The purpose of this paper is to have you find actual applications and/or personal analysis of statistics found outside the classroom.
It should be your own statistical analysis of a personal interest. You will collect your own data. Think about a topic that you are
interested in, then you will enjoy the project more.
Examples of possible topics can include: (Collecting your own data is recommended – use survey monkey or ask people questions in person.
You may gather data from the internet, but not results.)
 Who works more hours – students who commute to college, or students who do not?
 Who is more satisfied with their employment – women or men? Or people over 40 compared to people under 40?
 Who consumes more caffeine first thing in the morning – men or women?
 Do people prefer to watch 3D movies or regular movies?
 Compare sales of an item at work from one month/year to another
 Compare batting averages (or some other statistic) between/among teams, positions or leagues
 Compare QB ratings (or some other statistic) between divisions or conferences
Descriptive statistics can include: (You must use standard deviation and at least 1 more item from this list)
 *Standard Deviation – explain the meaning
 Frequency Distributions
 Frequency Histogram, Frequency Polygon, Relative
Frequency Histogram, Ogive
 Dot Plot, Stem and Leaf Plot
 Pie Chart
 Probability Distribution, Binomial Distribution
Statistical tests (include both)
Confidence intervals – use 90% Hypothesis test – use
  0.10

• report null and alternative hypothesis
• use the critical value method (sketch and label
  curve)
• also list p-value
  Format:
   Introduction (Thesis statement) – a statement of what you intend to support or demonstrate. This section also includes
  some background information on your subject and why it is important to study.
  o College students who commute work more hours than college students who do not commute. (This experiment
  would compare average number of hours one group works per week to the other. This is a comparing means
  problem using the t-distribution.)
  o More women drink caffeine in the morning than men. (This experiment compares the proportion of women you
  drink caffeine in the morning to the proportion of men that do the same. This is a comparing proportions problem
  and uses the z-distribution – normal distribution.)
   Research Methods and Descriptive Statistics– the procedures you used in the attempt to support your thesis and
  description of your data
  o Use charts and tables to organize and present your data.
  o Include the standard deviation of each set of data, explain the meaning of the number (use units) and compare
  the numbers. (Put the data in your calculator and have the calculator calculate the number.)
   Results – Test data or analysis – must include confidence intervals and a hypothesis test for either a population mean or a
  population proportion
  o Explain what statistical tests you used and explain how your numerical results support/refute your thesis.
  o This section should have at least 2 paragraphs, one for each statistic above, and explain clearly in each paragraph
  how the results relate to either supporting or refuting your hypothesis. Do not just report test results, discuss the
  consequence of the test results.
   Conclusion – What does your data tell you?
  o Summarize clearly what you learned from your research.
  o Discuss how this knowledge can affect the world.
  o Discuss how to improve your study including possible issues or confounding variables.
  o Make suggestions for further research. (This is different than improving your study!)
   Length – 2-4 pages (not including graphs and charts or the handwritten calculations paper)
   Handwritten Calculations – include your calculations for confidence interval(s) and hypothesis testing on a separate piece of
  paper – handwritten. Use your calculator to check the results of your calculations.
  Rubric for Statistics Paper
  Criteria 4 3 2 1
  Introduction
  Introductory paragraph,
  thesis statement – Explain
  clearly. This section also
  includes some background
  information about your
  subject and why it is
  important to study it.
   Clearly identifies and
  discusses focus/purpose of
  research
   Hypothesis/Thesis
  statement is clearly
  articulated
   Includes clear background
  information and discussion
  of why purpose is worth
  studying
   Identifies and discusses
  focus/purpose of research
   Hypothesis/Thesis
  statement is described, but
  not as will articulated
   Includes some background
  information and some
  discussion of why purpose is
  worth studying
   Limited discussion of
  research focus/purpose of
  research
   Hypothesis/Thesis
  statement is not well
  articulated
   Includes limited
  background information
  and limited discussion of
  why purpose is worth
  studying
   Little or no discussion
  research focus/purpose of
  research
   Hypothesis/Thesis
  statement is poorly
  articulated
   Includes little or no
  background information and
  little or no discussion of why
  purpose is worth studying
  Research Methods and
  Descriptive Statistics–
  How you collected your
  data and charts to display
  it. Report the standard
  deviation of each set of
  data and explain/compare
  the numbers..
