Activity Description
For this assignment, you will undertake an analysis based on a self-designed fictitious study that utilizes statistical methodologies. You will first develop a fictitious problem to examine - it can be anything. For example, maybe you want to look at whether scores on a standardized college placement test (like the SAT) are related to the level of income a person makes 10 years after college; Or, whether those who participate in a Leadership Training program rated as better managers compared to those who do not; Or, whether ones political affiliation is related to gender. These are just a few examples; be creative and think about what piques your interest. You might also address a problem that you may want to look at in future research for a dissertation. You will use either EXCEL or SPSS to conduct the analysis.
Your analysis report should include the following components:
1. Describe your research study.
2. State a hypothesis.
3. List and explain the variables you would collect in this study. There must be a minimum of three variables and two must meet the
assumptions for a correlational analysis.
4. Create a fictitious data set that you will analyze. The data should have a minimum of 30 cases, but not more than 50 cases.
5. Conduct a descriptive data analysis that includes the following:
a. a measure of central tendency
b. a measure of dispersion
c. at least one graph
6. Briefly interpret the descriptive data analysis.
7. Conduct the appropriate statistical test that will answer your hypothesis. It must be a statistical test covered in this course such as
regression analysis, single t-test, independent t-test, cross-tabulations, Chi-square, or One-Way ANOVA. Explain your justification for
using the test based on the type of data and the level of measurement that the data lends to for the statistical analysis.
8. Report and interpret your findings. Use APA style and include a statement about whether you reject or fail to reject the null
hypothesis.
9. Copy and paste your Excel or SPSS data output and place it in an appendix.
Remember, the goal of this project is to show what you have learned in the course. Therefore, this project becomes a cumulative
learning project where you can demonstrate what you have learned through all the previous assignments, readings and video
presentations that you have watched.
Length: 12-15 pages not including title and reference pages References: Minimum of 5 scholarly resources.
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide new
thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your paper should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards. Review APA
Form and Style.
Be sure to adhere to Northcentral University's Academic Integrity Policy. View the Northcentral Academic Integrity Tutorial to refresh
your knowledge of how to achieve academic integrity.
Learning Outcomes
Explore and apply different levels of measurements, as well as understanding independent/dependent variables in research scenarios.
Construct and interpret graphs and tables to demonstrate analytical proficiency.
Calculate basic descriptive statistics and interpret their meaning in application.
Apply the principles of normal distribution as they relate to a population distribution.
Compare and contrast various aspects of descriptive data analysis and inferential data analysis.
Explore and apply basic probability theory to calculations and hypothesis testing.
Undertake data analysis by applying the principles of causation versus correlation.
Calculate and utilize confidence intervals and margin of error in population estimation results.
Determine alpha (p-values), and interpret p-levels as it relates to statistical significance.
Utilize statistical software to conduct data analysis.
Analyze the use and applicability of statistics in personal, professional, and academic applications, and as a tool for research.