University of Houston Hand Wash Soap vs Sanitizer Project
Part I: Descriptive Draft (Descriptive Statistics)
choose a topic of interest and performing a simple experiment. The sample size for experiments, at least 20. You will submit a descriptive draft to portray the data that was collected, explain the variable or variables being summarized and displayed, and why that variable was chosen. Organization of the descriptive draft should be as follows: (The Project Template is included on the final page of these instructions.)
· Introduction: One or two paragraphs introducing and detailing the project topic, how inquiry(ies) were conducted, and the relevance of the group’s project to a well-defined community. Include any national statistics that support the importance of the issue or that will be used for comparison to the data. This section should end with a one-sentence purpose statement and primary research question(s).
· Method: Two or three paragraphs containing the details of the group’s study, a description of the research objective(s)/hypothesis(es), type of study, participants, variables measured, and sampling technique. Numerical summaries and graphs of the data should be embedded throughout this section, along with the descriptions.
· Provide at least 3 different numerical summaries and displays of the data, as appropriate for the chosen topic and variable(s). Examples may include mean, median, standard deviation, 5-number summary, linear correlation coefficient, and/or linear regression equation; pie chart, Pareto chart, frequency/relative frequency distribution, histogram, stem-and-leaf plot, and/or scatter plot.
· Chapter 1 of the textbook provides helpful information about population parameters, sample statistics, sampling methods, and bias. Chapters 2, 3 and 4 provide helpful definitions, instructions and examples for summarizing and displaying both qualitative and quantitative data.
Part II: Final Draft (includes Inferential Statistics)
Each student will submit a final draft that answers a specific question or questions about a population defined by interest. Inferential statistics should include the following points: (The Project Template is included on the final page of these instructions.)
· Assumptions about the population, sampling distribution, or other facets of the investigation
· Clear hypotheses (e.g., null and alternative hypotheses) about one or more qualitative or quantitative variables of a well-defined population
· Findings: Analytical summaries such as confidence interval and/or P-value, including a proper interpretation
· Findings: Speculation upon the meaningfulness of results, as well as the limits and/or consequences of any statistical inferences
· Chapters 4, 9 and 10 of our e-text provide helpful definitions, instructions and examples for completing Part II, such as testing for linear correlation (chapter 4), interpreting confidence intervals (chapter 9), or formulating and interpreting hypothesis tests (chapter 10).
Students in the same SIP group will be using the same data. As such, each student in the same group may start with the same basic template, but each student must write her/his own Findings and Conclusions. Each student will submit their final draft in Canvas as a Microsoft Word document
The project will be based on Qualitative Experiment
Method
Several (at least 2-3) paragraphs that contain the details of your study, a description of your research objective(s)/hypothesis(es), type of study, participants, variables measured, and sampling technique. Numerical summaries and graphs of your data should be embedded throughout this section along with descriptions. See Part I: Descriptive Draft (Descriptive Statistics) of SIP-Assignment Instructions document.
Findings
Two to three paragraphs addressing inferential analyses and conclusions drawn about specific variables within a well-defined population (make clear null and alternative hypotheses). Identify assumptions made about your population, the sampling distribution of your sample statistic, or any other facet of your investigation, and the limits of your conclusions. Include a P-value and/or a confidence interval as needed and interpret it. Use visuals as necessary. See Part II: Final Draft (Inferential Statistics) of SIP-Assignment Instructions document.
Conclusion
One paragraph summary regarding the overall meaningfulness of the statistical inquiry and the lessons learned about project development and completion.
References
Cite any sources used to develop background information. Cite any source of national, state, or local statistics used as a null hypothesis.
Appendix
Raw data from the experiment or survey study must be included here. In addition, if an online survey was launched, a live link must be provided. Or, if live interviews or simple experiments were conducted, provide details such as dates, times, places, and names of group members involved.