Introduction to Research Design and Statistics

Pseudo-assignment #1

For this pseduo-assignment, you will be analyzing the hsb2 dataset. in the study.

Part I:

1. Indicate the Level of Measurement for each of the variables listed in the dataset. 
      Example:  id        Nominal
                flemale   _______
                race     _______  and so on.
2. Using the dataset, describe student with ID #180.

3. Describe student #21. What areas of inquiry are suggested by this information?

4. What percentage is classified as being in the middle ses group? High ses group?

Part II:

1. Construct a frequency table for the Math test score.

2. Based on the stem and leaf plot, what might you conclude about Math?

3. Construct a frequency table of Race for the Females. What percent of the sample were classified as African-American?

4. How does the percent Hispanic for Males compare with Females?

Part III:

Just use data from Males in this Part.

1. Construct a stem-and-leaf plot for the Write.

2. What are the minimum and maximum values recorded?

3. Briefly describe the shape of the distribution (e.g., is it very skewed? Is it roughly symmetric?)

4. Graph a histogram for the Write. What does a stem-and-leaf display contain or provide us with that a histogram does not? Are there certain situations where a histogram is more useful than a stem-and-leaf display?

Part IV:

5. For Science, what are each of the following statistics: Minimum, maximum, mean, median, standard deviation, and IQR?

6. Are the mean and median fairly similar to one another? Why or why not?

7. Graph a box plot for the Science data for both males and females. What is the five number summary for each group?

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Phil Ender, 21Sep00