AP Statistics
End-Of-Year Project 2009
Purpose: This project is to be the culmination
of a year’s work. It will incorporate
all that you have learned: designing an
experiment, survey, or observational study; conducting exploratory data
analysis; and running a test of significance for inference. In addition, it will require you to learn
some technological skills and to practice your presentation abilities.
Question: The first task of your group (size one,
two, or three) is to decide on an INTERESTING question to investigate. “What’s your favorite color?” is not such a
question, and groups who pick simple questions will not be able to earn an “A”
on their projects. Part of answering the
question must involve a hypothesis test or a confidence interval. You must create a study that is worthy of
conducting inference upon. In other
words, do not choose a topic that is so obviously significant that conducting
the study would be meaningless and a waste of time.
Data: You may collect your data via an
observational study, a survey, or an experiment. If you choose a study, you may obtain your
data through any appropriate source, including the Internet. School surveys are allowed and must be done
representatively.
If
data is collected from human subjects, you must obtain release forms from
each one. A release form should include a description of how the data will be
used and a place for subjects to sign or initial.
If
data is collected from human subjects without their knowledge, you must clear
your procedures with your teacher first.
Analysis: You must analyze your data using
technology (graphing calculator, Excel, etc.).
Report: Your report must be typed
(double-spaced).
Your
report should be well organized and well written.
Your
report should include:
Ø
Title Page
Ø
Disclaimer and
Abstract
§
The disclaimer
should read:
“This
study was done in an AP Statistics course with relatively small sample
sizes. The validity of such studies must
always be questioned. Please keep this
in mind if you use or report the results of this study.”
§
The abstract
should be a one page overview of the study/experiment covering all important
details. Some helpful hints in writing
your abstract:
(1) Do not write in first person.
(2) State the research question and your goals
for doing this study. What
point did you
hope to prove? Why did you expect that
outcome?
(3) State the population from which you will be
sampling (and to which
you will be
drawing your inference).
(4) Mention the test you performed.
(5) Avoid using any symbols in your abstract
other than p-value or n.
Ø
Methodology
(description of data collection methods, using proper vocabulary)
Open
your methodology section with an introductory paragraph that describes in every
day English the question you are trying to answer. Give a careful description of how you
obtained your samples. Be very
specific. Include sample sizes. Discuss any of the following that are
applicable and appropriate: blocking;
blinding; placebo effect; realism of conditions; randomization procedures (in
sampling and in allocation of treatments).
Your
sampling techniques and your experimental design should be described in a very
clear manner so that any researcher could read your report and replicate your
experiment/study.
Ø
Exploratory data
analysis with appropriate graphs (no graphs are to be hand drawn)
Although
raw data sheets will be attached, you should type your data results into a
table for easy reading and easy reference.
Do
not alter your experiment or the data you collect to fit some notion of “correct”
data. Remember the study of statistics
depends on variability. Perform all
calculations and inference on the actual data you collect. Changing or omitting data invalidates the
study.
Ø
Analysis and
inference/conclusion
Complete
all expected steps of a significance test.
You need to be as thorough as you were on the AP exam questions. Be sure to address the assumptions for
whatever significance test you choose.
Conclusions should be stated in context.
Also
in your conclusion, it would be appropriate to discuss/describe any weaknesses
in your study or possible confounding that could have occurred.
Ø
Subject release
forms (if applicable)
Ø
List of
resources, including Internet sites (if applicable)
Ø
Raw data sheets
(the actual pages you used to record your data)
**Note: Be sure to define any and all symbols you use
in your report. Example: If you use 
in a hypothesis,
define for your reader within the context of the problem.
(ex) = mean number of hours
spent studying during finals week.
Presentation: Your presentation to the class should be a
summary of your findings, a walking of the class through an outline of your
report. You must use Power Point to
highlight your presentation. Power Point
should be used for highlighting main ideas, showing graphs to the class, and
making your presentation more entertaining (pictures of the actual process of
data collection are always fun – not necessary, but fun). As a general rule of thumb, if you put more
than 10 words on one slide, you’re doing something wrong. Your presentation should clearly explain what
your group discovered – smoothly, professionally, and engagingly. Your grade will be lowered if you stand
around looking at one another, wondering who is going to speak next.
Do
understand that your classmates and teacher will be given an opportunity to ask
questions at the end of your presentation.
Be prepared to answer them. J
Grading: Your project and presentation are
worth two test grades (200 points). They
are due on Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 11:35am.
THIS
IS FINALS WEEK. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR
PROJECTS TO BE LATE.
LATE
PROJECTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
I
will be keeping the projects you turn in at the start of the block so I can
grade them. I would recommend printing
out a second copy for yourself or making good notes on your project for use
during your presentation.
Optional: This is not
part of your grade, but if you wouldn’t mind, an electronic copy of your
write-up (not your Power Point) … either on disk or sent to me via
e-mail as an attachment … would be greatly appreciated. I would like to post these on the class web
page for future students to reference.
We
will draw names out of a jar to determine the order of presentations. Randomization! Ha! J
IMPORTANT: Any senior who
currently has a D or an F and who needs this class to graduate, must submit
their final project two class periods early on Wednesday, May 27th. You will still present on June 2nd,
but in order to determine your status (pass or fail),
I will need your projects by May 27th.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIMELINE
|
Thurs. 5/7 |
Discussion
of project … select groups … begin
brainstorming for topics. |
|
Mon. 5/11 |
Get teacher approval on
research topic if you have not already done so. Get teacher approval on
experimental design if you have not already done so. Begin data collection if
possible. |
|
Wed. 5/13 |
Work in class on data
collection and analysis |
|
Fri. 5/15 |
Work in class on data
collection and analysis |
|
Wed. 5/20 |
Computer Lab 618 scheduled
for in-class use today |
|
Fri. 5/22 |
Data collection should be
complete. If it is not – if you are
still collecting data – then you may not involve TCHS student subjects. Computer Lab scheduled for
in-class use today |
|
Wed. 5/27 |
Computer Lab 618 scheduled
for in-class use today |
|
Fri. 5/29 |
Computer Lab 618 scheduled
for in-class use today |
|
Tues. 6/2 |
Projects due. Presentations given. |
|
Thurs. 6/4 |
Last day of school |
* Depending on your choice of
topic, it is possible that you will have to work outside of class time on this
project. Anticipate and plan for that
with your partners.
**Choose your partners
wisely. Do not choose partners upon whom
you cannot rely. Since you are choosing
your own groups – with the option to work individually – I will have no
sympathy for you if you choose group-mates who are lazy or who do not do their
fair share of work. The benefit of choosing
good and reliable group partners: you
can “divide and conquer” to create a real quality project without being
completely overwhelmed with work.
***If you have an unusually
busy schedule and you know that it will be difficult to find time to work with
a group, consider doing an individual project.
**** Rough drafts and
periodic “check in’s” are encouraged! If you submit work for the teacher to look
over and critique, you may pick it up at the end of the following school
day. Plan accordingly. Do not submit a rough draft at the last
minute and expect that I will have time to drop everything and read over it for
you. Procrastination or lack of planning
on your part does not equal urgency or an emergency on my part.