Data Analysis Toolbox

When someone is creating an experiment, it is important to have a plan of how and why the data are to be collected. The data that were collected is described by four-year-olds that attend Jefferson Parish Head Start. The variables were the grades they make in a test. They were recorded in percentages and percentiles. The test was based on the expectations four-year-old should achieve at their age. I received the expectations from a teacher adviser at one of the centers. They were tested on math including counting and recognizing numbers and English including reciting the alphabets, writing and recognizing their name. The reason the data were collected not only to complete a project for statistic but to find a relationship between East Bank Head Starts and West Bank Head Starts. At the conclusion of the project, I will be able to find out which center is the best in terms of teaching and whether the East Bank or West Bank is better. I was responsible for collecting all the data and I administered all the tests. It was gathered at all the Heat Starts in Jefferson Parish by giving the students a test.

The graphs that were used to help analyze the data were histograms, bar graph, box plot and a two way table. The histograms were used to assess the grades by center. The histograms were able to show the normality and the cluster of the data for the centers by the percentages. The box plots were used to show the spread of the data; it showed the lowest score, the highest score, middle score, and the quartiles. The bar graph and the two way table were used to compare the centers. The bar graph showed the amount of students who received a passing grade (seventy percent or higher). The two way table would share the same purpose of the bar graph but they would show percentages instead of counts.

Experimental Design

Question: Does the level of education for Jefferson four-year-olds vary from the different Head Starts?

Objective: To determine if the levels of four-year-olds vary among the different Head Starts.

Hypothesis: The education level of the Head Starts students aged four should not vary at the different locations.

Materials:

• 30 four-year-olds from each center

• Expectations lists

• Empty room or room with limited distractions

Subjects:

The students are chosen by a simple random sample from the school’s roster. The parents would be asked to sign a waiver asking if their children could be assessed.

Procedure:

1. Collect the students using a simple random sample from the school’s roster
2. One student at a time would be brought to a room with little distractions
3. The students would be assessed
1. Math

i. Counting to 20

ii. Recognizing the numbers up to 10

2. Language Arts

i. Saying their alphabets

ii. Recognizing their name

iii. Recognizing letters

4. The students’ answers would be rated right, wrong or admitted and they would receive a grade based on their performance.
5. The data would be analyzed according to the data analysis tool box

Project Topic

Thursday February 19, 2009

In statistics class, we have to come up with a topic that effect New Orleanians and we can analyze the data. I decided to focus on the Head Starts that are located in Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish. My research question is how the levels of the four-year-olds compare at the different Head Starts and the different Parishes? I decided to choose that question because my mom is a Head Start Teacher Advisor, and she was wondering if the levels of the children at the different Head Starts differ. I think it would be interesting to find a correlation between the students’ level and the schools’ location and the schools’ attendance. It would fascinating to find out if Jefferson Parish students have a higher level before they start school compared to Orleans Parish. Also, knowing which Head Start is the best to send a child would be an interesting fact.