Project Overview

Hello Class! This week, we are stepping away from the textbook to explore how statistics are applied in the real world. Your goal is to understand the mechanics of a statistical study—from data collection to the final conclusion. You will conduct an internet search to find a study on a topic that interests you and analyze its components.

Assignment Instructions

Please find a reputable study online and answer the following six questions. Be thorough and provide specific details from the article or paper you select.

  • 1. Study Identification: What is the name of the study? Provide the direct link to the website and the formal paper if available.
  • 2. Authorship: Who conducted the study? (Look for university researchers, organizations, or government bodies).
  • 3. Variables: What specific data was collected? (Identify the variables being measured).
  • 4. Methodology: How did they collect the data? (e.g., surveys, observational study, experiment).
  • 5. Findings: What were the results of the study? Use specific numbers where possible.
  • 6. Critical Analysis: What do you think about the results? Do you agree or disagree with the conclusion, and why?

Model Response: An Example

To help you understand exactly what I am looking for, here is a complete example based on a study regarding social media usage and academic performance.

1. Name & Link: "Too much face and not enough books? Facebook use and academic performance."
Website: http://blog.reyjunco.com/facebook-and-academic-performance
Paper: http://reyjunco.com/wordpress/pdf/JuncoCHBFacebookGrades.pdf

2. Conducted By: Reynol Junco, a professor at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania.

3. Data Collected: The variables collected included the time spent using Facebook, specific activities performed on the site, and the students' academic grades ($GPA$).

4. Methodology: Data was gathered through student surveys and verified against official data collection records from the college.

5. Results: The study found that time spent on Facebook was negatively related to overall college $GPA$.

  • The mean time students spent on Facebook was $106 \text{ minutes}$ per day.
  • The statistical model showed that for every increase of $93 \text{ minutes}$ beyond the mean, the $GPA$ decreased by $0.12$ points.
  • Interestingly, the frequency of checking Facebook was only weakly related to $GPA$, and there was not a strong correlation between time on Facebook and time spent studying.

6. Analysis: I conclude that while the finding is statistically significant, the real-world impact is negligible. I think the results are fair; Facebook is a tool that can be used for positive engagement. However, like any distraction, if not managed properly, it can impact education. The negative correlation suggests students should monitor their usage, but it isn't the sole cause of poor grades.

Submission Guidelines

Please post your completed assignment in the Comments section below.

Important Rule: Each study can only be used once. If you see a classmate has already posted a specific study, you must select a different one. This ensures we cover a wide variety of topics!

This assignment is due by Thursday at the end of the day. We will be discussing your findings in class next Friday.