Sampling: An Exercise in Statistics

SCORE Mathematics

Standards Connections

Sampling: An Exercise in Statistics Introduction

Grade Level: 8-12

Task: This lesson is designed to supplement the chapter on sampling in an AP Statistics course. (Chapter 3 in Moore's Basic Practice of Statistics, and Chapter 3 in Moore & McCabe's Introduction to the Practice of Statistics.) Students use 5 articles from the Internet that have information about surveys, experiments or observational studies. They need to see which statistical terms apply. After that, they rank the 5 articles in order of credibility, and justify their ranking.

Resources: Sampling: An Exercise in Statistics Worksheet

Process: For classes with Internet access Have students in either pairs or groups find 5 articles. Individually students print each article and decide which statistical terms apply and record that information on the worksheet. If the student does not know the terms, they can click on the link and they will see a definition, example and case study for each term. Individuals may consult someone on their team if they need clarification. Once the team has collectively found 5 articles, as a team they agree on the analysis and come to consensus for the ranking. The ranking must be thoroughly explained. For classes without Internet access The teacher surfs to find the five articles. Have the students put in groups. The definitions can be printed and put together in a packet for each group. If the group does not know the terms, they can use the packet to find a definition, example and case study for each term. Each team must agree on the analysis and come to consensus for the ranking. The ranking must be thoroughly explained.

Learning Advice: This lesson should be done at the end of the sampling chapter after the students have been exposed to the vocabulary. If your students are doing the surfing, don't worry about having each student find the same number of articles. You will have overachievers in each group.

Evaluation: The important idea is that they can apply the vocabulary correctly. Most articles do not go into the details of the statistics. The students will have to make assumptions, and so their is no right answer. Their justifications are what you should focus on to decide if they have mastered the sampling vocabulary.

Extensions: None

Conclusion:

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California Mathematics Academic Standards:

Grade 8-12:
Probability and Statistics
4.0 Students are familiar with the standard distributions (normal, binomial, and exponential), and can use them to solve for events in problems in which the distribution belongs to these families.
Probability and Statistics- Advanced
15.0 Students are familiar with the notions of a statistic of a distribution of values, of the sampling distribution of a statistic, and of the variability of a statistic.

NCTM 9-12:

STANDARD 10: STATISTICS