Summative Assessment Project Unit 4: Designing a Statistical Study

What is the main idea? During this unit you have learned about some things a researcher needs to consider when conducting a statistical study. Now, you have the chance to design your own study - on a question of your choice - and carry out that study. You will connect back to key terms and concepts that came up in this unit.

What do I have to do for the project?

1. Pose the question for your study. Be specific about exactly what you will ask people. Choose a question that interests you - something different from the examples below.

• Specify the population you would like to learn about.
  • EXAMPLE 1: Do adults living in Delaware approve of the job the United States president is doing?
  • EXAMPLE 2: How many hours per week do full time Delaware Tech students typically spend doing schoolwork outside of class?

1. Carry out the study.

• Ask at least 20 people your question.
• Describe who you asked.
  • EXAMPLE 1: I asked 20 people that I work with if they approve of the job the United States president is doing? I made sure that all people I asked live in Delaware.
  • EXAMPLE 2: I surveyed a random set of 20 students in my math, English, and psychology classes about how many hours per week they typically spend doing schoolwork outside of class. I made sure to only ask full time students.

1. Report your results.
   • Present your data in a well-organized table. Choose a format that makes it easy for a reader to understand the results.
   • Be sure columns on the table are clearly labeled so a reader knows exactly what the results mean.
2. Analyze your results.

• Report your findings using a meaningful statistic.
  • If you posed a question with a quantitative variable as the result, reporting mean or median makes sense.
  • If you posed a question with a categorical variable as the result, reporting a percentage of respondents in each category makes sense.
  • BONUS POINTS: Use Excel to enhance your analysis.
    • EXAMPLE 1: Use Excel to create a pie chart showing the percentage of adults strongly approving, approving, strongly disapproving, or disapproving of the job the president of the US is doing.
    • EXAMPLE 2: Use Excel to calculate the mean hours per week that full time Delaware Tech students do schoolwork outside of class.