Use the BACK button on your browser to return to the main text document

ASSIGNMENT:

Through observation, research or experimentation, compile a list of data that show some degree of correlation. You are expected to obtain between 20-25 values. The data will need to be represented in a frequency distribution table, a histogram and a correlation grid. In addition to these graphical requirements, you will be expected to submit a written report that includes a discussion of your findings. This should include an analysis of the mean, median and mode of your data as well as the slope and equation of your best fit line. There should also be discussion of other variables and/or biases that can influence the outcome of your results.

PROJECT TOPICS

OPTION 1: You may choose to examine any two sets of data with the following guidelines:

• The chosen topic of study must be approved by the instructor before the actual data is collected.
• You should expect that the data you have chosen will have some degree of correlation.
• Outside resources may be referred to if applicable (such as, Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports, Almanacs, or Statistical Abstract of the US)

OPTION 2: You may choose one of the following topics to explore:

1. Height of parents and the height of their children.
2. Age (in months) and height of students (from different grade levels).
3. Height and Weight
4. Age of car and number of miles.
5. Miles in car and cost of car (may need to do newspaper research)
6. Height and running time.
7. Distance and time to get to school.
8. Baskets attempted and Baskets made in an NBA game or school team.
9. Time it takes to play Backgammon and the number of times double 6's come up.

FORMAT:

• Each report should begin with a cover sheet that includes the title of your project, your name, your set and the date.
• This report should be turned in on 8 1/2 x 11 size paper. The report should be typed or written neatly in ink. (Double space both written and typed reports.) Charts, data sheets, and graphs should be neatly constructed and written in ink. They do not need to be typed. Computer generated graphs are optional.
• Charts and graphs must be titled and have properly labeled axes.
  • The correlation graphs should be on graph paper.
  • The frequency table and the histogram is required. You will only need to choose one of your sets of data for the frequency table and the histogram.
  • Calculate mean, median and mode of both sets of your data and provide an explanation of how each reflect your data.
  • All mathematical formulas must be given when computing test statistics. The substitution step must be shown before numerical answers are given. When using variables, be sure to state what each variable represents.
  • Written conclusion should be in paragraph form and include how the data was collected, what degree of relationship was detected, discussion of any bias in the data collection as well as outside factors that may effect the relationship. How have outliers effected your data? There also should be concluding statements that discuss the slope of the correlation (what information does the slope indicate), and the equation of the best fit line and how it can be used to predict further results. Use your equation to predict two data points not represented by the data. How good do you think these estimates are? Why? Was your data positively correlated, or negatively correlated? Give possible explanations for the relationships or absence of relationships that you see in the data.
  • Problems with the data, where biases may have occurred. Is there a cause-effect relationship or other factors effecting the data.

ROUGH DRAFT DUE APRIL 7, 1997

EXPECTATIONS:

On April 7th you will be expected to turn in the following:

• A list of the data you collected with an explanation of how it was collected
• A rough draft of your scatter plot on graph paper with properly labeled axes. Also include your best fit line and the slope of that line.
• A paragraph of problems you encountered, biases and other factors that may have effected your data.

NOTE: THE ROUGH DRAFT IS REQUIRED AND IS REFLECTIVE OF YOUR FINAL PROJECT EVALUATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!!!

Use the BACK button on your browser to return to the main text document