Treatment of Experimental Data

Dr. F. Baki
 A framework for data-based decision
making
• Project is an example of real life scenario where a
decision maker uses data to make a reliable
decision
• Students are expected to actively work together on
a class project involving the collection and analysis
of data.
• This project could be done with secondary data.
 A framework for data-based decision
making
• I encourage students to consider this as a theory practice learning
(TPL) project.
• Students decide about a hypothesis or a research question that can
be answered with analysis of a set of data. This question could
• valuable (and interesting) to the group or
• it could respond to a need in our school community requiring
institutional research, as a service to the school
• It also could respond to a need of a business that you make
connection with
 How data are used

Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors –

CAODC
How data are used
 Group Project
A few steps to follow to achieve the goal
 Step 1
• Understand the problem that you would like
to evaluate or work on and its context as
thoroughly as possible.
• Be clear about the goal that you would like to
achieve by doing this project.
 How you may apply step 1 in your
project
• Think about a (research) question that comes
to your mind
• Let’s see some examples of research questions
(or project ideas) from previous year
 How you may apply step 1 in your
project (Continued)

In this project students wanted to see whether there

was a connection between increasing number of fast
food restaurants and obesity rate in this province
How you may apply step 1 in your
project (Continued)
How you may apply step 1 in your
project (Continued)
How you may apply step 1 in your
project (Continued)
 How you may apply step 1 in your
project (Continued)
Here are a few more topics that students were
interested in:
• Is there any relationship between the
amount of sleep a student gets on an
average and his/ her Grade Point
Average (GPA)?
 How you may apply step 1 in your
project (Continued)
• It has been suggested that the
average price of a three bedroom
brick bungalow in Windsor is
$358,000. How can you check
validity of this information presented
on a local newspaper?
 How you may apply step 1 in your
project (Continued)
• Groups may come up with research questions
that need to be answered using appropriate
data analysis
• Start with more than one idea
 Step 2
• Think about what kind of data would help you
make better decision.
Primary / secondary data
 How you may apply step 2 in your
project
• In your project, you first identify what type of data
you might be needed.
• I would request all groups to select a topicthat only
requires secondary data.
 How you may apply step 2 in your
project
• You also can use authentic published open data
sources. For example: Sport Illustrated website.
 Step 3
Examine and summarize data
In this step, you may use descriptive statistical
techniques to describe data
 How you may apply step 3 in your
project
• This step depends on your project topic and
available data
Following are some suggestions:
• Look for pattern in your data set
• Try to find descriptive statistical techniques to
show special features of your data
• You may want to use different types of charts
or tables to visually describe your data.
 Step 4
• Analyze data in the context of the decision
that is required.
• Which statistical analysis technique you
should use to come to relevant conclusion.
Step 4 and how you can apply this step
in your project
• There are many available techniques that we
may use in our project.
• Correct statistical test depends on the type of
data, number of sample and purpose of the
analysis
Step 4 and how you can apply this step
in your project
Some tests work for both quantitative and
categorical data
Some only work for quantitative or categorical
data
 Step 5
Communicate the decision
• Write your report following the guidelines.