Introduction to Statistics and Research Design
Assignments
Homework...
For the weekend of 9/9
Watch television, or listen to the radio, and find an example of a misleading statistic (pharmaceutical ads are great for this), along with its hidden qualifying statement. Bring what you consider to be the best example to class for discussion on Tuesday
Scan your daily newspaper or weekly news magazine for articles that contain numerical data. The data might be a summary of the results of a public opinion poll, the results of a vote by the US Senate, or a list of crime rates, birth or death rates, etc. For each article you find, answer the following questions. Further, bring what you consider to be the best example to class for discussion on Tuesday
1. Do the data constitute a sample or an entire population? If a sampe has been taken, clearly identify both the sample and the population; otherwise, identify the population
2. What type of data (quantitative or qualitative) has been collected?
3. What is the data source?
4. If a sample has been observed, is it likely to be representative of the population?
5. If a sample has been observed, does the article present an explicit (or implied) inference about the population of interest? If so, state the inference made in the article.
6. If an inference has been made, has a measure of reliabilty been included? What is it?
7. Use your answers to 4.-6. to critically evaluate the
article.
For the weekend of 9/16
Using the data below taken from 9 packets of M and M's, answer the following questions
|
subject1 |
subject2 |
subject3 |
subject4 |
subject5 |
subject6 |
subject7 |
subject9 |
subject10 |
total |
mean |
sd |
|
|
red |
13 |
16 |
11 |
7 |
12 |
16 |
11 |
16 |
11 |
113 |
12.56 |
3.05 |
|
blue |
6 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
5 |
2 |
8 |
53 |
5.89 |
1.83 |
|
green |
6 |
3 |
9 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
4 |
6 |
50 |
5.56 |
2.01 |
|
yellow |
14 |
12 |
11 |
17 |
6 |
10 |
12 |
11 |
9 |
102 |
11.33 |
3.08 |
|
orange |
9 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
59 |
6.56 |
1.42 |
|
brown |
11 |
15 |
14 |
15 |
21 |
12 |
16 |
18 |
15 |
137 |
15.22 |
2.99 |
|
total |
59 |
57 |
57 |
56 |
58 |
56 |
57 |
57 |
57 |
514 |
57.11 |
0.93 |
|
sd |
3.43 |
5.54 |
3.15 |
5.39 |
6.02 |
4.32 |
4.32 |
6.57 |
3.15 |
36.60 |
What is the distribution of different colors of M+M's?
What is the average number per bag?
What is the average # per color per bag?
What is the best way to report the results?
What is the n of this experiment?
For some suggestion presentation formats, see here
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Go to: |
Lab 2, 9/18 |
Lab 5, 10/9 |
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Lab 7, 10/23 |
Lab 8, 10/30* |
Lab 9, 11/6 |
Lab 10, 11/13 |
*no classes due to faculty retreat. Students will be required to attend lab and work with TAs to complete this lab.