1. How to Create a Unique Statistics Project that Students will Enjoy: Part I
Dr. Jennifer Bready
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Mount Saint Mary College

2. Mount Saint Mary College
Small liberal arts college
Located in the Hudson Valley, NY
Large education, business, and nursing programs (including Master’s programs for each)

3. MTH 207 Elementary Statistics
Required for:
Business majors
Nursing majors
Psychology majors
Recommended for science majors
SPSS is integrated throughout the course

4. Final Project 30% of overall grade No final exam
Students involved from day one
Goal of course: for students to be able to apply and understand statistics

5. Six Step Process Decide on a topic. Write the questions.
Create the survey.
Gather the data.
Compile the data.
Analyze the results.

6. Example Timeline 15 Week Semester Week 1: Topic Ideas
Week 2: Submit questions
Week 3: Write survey and get student feedback
Weeks 4-6: Give students the surveys to gather the data

7. Example Timeline Weeks 7-8/9: Compile data and return to students
Weeks 9-13/14: Students write paper, due one week before end of semester
Weeks 14-15: Grade and return to students

8. Step 1: Creating a Topic 5% of project grade
First day of class show students articles from newspapers containing statistics
Tell students to think about a topic that interests them, due next class
Discuss results and democratically vote on topic

9. Step 2: Writing the Questions
Each student writes 3 questions: one qualitative, one quantitative, and one choice
Students must identify measure of each question
Cannot ask basic demographic questions
Answer choices must be included for all nominal and ordinal questions

10. Step 3: Writing the Survey
Sort and group student questions
Design survey
Add appropriate demographic questions
Present rough draft of survey, ask students for feedback
Ask students for appropriate art work and title for cover
Write a code book for students to set up variables

11. The Codebook Create common name for all variables
Code all nominal and ordinal variables
Students are graded on variable set up and measures of each variable

12. Step 4: Gathering the Data
25% of project grade
Each student required to complete 6-10 surveys
Students must set up the variables in SPSS and enter the data
Students turn in:
Data on disk
Printout of data view
Printout of variable view
Completed surveys

13. Example Surveys The Dating Survey: The Driving Survey:
Diving into the Dating Pool
The Driving Survey:
Driving Yourself Crazy
Social Live Survey
Crunch Time: Books or Beers?
The Music Survey
Rock the Music, Speak Your Mind

14. For more information… Dr. Jennifer Bready Division of Math/CS
330 Powell Ave
Newburgh, NY 12550