Dear Future AP Statistics Student,
In order to ensure we have adequate time for all curriculum in Advanced Placement Statistics, the math
department has designed a pre-assignment to help introduce the concepts of experimentation and research study.
The assignment follows on pages 2 – 4 of this file. The assignment will need to be submitted on the first AP Stats
class at the beginning of second semester. Email any questions or concerns to the address below.
Take care,
Ms. Paula Schute
Mathematics Department Chairperson
[email protected]
513.821.3044 | 711 E. Columbia Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45215 | www.mndhs.org
The goal of this assignment is for you to become familiar with experiments and
observational studies in the context of statistics.
Use the textbook excerpts (attached) and online resources on the second page of this document to learn about the
concepts, process, and vocabulary of experiments and observational studies in statistics.
Part 1: Create notecards for the terminology listed below. Be sure to define the words in the context of statistical studies
and not in the context of general usage. These concepts are 10% - 15% of the Advanced Placement exam content.
Put definitions in your own words so you can use these to prepare for the AP test. Include diagrams and/or
examples whenever appropriate. You should have the notecards to turn in the first day of class.
Part 2: Answer 2 of the 3 questions on page 3 of this file. You may type or ink your responses and the file will be
submitted digitally on the first day of class.
Terminology of Statistical Experiments & Observational Studies
Population
Parameter
Sample
Statistic
Sample Survey
Bias
Census
Representative sample
Simple Random Sample (SRS)
Sampling Frame
Sampling Variability
Stratified Sampling
Cluster Sampling
Systematic Sampling
Multistage Sampling
Voluntary Response Bias
Convenience Sampling
Undercoverage
Nonresponse Bias
Response Bias
Observational Study
Retrospective Study
Prospective Study
Experiment
Cause-and-effect
Levels
Treatment
Four principles of experimental design
Statistically Significant
Control Group
Blinding
Single-Blind
Double-Blind
Placebo
Placebo Effect
Randomized Block Design
Matching Subjects (Matched Pairs)
Confounding
Resources
Chapter 12 and 13 from your textbook
https://padlet.com/pschute/apstatspreassig
Data Collection Methods
http://www.stattrek.com/statistics/data-collection-methods.aspx?Tutorial=AP
Sampling Methods
http://www.stattrek.com/survey-research/sampling-methods.aspx?Tutorial=AP
Bias
http://www.stattrek.com/survey-research/survey-bias.aspx?Tutorial=AP
Experiments
http://www.stattrek.com/experiments/what-is-an-experiment.aspx?Tutorial=AP
Experimental Design
http://www.stattrek.com/experiments/experimental-design.aspx?Tutorial=AP
Overview of Data Collection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ3gKGHhIjE&index=1&list=PL6334s8hsQG1jp03rdqJeIsEbCK2QwNdT
Sample Surveys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpFn471OE2Q&index=2&list=PL6334s8hsQG1jp03rdqJeIsEbCK2QwNdT
Bias & Sampling Techniques
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGW8HYcxoDk&list=PL6334s8hsQG1jp03rdqJeIsEbCK2QwNdT&index=4
Experimental Design
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G1KQPZLbQw&list=PL6334s8hsQG1jp03rdqJeIsEbCK2QwNdT&index=3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8To54UpCM5E&list=PL6334s8hsQG1jp03rdqJeIsEbCK2QwNdT&index=6
Observational Studies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWxZJN5Ijhs&list=PL6334s8hsQG1jp03rdqJeIsEbCK2QwNdT&index=5
1. A local school board plans to conduct a survey of parents’ opinions about year-round schooling in
elementary schools. The school board obtains a list of all families in the district with at least one child in
an elementary school and sends the survey to a random sample of 500 of the families. The survey
question is provided below.
A proposal has been submitted that would require students in elementary schools to attend school on a
year round basis. Do you support this proposal? (Yes or No)
The school board received responses from 98 of the families, with 76 of the responses indicating support
for year-round schools. Based on this outcome, the local school board concludes that most of the
families with at least one child in elementary school prefer year-round schooling.
(a) What is a possible consequence of nonresponse bias for interpreting the results of this survey?
(b) Someone advised the local school board to take an additional random sample of 500 families and
to use the combined results to make their decision. Would this be a suitable solution to the issue
raised in part (a)? Explain.
(c) Suggest a different follow-up step from the one suggested in part (b) that the local school board
could take to address the issue raised in part (a).
2. As dogs age, diminished joint and hip health may lead to joint pain and thus reduce a dog’s activity
level. Such a reduction in activity can lead to other health concerns such as weight gain and lethargy
due to lack of exercise. A study is to be conducted to see which of two dietary supplements,
glucosamine or chondroitin, is more effective in promoting joint and hip health and reducing the onset
of canine osteoarthiritis. Researches will randomly select a total of 300 dogs from ten different large
veterinary practices around the country. All of the dogs are more than 6 years old, and their owners
have given consent to participate in the study. Changes in joint and hip health will be evaluated after 6
months of treatment.
(a) What would be an advantage to adding a control group in the design of this study?
(b) Assuming a control group is added to the other two groups in the study, explain how you would
assign the 300 dogs to these three groups for a completely randomized design.
(c) Rather than using a completely randomized design, one group of researchers proposes blocking
on clinics, and another group of researchers proposes blocking on breed of dog. How would you
decide which one of these two variables to use as a blocking variable?
3. A tennis racquet manufacturer has designed a new racquet. The manufacturer claims the new racquet
will allow the user to return more serves than any racquet currently sold. A group of male volunteers
who currently play tennis and own their own racquets agree to participate in the study.
(a) Design an experiment that would test the manufacturer’s claim. Remember to include the
principles of experimental design.
(b) Suppose the volunteer group had included both men and women. How would you adjust the
design of your new experiment?