Week 3 Assignment: The Foundation of Data-Driven Decisions
Due: Week 3
Points: 85
Skill(s) Being Assessed: Problem Solving – Data Analysis (Mathematical Reasoning)
What to Submit / Deliverables: Word Document uploaded to the Blackboard Assignment
Criteria for Success:
In this assignment, you will:
Describe strategies for all seven steps used to solve statistical word problems and hypothesis testing.
Explain what quality data is, how quality is determined, and why it is important when gathering data and reporting results.
What is the value of doing this assignment? You’ll practice your problem-solving skill by identifying foundational statistical concepts and explaining how data-driven decision making can help inform real world problems. This will provide you with a solid foundation that will help you to not only be successful in this course, but to learn to make smarter, data-driven decisions in your personal and professional life.
Your goal for this assignment is to: Practice your problem-solving skill by answering questions about statistical concepts and the benefits and uses of data-driven decision making.
Steps to Complete:
STEP 1: Review the weeks 1, 2, and 3 Learn sections in Blackboard and then use the Week 3 Assignment Template to answer the questions below.
STEP 2: Save and submit your Word document in the Assignment link in the Week 3 Submit page in Blackboard.
1. You would like to determine whether eating before bed influences sleep patterns. List each of the seven steps for conducting a statistical study.
2. Explain what you would do to complete each step.
3. Then, answer the questions below:
What is your hypothesis on this issue?
What type of data (quantitative or categorical) will you be looking for? What are some examples?
What methods would you use to gather information? Which sampling method would you use and why?
How would the results of the data influence decisions you might make about eating and sleeping?
How would we know if the results of the study are valid and reliable?
What questions would you ask to find out more about the quality of the data?
Why is it important to gather and report valid and reliable data?
