1. CAUSE Teaching and Learning Webinar December 14, 2010 Dianna Spence and Brad Bailey North Georgia College & State University This work supported by grants NSF DUE-0633264 and NSF DUE-1021584

2.  Introduction and rationale  Scope and types of projects  Collecting real-world data  Crafting meaningful research questions  Sample student projects  Statistical research focal points  Evaluating student work  Questions and discussion

3.  Projects involving Student-initiated inquiry Student collection and organization of data Student analysis and interpretation of data Student reporting and presenting of results  Such projects are …consistently recommended in the literature …often not implemented as part of instruction

4. Scope of Projects Student tasks during project  Identify research constructs  Define suitable variables, including how they can be quantified and measured  Design research question  Submit research proposal and obtain approval  Collect data Design unbiased data collection method Address sampling issues  Analyze and interpret data  Write a report on methods and results  Present research and findings to class

5.  Linear regression Key analysis tasks Find and interpret  Scatter plot  r  Prediction equation  Slope in equation  R 2  t-Tests Designs  1-sample  2 dependent samples  2 independent samples Key analysis asks  Select appropriate design  Identify hypotheses H 0 /H a  Find and interpret  t statistic  p-value

6. Collecting Data: 3 Categories  Administer surveys Primary focus of Phase I materials Makes survey design an element of the project  Find data on the Internet  Physically go out and record data e.g., measure items, time events with a stopwatch, look at prices, look at nutrition labels

7. Internet Data Sources I. Government/Community  Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/ http://www.census.gov/  Bureau of Justice Statistics: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=daa http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=daa  City Data Site: http://www.city-data.com/ http://www.city-data.com/  State and county statistics sites  State and national Dept.’s of Education  County tax assessment records

8. Internet Data Sources II. Restaurants: Nutrition Info  Applebees: http://www.applebees.com/downloads/nutritional_info.html http://www.applebees.com/downloads/nutritional_info.html  Arby’s: http://www.arbys.com/nutrition/Arbys_Nutrition_Website.pdf http://www.arbys.com/nutrition/Arbys_Nutrition_Website.pdf  Burger King: http://www.bk.com/cms/en/us/cms_out/digital_assets/files/pages/Nutritio nInformation.pdf http://www.bk.com/cms/en/us/cms_out/digital_assets/files/pages/Nutritio nInformation.pdf  McDonalds: http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange/nutritionfacts.pdf http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange/nutritionfacts.pdf  Ruby Tuesday’s: http://www.rubytuesday.com/assets/menu/pdf/informational/nutrition.pdf http://www.rubytuesday.com/assets/menu/pdf/informational/nutrition.pdf  Student’s favorite place to eat?

9. Internet Data Sources III. Sports Data  Sports Statistics Data Resources (Gateway) http://www.amstat.org/sections/SIS/Sports Data Resources/ http://www.amstat.org/sections/SIS/Sports Data Resources/  NFL Historical Stats: http://www.nfl.com/history http://www.nfl.com/history  Individual team sites

10. Internet Data Sources IV. Retail/Consumer (General)  Cost/Prices e.g., Kelley Blue Book: http://www.kbb.com/ http://www.kbb.com/  Consumer Report ratings. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm  Product Specifications e.g., size measurements, time/speed measurements, MPG for cars

11.  Show students resources for collecting data  Show students sample projects Critique and improve on former student projects  Brainstorm with students about their interests  Offer points for originality

12. Sample Student Projects  Matched Pairs t-Test: 2-tailed: H a predicting that on average, students’ rating of Coke and Pepsi would be different. t statistic =2.62 P value= 0.0116 (2-tailed) Conclusion: Evidence that on average, students rated the two drinks differently (Coke was rated higher) Participant Coke Pepsi #1 89 #2 7 5...

13. Sample Student Projects  t-Test for 2 independent samples: 1-tailed: H a predicting that on average fruit drinks have higher sugar content per ounce than fruit juices t statistic = -0.14 P value= 0.5555 Conclusion: Sample data did not support H a. No evidence that on average, fruit drinks have more sugar than fruit juices.

14. Sample Student Projects  t-Test for 2 independent samples: 1-tailed: H a predicting that in local state parks, oak trees have greater circumference than pine trees on average t statistic = 4.78 P value= 7.91 x 10 –6 Conclusion: Strong evidence that in local state parks oak trees are bigger than pine trees on average. Lurking variable identified and discussed: age of trees (and possible reasons that oak trees were older)

15. Sample Student Projects

17.  Selecting appropriate variables Categorical or quantitative? Defined construct? How measured and quantified?  Appropriateness of data analysis method for proposed data and research question  Data collection techniques Potential survey design issues Sampling strategies  Interpretation of results in context

18.  Getting started Form groups Define project scope Brainstorm  Project proposal(s) Definition of variables, research question Proposed data collection and sampling methods Survey and IRB if applicable  Data collection  Data analysis  Project report  Presentation

19. Assessment  Weight of Projects  Scoring Rubrics Advantages  Consistency  Manageability  Communicate expectations Encompass All Project Components  Grade milestones along the way Resources for Rubrics  Team Member Grades Accountability of Individual Members  Shared Team Grade  Individual Contribution

20.  NSF Grant Project Web Page http://radar.northgeorgia.edu/~djspence/NSF/index.htmlhttp://radar.northgeorgia.edu/~djspence/NSF/index.html Links to curriculum materials Overview of both grants and progress updates  Contact Information Brad Bailey bbailey@northgeorgia.edu bbailey@northgeorgia.edu Dianna Spence djspence@northgeorgia.edu djspence@northgeorgia.edu