Statistics+1

= = = = =** Zach Lindeman, Siobhan Edwards , Sarah Vansickle,  Drina Weatherhead **=

=__Statistics 1__=

=Statistics are numbers or data that are collected, classified, analyzed and interpreted to either support or refute a theory or relationship.=

 =__Primary Data Gathering Method__ =

This method of data collection is used when **__//you//__** collect the information required to answer your question(s).

Examples: 
 * poll, survey, tally, questionnaire, test, interview, focus group, case studies, diaries

The __Primary Data Gathering Method__ lets you ask the questions you need that are specific to your topic, but there are pros and cons for each method used to collect primary data. For example, if you use a questionnaire, you can reach a large group of people, it could be anonymous which may encourage more people to participate, and there would be no bias from the interviewer. However, questions need to be fairly simple so the respondents can answer them easily but you may not know who, within a household, is completing the questionnaire or what other factors may bias answers. Interviews are a good way of understanding people’s behaviour or reasons for their actions. When you interview someone you can ask for clarification right away, and they can indicate whether or not they understand what you are asking. You can also ask a follow-up question if there is something interesting that occurs to you while you are doing the interview. However, interviews take a lot of time to organize and the subject may not provide accurate information in order to please the interviewer. When you are using the __Primary Data Gathering Method__, it is important that you review strategies to ensure that your data is as accurate as possible. A good reference would be the Thames Valley University website on Data Gathering: []

__What can you do with primary data?__

1. Take a poll of your classmates to determine their favourite music. 2. Conduct an experiment to measure the amount of precipitation in an area. 3. Gather a focus group to determine where the Grade 12s want to have their grad. 4. Read the //Diary of Anne Frank// to learn what her life was like during WWII. 5. Conduct a survey to determine the issues important to constituents prior to an election.

__Real World Application__ :

Conduct a survey to determine the products that consumers use (newspapers, magazines, TV programs, etc.) to better identify your target group so that advertising is more efficient. O ne of Canada's largest marketing and social research organizations is called TNS Canadian Facts. __http://www.tns-cf.com/__ = ____ <span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(127, 127, 230);"> __Secondary Data Gathering Method__ = This method of data collection refers to using information that has already been collected by someone else. You should try to use the data for a different purpose or to interpret it in a different way so you are not just repeating someone else’s findings. Using data that others have collected may be useful because it may be from a source that can reach more people or it could be a study that might be too expensive for someone to do on their own. When using the __Secondary Data Gathering Method__ it is important to know where the information comes from and whether or not it is current (old data may be useless). <span style="color: rgb(81, 219, 92);">__Examples of where you can find Secondary Data:__

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(241, 158, 34);">__What can you do with secondary data?__
 * Internet, google, yahoo, books, encyclopedia, almanac, data bases, atlas

1. Compare the world's 10 biggest countries, cities, lakes, populations. 2. Download data from the Internet to complete a school project. 3. Read an autobiography for an English paper. 4. To determine if there is a relationship between the music teenagers listen to and intelligence. 5. Comparing baseball statistics to see if the Jays' win/loss average has improved over the last 10 years. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 255, 0);"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 128, 128);"> __Real World Application__:

Using data from the Farmer’s Almanac outdoor planting table to decide what is the best time to plant your garden.



<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Leelawadee','sans-serif';"><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 240); font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> =<span style="color: rgb(0, 255, 0);">__Hypothesis__ =

A __hypothesis__ is a possible answer or explanation to a question that is based on a reasonable solution or an educated guess. It needs to be tested to determine whether or not it is true. A __hypothesis__ is impotant because, when you set out to prove something, it keeps you focussed on a specific idea. In order to prove a h__ypothesis__, you need to decide how to collect, record, organize and analyze the data. Based on the data, you make an inference or generalization which either supports or refutes your hypothesis. A hypothesis must be clearly worded. It is important, if there are multiple variable s, to only change one at a time or you will not know what variable is creating a change. A __hypothesis__ doesn't have to be true for important information to be learned.

<span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> __Examples of how to collect data to prove a hypothesis__ :


 * tables, graphs, experiments, research, books/research and calculations

Each of the following represent a question and a hypothesis that represents a possible solution that can be tested:

a) What is the favourite food of the kids in your class? Pizza is the favourite food of the kids in my class. b) How many text messages does the average grade 9 student send per day? The average student sends 200 text messages per day. c) How many students drink bottled water? 70% of students drink bottled water.

<span style="color: rgb(241, 158, 34);">__Real World Application:__

Using the Scientific Method to determine what happens when you supersaturate a solution.



**<span style="color: rgb(255, 98, 0);">__Bias__ ** __Bias__ can be defined as "a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation." ( [|wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn]) When you are using statistics to make inferences about a group of people, for example, you need to be aware of bias although it is impossible to avoid __bias__ entirely. To help make sure that data is accurate, you need to have a large enough sample of the population. There are several ways that research can be biased.

__Selection Bias__: This occurs when a sample is too small or groups are excluded from the sample. __Response Bias__: This occurs when questions in a survey are unclear or are written in a way that they lead people to answer in a certain way. Bias can also happen when one or more groups of people are excluded from the sample. __Non-Response Bias__: Sometimes, when not enough people complete a survey, results are biased and conclusions based on the research will be inaccurate.

=<span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 240);">__Sample Population__ = This is a sampling technique that reduces the chance of bias. In a sample population, you choose people to complete a poll/survey randomly. Anyone can be selected for this sample. For example, if you wanted to survey what percentage of teenagers in your school go to Wonderland, you can get a list of the students, number them, and then randomly select every tenth student to participate.

<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(227, 120, 227);">__Citations__

Bias. Retrieved June 3, 2009, from <span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">__http://stattrek.com/AP-Statistics-2/Survey-Sampling-Bias.aspx__ Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from <span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">__http://www.almanac.com/garden/plantingtable/index.php.__ <span style="font-family: Leelawadee; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hypothesis. Retrieved June 1, 2009, from wisegeek website. <span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">__http://www.wisegeek.com__ Math Power 9. (1991). //Primary and Secondary Data Gathering Methods//. McGraw-Hill Ryerson. Retrieved May 31st, 2009. Statistics. Retrieved June 3, 2009, from <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">http://www.uri.edu/library/staff_pages/kinnie/lib120/stats.html Thames Valley University. (2007). // Primary Data Gathering //. Retrieved May 31, 2009, from [].