140 CHAPTER 3 Describing, Exploring, and Comparing Data Cooperative Group Activities 1.In-class activity In class, each student should record two pulse rates by counting the number of heartbeats in 1 minute. The first pulse rate should be measured while the student is seated, and the second pulse rate should be measured while the student is standing. Use the methods of this chapter to compare results. Do males and females appear to have different pulse rates? Do pulse rates measured while seated appear to be different from pulse rates measured while standing? 2.Out-of-class activity In the article “Weighing Anchors” in Omni magazine, author John Rubin observed that when people estimate a value, their estimate is often “anchored” to (or influenced by) a preceding number, even if that preceding number is totally unrelated to the quantity being estimated. To demonstrate this, he asked people to give a quick estimate of the value of 8 * 7 * 6 * 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1. The mean of the answers given was 2250, but when the order of the numbers was reversed, the mean became 512. Rubin explained that when we begin calculations with larger numbers (as in 8 * 7 * 6), our estimates tend to be larger. He noted that both 2250 and 512 are far below the correct product, 40,320. The article suggests that irrelevant numbers can play a role in influencing real estate appraisals, estimates of car values, and estimates of the likelihood of nuclear war. Conduct an experiment to test this theory. Record the estimates along with the particular order used. Carefully design the experiment so that conditions are uniform and the two sample groups are selected in a way that minimizes any bias. Don’t describe the theory to subjects until after they have provided their estimates. Compare the two sets of sample results by using the methods of this chapter. Provide a printed report that includes the data collected, the detailed methods used, the method of analysis, any relevant graphs and/or statistics, and a statement of conclusions. Include a critique of the experiment, with reasons why the results might not be correct, and describe ways in which the experiment could be improved. FROM DATA TO DECISION Second-Hand Smoke Data Set 15 “Passive and Active Smoke” in Appendix B lists measures of cotinine from three groups of subjects: (1) smokers; (2) nonsmokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke; (3) nonsmokers not exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Cotinine is an indicator of nicotine absorption. Critical Thinking Use the methods from this chapter to explore and compare the cotinine measures in the three groups. Are there any notable differences? Are there any outliers? What do you conclude about the effects that smokers have on nonsmokers? Write a brief report of your conclusions, and provide supporting statistical evidence. b. Repeat part (a) using Data Set 45 “Births in New York” in Appendix B, which contains records from 465,506 births. c. Use the preceding results to compare the birth weights of males and females. d. Do the results from Data Set 6 “Births” differ much from the very large “Births in New York” data set with 465,506 records? Big (or Very Large) Data Project a. Use the birth weights in Data Set 6 “Births” to complete the following table. n x s Minimum Maximum Male Female
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