Group Project #3 (Experimental Design and Execution)

AP Statistics / Mr. Hansen

2000-01 Academic Year

Group Project #3: Experimental Design and Execution

Points, Deadlines, and Instructions

Title	Description	Date Due	Points
Ideas	1. List of ideas by each group member 2. Analysis of pros and cons for each idea (using criteria of feasibility, cost, ethical issues, suitability for generating p values, and interest) 3. Conclusion (decide which idea to execute)	F 1/19/01	30
Methodology (DRAFT)	One-paragraph description of methodology. Consider blocking (if appropriate), blinding, placebo effect, realism of conditions, sample size, and randomization procedures.	T 1/23/01	10
Methodology (FINAL)	Approx. 1 to 1½ pages; try to incorporate the suggestions that were made in class. Provide enough detail so that your methodology could be turned over, in theory, to an independent testing organization.	F 1/26/01	50
Release Form	Description of how the data will be used, with blocks for subjects to sign or initial. Release forms are required for all projects that use human subjects.	M 1/29/01	10
Data Review	Oral presentation by project leader to show release forms and raw data. This is a chance to discuss themes and organization of final report.	M 2/26/01	50
Extension Request (optional)	If you realize that you cannot make the Monday 3/5 deadline, your group leader must file an extension request in writing at least 72 hours in advance. Extensions will be valid for a day or two.	F 3/2/01	N/A
Final Report	Present your research question, describe the essence of your methodology (enough to convince a reader that you followed good procedures of control, randomization, and replication), summarize your findings, and present raw data in an appendix. It is not necessary to calculate p-values for your results, although you are certainly welcome to. (Later in the course, we will share raw data and will practice calculating p-values for all the groups.)	M 3/5/01	240
Group Leader Report	Group leader must justify the reasons for recommending a certain point split. Provide details of what each person worked on. Since there are 400 points total, an equal split would be 100 points per group member.	Submit with final report	10

Data Requirements:

Similar to those for Projects #1 and #2, except that only 25 data points (experimental units) are required this time. Of course, more data will improve the quality of your results, especially if your design requires blocking. As always, the minimum count is based on the number of subjects remaining after you discard any unusable observations.

Report-Writing Requirements:

1. Length is not important. Clarity, interest, and relevance are.

2. Five to seven pages (plus attachments for raw data printouts, figures, and tables) should suffice. This is only a rough guideline to help you scale your writing effort. In some cases, the report may be shorter.

3. Your report must be stapled or securely bound in some effective way (use binder clip for large reports). Loose sheets will not be accepted.

4. If your diagram tells the story, cite it in the text but let the picture do most of the talking. Assume that your reader is a Scientific American or Smithsonian reader; intelligent, though not necessarily an expert in statistics.

5. Number your figures (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, etc.) and use a consistent citation style for any external sources. The library has a guideline on "Electronic Footnote Citations" on the east wall, underneath the lunar phase chart. This requirement will be enforced this time.

6. Remember that your raw data table (one row per experimental unit) must be included in your final report. There will be a significant penalty if the raw data table is missing.

For Group Leaders Only:

1. Keep your group working productively. Assign tasks, or resolve disputes if two people want the same task. It’s OK to be laid-back if you wish, but be prepared to step in and take charge if things are bogging down.

2. You are the person ultimately responsible for the quality of the final product. That doesn’t mean you have to write everything yourself, but it does mean that have to juggle other people’s schedules and make things come together.

3. If people shirk their responsibilities, you may need to use small sanctions (a few points here, a few points there) to encourage them to do the right thing. Last year only a few groups had this problem, so let’s hope we don’t run into it too often.

4. The 240 final report points are subdivided as follows: 30 for interest, 80 for technical accuracy, 30 for the presence and completeness of the raw data, 50 for quality of writing (including spelling and grammar), and 50 for format, style, and neatness.

5. If your project uses human subjects, your report will not be accepted for grading if the signed consent forms are not provided upon request.

6. The group leader report is not necessarily the final say, but in most cases I will support the group leader’s decision provided it is based on merit, not need. (For example, you can’t divert points from people who already have a solid "A" average in order to help someone else raise his or her grade.)