AP Statistics Response Bias Project

In this project your group will design and conduct an experiment to investigate the effects of response bias in surveys. You may choose the topic for your survey.

You must design your experiment so that it can answer one of the following questions: A. Can the wording of a question create response bias? B. Do the characteristics of the interviewer create response bias? C. Does anonymity change the responses to sensitive questions? D. Does manipulating the answer choices change the response?

You will first write a proposal (in google classroom) describing the design of your experiment. 1. What is your chosen topic and which of the above questions are you going to address? 2. Give a detailed description of how you will obtain your subjects (minimum of 50). Your plan must be practical. (Your description needs to be so detailed that any person could read your plan and implement it without having to ask you any questions.) 3. What are your questions and how will you ask them? 4. Give a clear explanation of how you will implement your design.

Example of Successful Student Project “Make-Up” by Caryn S and Trisha T. (all questions asked to males) 1. Do you find females who wear makeup attractive? (questioner wearing makeup) 75% answered yes 2. Do you find females who wear makeup attractive (questioner not wearing makeup) 30% answered yes

Example of Successful Student Project “Cartoons” by Sean W. and Brian H. 1. Do you watch cartoons? 90% answered yes 2. Do you still watch cartoons? 60% answered yes.

Proposals are due Wednesday (10/29/2017) by midnight. Once your proposal has been approved you are ready to begin. Collect your data. If you are interviewing WHS students you may collect data during homeroom 11/2, 11/3, 11/7, 11/8 or on your own time. Analyze your data Make your google slide presentation.

Google Slide Presentation Part 1 – Introduction (include info from proposal) Part 2 – Detailed description of random assignment including list of names of people interviewed. Part 3 – Detailed description of interviews including pictures Part 4 – Numerical data and graphical data Part 5 – Conclusions you can make from your experiment. Also discuss any problems you encountered and how you addressed them. Also discuss any bias that may have occurred and how it could be avoided in the future. Part 6 – Put your report in a powerpoint or google slide presentation. Submit on Google Classroom by midnight on 11/12/2017. Presentations will be 11/13/2017

Names: AP Statistics Response Bias Project Introduction (4 Points) Data Collection (4 Points) Graphs and summary statistics (4 Points) Conclusions (4 Points) Presentation and communication (4 Points) Total X5