This is the first step in a data analysis project where you will apply statistical analysis to a topic and dataset relevant to public policy that is of interest to you. Ultimately you will write a research paper with approximately 5 pages of written text, in addition to tables and any figures, presenting the analysis and discussing your conclusions and any limitations of your findings, applying the concepts we will learn throughout the quarter.
You will conduct your analysis by developing a basic R script to document and allow for your work to be reproduced. You should develop a hypothesis related to a dependent variable and an independent variable and then test their hypothesis applying methods from the course. Developing graphics to explore your dataset and/or present your findings may enhance your paper but is not required.
BUT FIRST...
Assignment Directions
Your proposal for the Data Analysis Project comes first. .
Part 1: Selecting a Data Set
It is highly recommended that you use a publicly available dataset for your analysis rather than collecting your own primary data.
There are many data sources that can be accessed on the web and used for this assignment.
For ideas about finding a dataset and a topic, you can see these suggestions..
Part 2: The proposal
For this proposal assignment, submit:
- A paragraph that describes your topic, --> remember this must apply statistical analysis to a topic and dataset relevant to public policy that is of interest to you.
- the data file you identified (include a link or citation),
- the units of analysis, dependent variable, and independent variable that you will analyze.
Please focus on one dependent variable and one independent variable for this projects. Make sure to prepare to conduct a high quality two variable analysis, and you may add to your paper by analyzing additional variable only if you wish.
Assignment Details
- Submit one paragraph in a Word Document
Rubric
You will be graded based on:
- your effort to consider a viable dependent and independent variable relationship to analyze and
- your effort shown in identifying a potential dataset with well-defined units of analysis.
I emphasize the effort you put into planning your project at this early point in the quarter and understand that your analysis idea may become better formulated and developed as the quarter progresses.