Math 1040 Statistical Study
#1
The study is due on Thursday, September ?
STEPS FOR DESIGNING A STATISTICAL STUDY
1. Identify the exact question to be answered.
We wish to determine if cold breakfast cereal containing the highest sugar
content is displayed on the "eye level", second from the top, shelf in any given
supermarket.
2. Identify the relevant population.
The population is all of the cold cereal (brand/cereal) located in any one
supermarket.
3. Develop a plan for collecting the data.
This will be an observational statistical study.
Each Math 1040 student will conduct his or her own statistical study.
The sampling method will be systematic. Sample every 2nd cold cereal
(brand/cereal).
Sample each shelf in the cold cereal section of the supermarket (approximately
10 samples per shelf). Tabulate and analyze the observations by shelf (top shelf,
next shelf down, next shelf down, bottom shelf).
4. Collect the data.
5. Analyze the data and draw conclusions.
For each shelf, find the mean sugar content and standard deviation.
Input your data into Statdisk.
Using Statdisk Descriptive Statistics, for each shelf also determine the lowest
value, Q1, the median, Q3, and highest value.
Using Statdisk Boxplot, create a boxplot for each shelf. Show all four boxplots on
the same grid.
Submit a short type written report describing your study and document the data
you collected. Print and attach the Sample Descriptive Statistics and Boxplot
printout from Statdisk. Make a statement about whether or not you think the cold
cereals with the highest sugar content are being displayed on the eye level shelf.