   Provides accurate,
  thorough description of
  how the data was
  collected, what/how many
  data sources were
  analyzed
   Includes clear and specific
  display of data through
  charts and graphs
   Includes clear use of
  standard deviation and its
  meaning
   Description of how the data
  was collected, what/how
  many data sources were
  analyzed is adequate
   Display of data through
  charts and graphs is
  adequate, but not as clear
  or specific
   Includes use of standard
  deviation and its meaning
  but is not clear
   Description of how the
  data was collected,
  what/how many data
  sources were analyzed is
  somewhat confusing/ not
  clear
   Display of data through
  charts and graphs is not
  clear
   Includes standard
  deviation but not its
  meaning
   Description of how the data
  was collected, what/how
  many data sources were
  analyzed is not sufficiently
  articulated
   Display of data through
  charts and graphs is
  inaccurate
   Does not Includes standard
  deviation
  Results –Explain clearly.
  This section should have 2
  paragraphs, one for each
  statistic (confidence
  interval and hypothesis
  test). Explain the
  significance of your results
  in relationship to your
  thesis statement.
   Statistical analyses are
  appropriate tests, are
  accurately interpreted and
  include confidence
  intervals and a hypothesis
  test.
   Results are well organized,
  clearly explained and
  include how they support
  or refute the hypothesis in
  a comprehensive level of
  detail.
   Statistical analyses are
  appropriate tests, are not
  completely accurately
  interpreted and includes
  only one confidence
  interval.
   Results are explained
  including how they
  support/refute the
  hypothesis in a but not as
  detailed and/or organized
   Statistical analyses are
  inappropriate tests, and/or
  are not accurately
  interpreted.
   Results are not very clearly
  explained, level of detail is
  insufficient and/or
  organizational issues exist
   Statistical analyses are not
  appropriate tests, and are
  not accurately interpreted
  or are not present.
   Results are not clearly
  explained, without detail
  and/or has serious
  organizational issues
  Conclusions – Summarize
  what you learned. Discuss
  how this knowledge can
  affect the world. Discuss
  issues/ confounding
  variables. Make
  suggestions for 1. making
  your study better and 2.
  further research. (These
  are two different
  suggestions.)
   Summarizes clearly and
  thoroughly what you
  learned and how your
  research can affect
  decisions that need to be
  made in the world.
   Discussion of making your
  study better and possible
  issues/confounding
  variables is clear and
  insightful.
   Suggestions for further
  research in this area are
  insightful and thoughtful.
   Summarizes what you
  learned and how your
  research can affect
  decisions that need to be
  made in the world, but not
  as clearly or thoroughly.
   Discussion of making your
  study better and possible
  issues/confounding
  variables is adequate.
   Suggestions for further
  research in this area are
  adequate.
   Limited summary of what
  you learned and how your
  research can affect
  decisions that need to be
  made in the world.
   Discussion of making your
  study better and possible
  issues/confounding
  variables is very limited.
   Suggestions for further
  research in this area are
  very limited.
   Severely limited summary of
  what you learned and how
  your research can affect
  decisions that need to be
  made in the world.
   Discussion of making your
  study better and possible
  issues/confounding
  variables is severely limited.
   Suggestions for further
  research in this area are
  severely limited.
  Spelling and Grammar/
  Length
   No spelling and/or
  grammar mistakes
   2-4 pages
   Minimal spelling and/or
  grammar mistakes
   2-4 pages
   Noticeable spelling and/or
  grammar mistakes
   Not 2-4 pages
   Excessive spelling and/or
  grammar mistakes
   Not 2-4 pages
  Handwritten Calculations
  – for confidence intervals
  and hypothesis test (not
  standard deviation)
   Hand calculations of
  confidence intervals and
  hypothesis test are clear,
  neat and correct
   Hand calculations of
  confidence intervals and
  hypothesis test somewhat
  clear, neat and correct
   Hand calculations are not
  clear, neat and correct, or
  not complete
   No hand calculations
  Adapted from http://www.cornellcollege.edu/LIBRARY/faculty/focusing-on-assignments/tools-for-assessment/original-research-project-rubric.shtml
  Grade: Topic (on time -2pts.)
  Introduction (x2)
  Research Methods (x2)
  Results (x4)
  Conclusions (x2) Total_____/50
  Handwritten calc.
  Calc/Spelling/ Length