
After completing this project, students will be
able to:
Here are some research questions from which your
group can select:
1. Which is cheaper: Broulim’s or Albertson’s
in Rexburg?
2. Which is cheaper: Wal-Mart or K-Mart in
Rexburg?
3. Test the authorship of the Book of Mormon.
Did a single author (Joseph Smith) write
the Book of Mormon, or is there evidence
of multiple authors?
4. Are BYU-Idaho students more likely to
walk on the grass if they are walking behind
someone who walks on the grass?
5. Is there a difference in the prices of books
at the BYU-Idaho Bookstore compared to
those available online?
1. Choose a topic of interest to your group
6. Is there a difference in the weight of backpacks carried by men and women?
2. Identify a testable research question
7. Who is more likely to wash their hands after
using the restroom: men or women? Does
it make a difference if another person is obviously present?
3. Collect data to address your research question
4. Test for statistically significant results
5. Present your results in the form of a journal
article
8. Is there a difference in the resistance provided by resistors from various sources? Do
they provide the amount of resistance stated
by their color bands? What sources of variation are present? (Different meters, different resistances, different manufacturers,
etc.)
6. Work effectively in a team
7. Utilize electronic resources for collaboration
Project Grading
Your grade on the project will be determined by
combining a group score and an individual score.
The group score will be based on the product submitted. The individual scores will be determined
by ratings of your individual performance as a
member of the team.
To earn the points for this portion of the
project, all you need to do is to submit your topic
to Brother Johnson by the date given on the class
calendar.
9. Who is more likely to attend devotional: a
man or a woman? Among those who attend,
who is more likely to dress up?
10. Is there a difference in the proportion of men
and women who use various electronic devices while walking around the BYU-Idaho
campus?
11. Is there a relationship between the one-year
and five-year performance of mutual funds?
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Choosing a topic
12. Test the claim of any producer. For example:
Each group must
declare to Brother
Johnson
which
topic they wish to
study. In general,
no two groups will
be allowed to research the same
topic.
Please see
Brother Johnson to sign up (first-come, firstserved) for a topic.
You do not need to know exactly how you will
collect your data (this will be done by the project
approval deadline in a week or two.)
So, by the “Project Topic” due date given on
the calendar, you simply need to tell Brother Johnson the topic you wish to study.
(a) Rayovac advertises that “Rayovac
lasts as long as Energizer.” Is this
true?
(b) One popcorn brand claims a 40:1 popping ratio. Is this ratio accurate?
(c) Do Oreo DoubleStuf cookies contain twice as much fillings as regular
Oreos?
13. Test two brands of an item.
(a) Are Brand A paper towels stronger
than Brand B? Which of five brands
is the strongest? One aspect of the
study could be conducted using marbles and wet paper towels.
(b) Test the capacity of various brands of
diapers. Is there a difference in the capacity of name-brand and generic diapers?
(c) Test the strength of different brands
of trash bags.
Got Questions?
Please contact Brother Johnson with any questions you may have throughout the process. He
will be a resource and a guide for you. Feel free to
visit with him in office hours as often as you like.
14. Your group can also propose a different
project. If you select this option, keep in
mind the following guidelines. Your project
should include a comparison of two or more
groups. You should measure some quantitative value. Because of strict federal laws
governing the use of human subjects in research, surveys are strongly discouraged.
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