Individual Projects

As described in the course outline, there are 4 individual projects involving data collection and analysis to further illustrate the principle that "you learn by doing."

Each of the 4 projects must be typed or written neatly in ink. Your reports do not need to be elaborate, but should include a crisp and clear definition of your project (i.e. a Project Statement), what data you have taken, what you have tested, and what conclusion you have reached as a result of the experiment. Attach raw data as an appendix. The ability to communicate is a very important part of the project.

Remember: These are individual projects...you must work alone!

All projects are due November 29, 2001

Graduate Project Proposal Requirements

Project proposals should be a minimum of one page, typed using a 12-point font and double spaced. Any references, drawings or other pertinent material should be on separate pages. The proposal should contain the following items as a minimum:

1.0 Project title, student’s name, date, course number.

2.0 Problem statement (copied from the web page)

3.0 How will you conduct your research, experimentation, or analysis?

3.1 What date will be obtained?

3.2 Where will you get the data?

3.3 What do you hope to learn from the data?

3.4 How will the data be analyzed and presented?

 

Graduate Project Final Report and/or Presentation Requirements

Final project reports must be typed using a 12-point font and double-spaced.

Project reports should be on 8-1/2 x 11" paper, stapled in the upper left-hand corner (no report covers please), and include the following:

1.0 Title page - with title, student’s name, mailing address, email address and phone number, course name and number, and date.

2.0 Problem statement (copied from the web page)

3.0 Methodology - Detail your activities and the results you achieved.

3.1 How did you conduct your research, experimentation, or analysis?

3.2 What data was obtained?

3.3 Where did you get the data?

3.4 How was the data analyzed?

4.0 Results

4.1 What did you learn from the data?

5.0 Conclusion

Conclusions and recommendations regarding your topic and a description of what additional work might need to be done.

 

PROJECT 1) Collect samples (size >= 10) from two reasonably continuous distributions that might reasonably be assumed normal. If the samples are small, the normality assumption must be valid, but if the samples are large, the normality assumption can be relaxed. Test to see if the means & variances of the two populations are equal.

EXAMPLES:

a) Randomly select 15 men and 15 women and measure how long each can hold their breath. Is there a significant difference between means & variances of men and women?
b) Randomly select 10 oak trees and 10 pecan trees and measure the circumference of each. Test to see if the variety means and variances are equal.
 

PROJECT 2) Consider a random variable that might possibly considered to be uniform discrete and test that consideration by counting the number of random occurrences in each category (or mode) and performing a Chi Square Goodness of Fit test. (The total number of observations should be at least 5 times the number of categories.)

EXAMPLES:

a) Roll a die 30 times and count the number of 1's, 2's, ..., 6's observed.
b) Select 50 Arlington telephone numbers and count the number whose last digit is 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0.
 

PROJECT 3) Collect >= 30 random Bernoulli trial results from two different populations. Test to see if the true proportions of these populations are different.

EXAMPLES:

a) Observe 50 automobiles (cars, trucks, vans) parked in two apartment complexes. Count the number of Lamar parking stickers. Test to see if the complexes attract the same proportion of Lamar students.
b) Observe 50 students in the library and 50 in the student center. Count the number of men (or women). Test to see if both places attract the same proportion.
 

PROJECT 4) Consider a process that might possibly be Poisson.

(Choose A or B, you do not have to do both.)

OPTION A) Collect the number of "occurrences" in at least 100 times (or space) increments. (At least 5 different results should be obtained; that is, not all 0's and 1's.) Test for Poisson distribution with a Chi Square Goodness of Fit test.
EXAMPLES:
a) Count the number of chocolate chips in 100 cookies.
b) Count the number of cars passing a corner in 100 1-minute increments.
 
OPTION B) Collect at least 100 times (or distances) between occurrences and test for exponential distribution with a Chi Square Goodness of Fit test.
EXAMPLES:
a) Record the times between 100 trucks passing a specific observation point.
b) Record times between elevator door openings on the 3rd floor of Lamar's library.