DR. LESSER’s STAT 1380 DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

NOTE: You’re not allowed to begin collecting data until I’ve approved this form;

you’ll need to attach the approved copy of this form to the final project you turn in.

The sooner you get this form submitted, the more time we’ll have to clear up anything that needs to be fixed.

The sooner the form gets approved, the more time you’ll have to work on the project (you don’t want to leave this to the last minute!)

Print out this form, fill it in, and hand it to me in class, fax it to me (747-6502), or email it to me as a .doc or .pdf file.

I will give you prompt feedback either in class (as time permits) or by sending you an email at the address you provide below.

Last name___________________________ First name___________________ Class time________

Names of teammate(s)______________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Give me your best email address if I have a question about this (please write neatly): _______________________________

What the best phone number(s) and time(s) for me to call if I have a question about this?

1.) Topic/question/hypothesis you want to investigate:___________________________________________________________________________

2.) List the variables (at least 2 categorical and at least 2 measurement, but not much more) you would collect data on that directly relate to your question of interest. (See our textbook to make sure you are clear on what categorical variables and measurement variables are, and the difference between a measurement variable and a tally for a value of a categorical variable.)

3.) State the source of your data -- whether it is particular published documents or a particular population of people, etc. Clearly describe your method for selecting the participants (saying something like “we’ll ask 50 random people on campus” is not good enough).


4.) Data collection method. If, like most teams choose, you are doing some kind of survey (whether done as a written questionnaire or an interview by phone or in-person), you need to list here the exact wording of all questions you will ask (remember to avoid the pitfalls listed in Utts Chapter 3) or record the answers to. If, however, your method is more of an observational study or experiment, then you need to describe here in full detail what you will be observing/recording, what intervention/treatment may be involved, and what you are asking participants to do (so that I can tell if it is appropriate and, if so, assess how explicit or detailed of a consent form may be needed). Either way, you must give enough detail that someone else could read this description of your method and be able to collect data the same way.

5.) You are required to treat participants’ answers as confidential, and it is even better if they can be anonymous. (Consult our textbook to remind yourself of the difference between these terms.) State whether your participants’ answers will be “anonymous” or “confidential, but not anonymous” and explain the steps you will take to ensure this during data collection, data analysis, and data reporting.

6.) You must read our textbook’s ethics chapter (chapter 26, especially its first section) before submitting this form. After reading that chapter, describe any potential ethics issues you see in your proposal:



7.) Other important information (or questions you have for me):



======================= The section below is for instructor’s use only ============================

______ I approve of this project as written. Feel free to begin collecting data! (Remember that you must attach this sheet at the end of your project writeup.)

______ I approve of this project if you make the minor change(s) I have noted on this form (and you don’t need to resubmit this proposal if you understand and agree with the change(s); otherwise, come discuss it with me). (Remember that you must attach this sheet at the end of your project writeup.)

______ I can’t yet approve this project as written because one or more aspects of this proposal are either unrealistic/inappropriate or not yet written out completely/clearly enough for me to be able to assess it. You need to hand me a revised proposal (if it’s a small change, you could just write it on this form in a way that I can see easily what you changed) that corrects this before I can approve it. Do this SOON or come discuss this with me if you need to.