Project for MA235 STEP 1: You are doing research on a topic of interest. Decide what you want to research. To complete this research you will need to determine a question that has a numerical response. Identify a random sample of n = 15 men and n = 15 women. NOTE: Though it is suggested, you do not have to separate your data by gender. You may choose another delineation such as (parents/non-parents; adults over age 30/ adults under age 30; athletes/ non-athletes; etc....). Be sure to identify this in your initial abstract. You must answer this question: How do you establish that this sample is truly random?

STEP 2: Have each subject answer the question and give a numerical response.

STEP 3: You will analyze your data and compute the following statistics for each group: 1) The Mean and standard deviation of the numbers 2) The Median for the data 3) The Mode for the data 4) The 90% confidence interval of the mean

STEP 4: Construct a complete hypothesis test and determine if the two groups have significantly different responses using = 0.05.

STEP 5: Write a one page introduction to your research, discuss how you selected your sample (is it a random sample?) and write a one page conclusion. Present your data in an organized manner. Submit a full written report.

Written Report: This MUST include: o Title Page o Abstract: First paragraph that briefly summarizes the paper, the motivation for choosing your topic, and include a general comment about the conclusion. (Usually this is written last.) o List of data results o Statistical Measurements (From Step 3) o Description of what is happening in your data by making statistical measurements. Do not talk about what the data implies here. Just describe what is happening. You will talk about what it implies in the conclusion section. The description of the data MAY include: General Trends or patterns Differences in measurements depending on stratification of data or over time. Variation Margin of Error and Confidence Interval Experimental Probability and Probability Distribution Tables Linear or Exponential model o Complete hypothesis test to determine if the two groups have significantly different responses using = 0.05. o Labeled charts or graphs. Insert them where you discuss your findings and refer to the charts or graphs. o Conclusion. This MAY include:

MA-235 STATISTICS FOR BUSINESS DECISIONS I PAGE 2 Did the study achieve its goals? Do the conclusions make sense? Can you rule out alternative explanations for the results? If the conclusions do make sense, do they have any practical significance? Discussion on how the description of your data addresses your question. What the description of the data implies about the whole population. Discussion of what confounding variables you would address if you did it again and what confounding variables are very difficult to address Extrapolation by predicting what will happen in the future using your regression equation. o Include the survey (if you did one) with a link in the Appendix. o Include the data as a table in the Appendix

Topic Suggestions for the project: You may use one of these topic questions or you may select your own question as long as the question is one for which the response is a number. General-. How many pairs of jeans do you own? How many times did you eat out fast food last week? How many text messages did you send yesterday? How many bottles of water did you drink last week? How many times did you go to the theatre last month? How many times did you go to the gym last month? How much money did you spend the last time that you went shopping? How long (in minutes) did you spend in the supermarket the last time that you went shopping? How many grams of sugar are in different (chocolate) candies? (30 different brands) How many hours did you spend on social media yesterday? How many minutes did it take you to drive to the local store from where you live? How much time (minutes) did you spend studying yesterday? On how many days did you study last week? How many pairs of shoes do you have in your closet? How many fluid ounces of water did you drink yesterday? How many grams of sugar are in different soft drinks? (30 different brands) How many hours of sleep did you get last night? How much sodium is contained in different instant soups? (30 different brands) How many hours passed before you ate something yesterday after waking up? How much money did you spend on make-up over the last two months? How long (in minutes) did it take you to travel to work the last time that you went to work? How many grams of sugar are in different cereals? (30 different brands)

MA-235 STATISTICS FOR BUSINESS DECISIONS I PAGE 3 Research Project Rubric Organization: Maximum of 10 points Overall report is well organized, with a cover page, introductory page, discussion of sampling, all data is shown, statistics are clearly presented, and conclusion page (points are deducted for presentation, missing information) ____________ Statistics: Maximum of 40 points Mean for each group is correct (8 points) ____________ Standard deviation for each group is correct (8 points) ____________ Median for each group is correct (8 points) ____________ Mode for each group is correct (8 points) ____________ Confidence interval of the mean for each is correct (8 points) ____________ Hypothesis Test: Maximum of 30 points Null and Alternate Hypothesis are stated correctly (8 points) ____________ Critical t value is correct (6 points) ____________ Computation of the t statistic is correct (8 points) ____________ Decision regarding the hypothesis is correct (8 points) ____________ Conclusion regarding the hypothesis is correct (8 points) ____________ Writing: Maximum of 20 Points Overall writing is thorough with correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. (points are deducted for quality and mechanics) ____________ Extra Credit: Maximum of 5 points Graphics, graphs, Wow me! ____________