Research Project for MA135
You are doing research on balance and fitness. To complete this research you will need a watch with a second hand. Identify a random sample of n = 12 men and n = 8 women. You must answer this question: How do you establish that this sample is truly random?
Have each subject perform the following task:
a) Have the subjects stand with their hands at their side, raise one knee, cross their ankle over the other knee, squat and bring their hands palms together in front of their chest. Time the subject until they put their foot back down on the floor.
b) Ask the following questions:
i) How many days per week do they exercise?
ii) What is their favorite exercise?
You will analyze your data and compute the following statistics for each group:
1) The Mean and standard deviation of the number of seconds the subject stayed balanced
2) The Median number of days per week exercised
3) The Mode of the favorite exercise
4) The 90% confidence interval of the mean
Construct a complete hypothesis test and determine if the two groups have significantly different balance using α = 0.05.
Write a one page introduction to your research, discuss how you selected your sample (is it a random sample?) and write a one page conclusion. Present your data in an organized manner.
Research Project Rubric
Organization: Maximum of 10 points
Overall report is well organized, with a cover page, introductory page, discussion of sampling, all data is shown, statistics are clearly presented, and conclusion page
(points are deducted for presentation, missing information) ____________
Statistics: Maximum of 40 points
Mean for each group is correct (8 points) ____________
Standard deviation for each group is correct (8 points) ____________
Median for each group is correct (8 points) ____________
Mode for each group is correct (8 points) ____________
Confidence interval of the mean for each is correct (8 points) ____________
Hypothesis Test: Maximum of 30 points
Null and Alternate Hypothesis are stated correctly (6 points) ____________
Critical t value is correct (6 points) ____________
Computation of the t statistic is correct (6 points) ____________
Decision regarding the hypothesis is correct (6 points) ____________
Conclusion regarding the hypothesis is correct (6 points) ____________
Writing: Maximum of 15 Points
Overall writing is thorough with correct grammar, punctuation,
spelling, and capitalization.
(points are deducted for quality and mechanics) ____________
Graphs: Maximum of 5 points
Graphics, graphs, Wow me! ____________
Please be sure that you can answer YES to each of these questions.
Do you have a cover page?
Do you have an introductory page that is at least two paragraphs?
Does your introductory page include a discussion of how you obtained your sample?
Does your introductory page include details of what your project is about and why this may be important information?
Have you shown all of your data? Is your data clearly listed in a table and labeled?
Have you included all statistics ? The Mean and standard deviation of the number of seconds the subject stayed balanced, the Median number of days per week exercised, the Mode of the favorite exercise, and the 90% confidence interval of the mean must all be shown.
Are your statistics clearly listed and labeled for each group separately – men and women?
Have you included a complete hypothesis test? The Null and Alternate Hypothesis, Critical t value, the computation of the t statistic, the decision regarding the hypothesis (Reject or do not reject wording is used), and a conclusion statement regarding the claim based on the decision regarding the hypothesis must all be shown.
Do you have a separate conclusion page that is at least two parageaphs?
Does your conclusion page tell about your conclusion, about how you feel about the conclusion, about what may be done differently in the project, and include additional summary comments?
Have you cited any sources that you used as reference?
