This week I completed the data analysis toolbox for my statistics project. My toolbox greatly helped me plan out my project. It also gave me a sense of a time line that I could go by to get my project done. The major aspects of my toolbox helped me outline and define the major aspects of my project. The four questions asked by the toolbox are: who are the individuals described by the data, what are the variables, in what variables is each variable recorded, why were the data gathered, and when, where, how and by whom were the data produced. These questions help to identify who the sample is, what you are trying to find out about the sample, the purpose of the project, and how you are to go about doing your project. For the survey I plan to record the people’s opinions by asking them to rate their views on different aspects of the stimulus package. Also, the toolbox helps you plan out what numerical summaries and graphs you will use, as well as how you will go about interpreting the data. I decided that I am going to use a five number summary, mean, and standard deviation to describe my data. The five number summary would help describe the spread of the data, and the mean and standard deviation would help describe where the data is centered. For the graphs I will use a bar graph and a normal probability plot. The bar graph will show frequency of the opinions, while the normal probability plot will help to show if the data is normal or not. To interpret the data I will simply analyze the numerical summaries and the graphs. In summation, the data analysis toolbox greatly helped me to organize and plan out my statistics project.

Experimental Design

Question:

How do the residents of the New Orleans area feel about the Obama administration’s bailout plan?

Objective:

To find out how the people of New Orleans feel about the economic stimulus plan that was passed by Congress.

Subjects:

The subjects of this survey will be the residents of New Orleans and its surrounding areas. I plan to survey people that I know. I will assemble a list of people I know of different ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Then, I would ask the individuals if they would be willing to partake in the survey. Of the remaining individuals I will use a SRS to randomly select 50 individuals.

Materials:

Paper for surveys
Lab top
Residents of New Orleans

Procedure:

1. I will make a list of people that I know.
2. Next, I will randomly select 50 individuals from this list.
3. Then, I will survey the individuals.
4. After, I will collect the surveys.
5. Following, I will analyze results.
6. Afterwards, I will make conclusions about the data.
7. Finally, I will present the data.

The topic I have chosen for my AP Statistics project is the opinion of people on the economic bailout package. Recently the Obama administration has passed a bailout plan that seeks to use money to shore up the damaged United States economy. Many people have many different opinions about this topic. Some feel that it is simply wasting tax payer’s money, while other feel is a necessary step towards recovery. I plan to survey residents of the New Orleans area and find out how they feel about this economic plan. The reason I have chosen this topic is because of its importance in today’s world. For the past month there has been extensive news coverage of this plan, showing just how important it is. This plan will likely make or break our economy for the next decade. The people’s opinions matter greatly about this issue, and I want to find out what they think about it.