Test 4 Project
Purpose: This project is to be culmination of a year’s work. It will incorporate all that you have learned:
designing an experiment, exploratory data analysis and regression and hypothesis testing. In addition, it
will require learning some technological skills and practicing your presentation abilities.
Group size: The size can be either one to six people. The number should be based on how many people
are really necessary for the project. For example, if you are analyzing how people react in traffic, you
will certainly need at least 2 people – one to watch cars and motorists and the other to write the
information down. Groups share a grade. If you really need a certain grade, you may want to do a
project by yourself. YOUR TEACHER WILL DECIDE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE
IN THE GROUP ONCE THE PROJECT TOPIC IS CHOSEN.
Question: The first task of your group is to decide on an INTERESTING question to investigate.
“What’s your favorite color?” is not such a question, Part of answering the question must involve a
hypothesis test, confidence interval and/or regression. You must have permission by your teacher for
any project.
Data: You may collect your data via an observational study or a survey. If you choose a study, you may
obtain your data through any appropriate source, including the internet. Surveys are allowed on a limited
basis and must done representatively. However, such surveys must deal with important issues such as
ethical questions or positions. Frankly speaking, whether the pizza in the cafeteria is good is not such a
question. Students may work alone or in groups.
Report:
Your report should include:
1) Did you choose to complete a Confidence Interval or Hypothesis Test?
2) What are you studying? Specify null and alternative hypothesis if appropriate.
3) List your data.
4) Run statistics (mean and standard deviation) of your collected data.
5) Calculate your p value, margin of error, z-test, etc. depending on if you selected Confidence
Interval or Hypothesis Test.
6) Remember to interpret your results.
7) Was there any occurrence that may have limited your study?
Some samples are below:
Time: You will be expected to use class time to collect data and work on your report and presentation
Class #18 (or outside of class time).
Following are some examples of the types of projects you can do. You have a very wide range of topic
areas and also wide range of tests – t tests, linear regression, proportion z tests, or chi-square – either
single variable or table data. If you are having trouble coming up with a topic, think of an interest of
yours. Do not fall back on simple studies – like do boys or girls like the school pizza more. No one really
cares. Try to think of non-school topics and weightier issues.
Examples of data collection projects:
A study to determine which brand of cookie has a higher mean number of chips per cookie: Chips Ahoy
or Famous Amos. But this type of project can be used in many types of foods or other articles.
Does the number of French Fries in a large container versus a small container justify the higher cost?
Does Oreo Double-Stuff cookies really have double the filling?
Does age affect people’s ability to answer questions?
A Study Comparing the Difference between the Proportion of Men in Advertisements in Women’s
Magazines and the Proportion of Women in Advertisements in a Men’s Magazine
Does higher cost in foods mean better taste?
Does taking a test with questions from easiest to hardest, hardest to easiest, and in random order make a
difference?
Does a yellow light mean that drivers stop or speed up through an intersection?
Do men tend to make purchases more frequently than women when shopping?
