Histograms, five-number summaries, and box plots

Week 5: September 22

MATH 317/ELMA 517 ~ Probability and Statistics for Teachers ~ Fall 2003

Class meeting schedule and topics

Monday, September 22 ~	Histograms, five-number summaries, and boxplots
Monday, September 29 ~	Measuring center: Means and medians ... (and modes)
Monday, October 6 ~	Measuring spread: Standard deviation, interquartile range, and range

Homework Assignments

4. Due Monday, September 29

   Required work

   1. Read Book 1 Sections 2, 4, & 6 and Book 2 Sections 3 & 4

   2. Read the "Statistics Made Bearable" manuscript

   3. Find, collect, or recycle a dataset containing at least one numeric variable. Construct a histogram and a box plot for your data. Provide a specific reference, or describe in detail how the data were collected. Write a paragraph describing the story the graphs tell.

   4. Find, collect, or recycle a dataset containing at least one categorical variable and at least one numeric variable. That is, the dataset should allow for the comparison of a numeric variable across two categorical groups. Construct side-by-side histograms and side-by-side box plots for your data. Provide a specific reference, or describe in detail how the data were collected. Write a paragraph describing the story the graphs tell.

   5. Find at least one example of a histogram in a newspaper, magazine, or in an electronic news publication.
      1. Describe the purpose of the histogram. That is, what story does the graph tell?
      2. Describe the strongest features of the graph.
      3. List ways in which the graph could be improved.
      4. As best you can, construct the corresponding box plot. If you are unable to construct a boxplot, explain why.

   Optional work

   • Repeat parts (b), (c), or (d) above by hand or using technology.

5. Due Monday, October 6

   Required work

   1. Read Book 1 Section 4 and Review Book 2 Sections 3 and 4

   2. Read the "Teaching the Mean Meaningfully" article by John Uccellini

   3. Find, collect, or recycle a dataset containing at least one numeric variable. Provide a specific reference, or describe in detail how the data were collected. Compute the mean and the median for your data. Write a paragraph that contains an interpretation of what the mean and the median represent in the context of the data, and which of the two measures of center might be more appropriate to use as a summary for the data.

      Please include at least one graph for your data, although you may use a graph that you have already submitted if you wish.

   4. Find, collect, or recycle a dataset containing at least one categorical variable and at least one numeric variable. That is, the dataset should allow for the comparison of a numeric variable across two categorical groups. Provide a specific reference, or describe in detail how the data were collected. Compute the means and medians for the two groups that are being compared. Write a paragraph that contains an interpretation of what the means and the medians represent in the context of the data, which of the two measures of center might be more appropriate to use as a summary for the data, and whether the centers of the two groups seem to be the same or different.

      Please include graphs for your data, although you may graphs that you have already submitted if you wish.

   Optional work

   • Repeat exercises (a) or (b) above by hand or using technology.