Overview

The project is a way for you to make sense out of data for yourselves and communicate the results to others. In general, you must motivate why the statistical study is important, go through data gathering, data summarization, data analysis, and discussion stages. Each of these elements must be addressed in both the written report and the class presentation.

Written Report (140 points)

The written report should be completed using word processing software and in which appropriate graphics are pasted. The written report should have an executive summary that is a one-page overview of the whole project. It should have brief statements that explain

1. The motivation for the study,
2. How the data was collected including sources,
3. A statistical description of the data,
4. A brief summary of your statistical analysis, and
5. Conclusions drawn.

Consider the following guidelines in producing your report:

• Make sure the executive summary is titled and that it is the first item seen on the report. Bullet points are effective. The summary is usually compiled after the rest of the report is completed.
• The Define sand Measure sections may be copied from the proposals that you have already turned-in. Make sure you make any necessary modifications.
• The Analyze section should contain both graphical and numerical summaries on each variable in the study. It should also contain a comparison or a correlation that was tested statistically. All of these must be generated in Excel. The results and conclusions must be stated clearly
• Use the statistical results to draw some conclusion about your application in your Improve section. Answer the question, "how do we use these results?" Your discussion should be in non-statistical terms, that is, your findings should be communicated in such a way that a person who has never had a statistics class can understand the results.
• Once you determine what improvements can be achieved with your results, discuss how the improvement may be sustained in the Control section.
• A description of the activities carried out by each individual is required. Identify who completed what portion of the work. All team members sign the report under the statement: We, the undersigned, certify that the actual project composition was done by us as stated and is original work.

The class presentation will focus on a verbal summary of your written report.

• The presentation should be a team effort.
• A maximum of 4.5 minutes will be allotted for each presentation, therefore plan for 4 minutes. Practice is important. Points will be deducted if you go over. Do not try to make a ten-minute talk fit into the time allowed by talking faster. Try to distill the information into only the essentials.
• The presentation should be like a "verbal" executive summary described above.
• Visual aids are important. You may use bullet points to summarize. Make sure you type or write large enough (18 point or higher). Excel output may also be used -- graphics are especially effective.
• A document projector that uses ordinary paper is available in all but the 8 AM recitations. Overhead transparencies may be used in 8 AM recitations. PowerPoint is also available.
• Make sure you explain your conclusion in non-statistical terms.