Integrated Math II - Second Quarter Project - Biased Surveys

Objective:

To design a biased survey and then to show that the survey was indeed biased. By keeping track of the news in the newspaper for a week, find the 'biggest' news stories. The group should rank the top 5 stories in order of importance. The group will then design two surveys, one whose outcome is designed to reflect the news topics in the same order the group has chosen and the other designed to have the opposite outcome. The project will describe the techniques used to engineer the desired outcome, represent the data, and make conclusions about the effectiveness of the technique using the data gathered.

Stages: (These are suggestions)

• Week 1: Each day the top news stories should be recorded from the same newspaper(s). (You may use any newspaper and any number of newspapers, but you should be consistant.) At the end of the week the group should look at the tally, choose the five top stories and rank them in order of importance. Keep a written record of your progress.
• Week 2: Design the two surveys. Chose your sampling method and decide how you will carry out the survey. Survey the sample you have chosen. Keep a written record of your progress
• Week 3: Tally your survey results. Decide how you will display the results. Create your displays.
• Week 4: Examine the data you collected. Did the survey result in biased results? If not, why do you think that they didn't? Write your conclusion. Organize the written parts of the project and make a title page. Hand in your project.

Due Date: All projects are due no later than 3:00 pm on Thursday, October 10.

Did you....?

• Write each group members name on the project?
• Include the tally of the news stories?
• Include a description of how you try to cause your survey to be biased?
• Include a description of how the sample was taken?
• Include the survey results?
• Write a conclusion?
• Proofread/spellcheck your document?

Assessment: The following five criteria will be considered in the grading of the project. Each will be given a grade from 1 to 4 following the guidelines given.

a. Planning

1. survey exists but without explanation as to the bias
2. survey is biased according to a stated plan
3. survey is biased in accordance with a stated plan, that plan being appropriate to achieve the desired result
4. survey is biased in accordance with a stated plan, that plan being appropriate to achieve the desired result and including a method to test that the desired outcome was acheived.

b. Data Collection

1. sample is selected, however, no plan is stated
2. sample is selected according to a specific plan
3. sample is selected according to a specific plan appropriate to the task
4. sample is selected according to a stated plan, that plan being appropriate to the task and including a method to present the data

c. Analysis and Evaluation

1. data collected is represented
2. data collected is represented and some attempt is made to show that the data collected is biased
3. data is adequately represented and the accompanying narrative shows in a manner consistant with the data how the data is biased or explains why the data may not have become biased
4. data is adequately represented and the accompanying narrative coherently disscusses in a manner consistant with the data how the survey produced biased results and how the survey could have produced results that would have been even more biased

d. Communication

1. Most stages of the project are described.
2. All stages of the project are described.
3. All stages of the project are recorded and described using appropriate language, symbols, tables and/or graphs.
4. All stages of the project are recorded and described in a coherent and logical manner using appropriate language, symbols, tables and/or graphs

e. Organization and Presentation.

1. Finished project looks like someone used it as a placemat for breakfast.
2. Finished project is poorly organized and hard to follow from one thought to another
3. Finished project shows good organization and may have crossouts or typos
4. Finished project is well organized, attractive and easy to read.