Recent Statistics in the Media Project

You may work alone or with at most three other people and turn in one project per group.

Part 1: Critiques

Collecting and Presenting Data
  • Search the web, newspapers, or magazines to find a news article that discusses data collection, such as a poll, from the last 4 months, and presents the data (can be visual and/or numerical summary statistics).
  • Write down the title, the source reference and the date the news article appeared in print or on the web.
  • Analyze and critique the information in light of classroom discussions and homework readings on polling and presenting data by referring to specific content and page numbers in both books.

    Predictors
  • Search the web, newspapers, or magazines to find a news article that discusses how something may "cause" or predict something else from the last 4 months.
  • Write down the title, the source reference and the date the news article appeared in print or on the web.
  • Analyze and critique the information in light of classroom discussions and homework readings on polling and presenting data by referring to specific content and page numbers in both books.

    Unintended Consequences
  • Search the web, newspapers, or magazines to find a news article that discusses the unintended consequences of a policy or other proposal or decision from the last 4 months.
  • Write down the title, the source reference and the date the news article appeared in print or on the web.
  • Analyze and critique the information in light of classroom discussions and homework readings on polling and presenting data by referring to specific content and page numbers in both books.

    Make sure that you review classroom discussions and activities, and the relevant Heart of Mathematics and How do you Know? readings since you must incorporate these ideas into your analyses and critiques. For each portion, refer to specific content and page numbers in both books. Your project must be typed and must flow well - ie in a consistent writing style. There is no need to print out or photocopy the articles - listing the title, the source reference, and date suffices as acknowledgement.

    Part 2: Design an Effective Series of Experiments [Choose One]

    Choose just one of the following. Dr. Sarah found these statements online in pages about tips for college success and etiquette. Design a study or series of studies to assess the implied negative effects to your grade and the validity of the following about college etiquette. Use statistical thinking in your design.

    Attend Class "A" students miss on the average one-half of one class per semester. "C" students miss on the average 4.5 classes per semester. (Implication: "C" students lost an average of 3-5 points for each class missed, not to mention the material covered in class!). Since college graduates earn an average of at least $700,000 more than high school grads over a lifetime of employment, that translates to about $1000 for every day spent in class.

    45 Hour Work Week Consider College as a Job! I had a buddy who got up every day at 8am and went to library to study, when it was class time he went to class and then back to the library until 4:46 sharp. At that point he put up his books and was on his own time. He was involved in every intramural sport, went to most every party, and got a 4.0 at Texas A&M. His secret is that he considered school a job and he worked at it 8-5.

    Sit in the Front Middle Seating arrangement is important. Studies have shown that the students sitting in the front middle part of the class do better than those who sit toward the back of the class or off to one side.