Module 4

Every day you are exposed to hundreds of surveys or polls and their results. These range from which toothpaste is preferred by the most dentists to which new local attraction has the most “likes.” Now, with advancements in technology, surveys and polls can be created and data can be gathered almost instantly. People can give their opinions on a new song or book release, like or dislike a movie, or respond to an online survey using an app on their favourite mobile device.

 

Think about the last time you logged on to Facebook, followed someone on Twitter, read a blog, or shopped online. Were there surveys or polls on the web page? How reliable do you think these polls are? In other words, how confident are you that the results accurately represent everyone’s opinion?

 

Statistical data is collected in many different situations. For instance, companies collect data about their products to ensure that certain standards are met, and scientists collect data to measure the effect of climate change on the population of polar bears. Researchers collect experimental data to determine the safety of items such as infant car seats. If researchers report that a particular infant car seat is very safe, it is important that they can prove this claim with accurate data. In other words, it is important to have a high level of confidence that statistical results are accurate. The reliability and level of confidence in these types of results is crucial to ensure that the data can be correctly interpreted.

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In this module you will investigate the following inquiry questions:

• How can data be analyzed and used to solve problems?
• How can you determine the reliability of statistical claims?

To investigate these module questions, you will focus on the lessons and corresponding inquiry questions shown in the following table.

 

Lesson	Title	Lesson Inquiry Questions
1	Organizing and Summarizing Data	How can data be organized and summarized so the results can be compared?
2	Using Summary Statistics to Interpret Data	How can summary statistics be used to solve problems and make decisions?
3	The Normal Distribution	How can the properties of a distribution of data be used to compare data and make decisions?
4	Z-Scores	How can two or more different normally distributed data sets be compared?
		How can the area under a normal curve be determined for values that are not exactly one, two, or three standard deviations away from the mean?
5	Solving Problems Using the Normal Distribution	How can the area under the normal curve be determined between two data values?
		How can you determine a data point when given only the mean, standard deviation, and area under the normal curve?
		How can z-scores be used to solve problems involving normal distributions?
6	Confidence in Data	How can the level of confidence be used to show how certain statisticians are that their data accurately represents the true population?
7	Interpreting Statistical Data	What factors affect the level of confidence in statistical data?
		When presented with statistics in the media, what should you consider before making decisions based on the data presented?

 

Module 4 Project

 

The results of surveys and polls are frequently presented in the media. Surveys and polls can be informal, with little to no scientific basis, or they can be based on reliable data that accurately represents a population. Being able to interpret survey results and decide whether you agree or disagree with the survey results or how the survey was conducted is an important skill.

 

In the Module 4 Project you will apply skills that you learn in this module to analyze and interpret statistical data presented in print or electronic media. For specific instructions, refer to the Module 4 Project.

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Strategies for Success

 

You may find the following strategies useful to support your success in this module.

 

Strategy 1: Course Glossary