Introduction to Research

ASSIGNMENT TWO
INTERPRETING STATISTICS

This is an exercise in your ability to interpret correlations, and simple inferential tests, and relate those results to research hypotheses. You will interpret statistical findings on three variables, in this order: gender, age, weight loss. Your data and results are different from all the other students, but you are to follow the same process, and discuss your unique results. This assignment is worth 200 points.

There are six steps -

Step 1 - Introduction. You are here.
Step 2 - Overview of Study. Step two gives an overview of the research study and its associated data set that your are involved in analyzing.
Step 3 - Relationships. Steps three and four describe the two research questions that are examined by the study. One research question deals with a relationship question and the other deals with a differences question. These research questions are answered by gathering, analyzing and interpreting the data using the appropriate statistical method. Step three considers a relationship question and the method of correlation.
Step 4 - Differences. Step four considers a differences question and uses the t-test.
Step 5 - Examples. Step five offers a number of examples of the possible permutations of outcomes and how they affect your conclusions.
Step 6 - Write-up. Step six provides instructions for writing your report and turning it in for credit.

Note: Some links open web pages in a second window. This window may sometimes end up behind your main browser window. Use the ALT and TAB keys to scroll through your open applications.

To succeed on Assignment Two, do the following:

Study the assigned readings.
Work on the elements of the assignments. Reflect how the tasks of the assignment relate to the readings and give you practice applying the concepts.
Ask questions in class by
1. emailing your instructor.
2. coming to class. In class we will use this study as an example of how to interpret statistics - Magnets and Pain Relief.
3. Ask questions of your instructors and classmates via the Socratic Dialog, email your instructors directly, or during class.

Reading Assignment

Read this one page about Two Research Fallacies from The Research Methods Knowledge Base by William Trochim.. This brief discussion points up the need for accurate measurement and the use of objective tools to assist us in drawing conclusions.
Biostatistics for the Clinician. Developed by George Oser, Craig W. Johnson, and Allan J. Abedor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. There are three lessons. Do only these sections:
1. Lesson 1 - sections 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4,1.5 (box plot only), and 1.7 (Gaussian distribution only).
2. Lesson 2 - do all sections.
3. Lesson 3 - section 3.1.
The lessons ask you to enter your name and social security number. Don't do it! That is for students in Houston. Your assignment is to study the materials, but without identifying yourself on the web. Also, at the end of sections you will see a SUBMIT button; don't click on it! It too is for Houston students.
The Whole Art of Deduction - Study Chapters 6 through 9.
The Research Methods Knowledge Base by William Trochim. Read the sections of the Analysis chapter titled: Conclusion Validity, Descriptive Statistics, and Inferential Statistics - The t-Test (only).
There is an article on the use of magnets for pain relief that helps pull concepts of t-tests together.
A help for understanding statistical concepts for you visual learners can be found at this site at Rice Virtual Lab in Statistics. Especially useful for Assignment 2 are Mean and Median, Regression by Eye, and Repeated Measurements.
OPTIONAL - There is another on-line book on statistics that you might use if the resources already assigned are not helpful.