the workplace (or, if you have limited work experience, that you would find it valuable to solve in your home life), and then identify what you wish to study. You must apply the theories and concepts from the course to interpret and formulate your hypotheses. Be sure to identify why the answer/solution matters. Once you have your hypotheses, go through the scientific method and statistical process to sample and answer the question. Be sure that you justify the statistical test that you use and either reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis based on the data. Your conclusion should be entirely data driven, with the implications clear.

The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three and Seven. The final submission will occur in Module Nine.

Outcomes

In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

·         QSO.510.1 Provide students with a basic understanding of several quantitative techniques that are used extensively for decision making in business

·         QSO.510.2 Enable students to recognize problem areas in their fields of professional responsibilities and to apply the appropriate quantitative methods for obtaining rational solutions

·         QSO.510.3 Increase the student’s effectiveness in communicating with other specialists in the firm such as industrial engineers, production managers, operations researchers, statisticians, and other problem-solving and decision-making persons

·         QSO.510.4 Enable students to use the power of the spreadsheets and statistical software in the application of the quantitative techniques

Prompt

Statistics is the study that pertains to the collection, analysis, explanation or interpretation, and presentation of data. Interpretation of statistical information often involves the development of a null hypothesis—that whatever is proposed as a cause has no effect on the variable being measured.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

1. Statistical Argument: Propose an argument that answers the prompt. Include a strong thesis statement connected to data-driven evidence. (QSO.510.3)
   1. Topic Selection (QSO.510.1): Select an appropriate topic and provide a detailed explanation of the significance.
   2. Citations (QSO.510.1): Paraphrase and/or integrate quotes effectively.
2. Data Collection: Once you finalize your research question, compile your research and collect raw data. (QSO.510.4)
   1. Organization (QSO.510.3): Include a clearly stated thesis and a well-organized body section of your paper.
3. Statistical Process (QSO 510.2):Using your knowledge of the scientific method and statistical process to analyze the data:
   1. Descriptive Statistics (QSO.510.2): Summarize the population data by describing what was observed in the sample set numerically or graphically.
   2. Inferential Statistics (QSO.510.4): Use patterns in the sample data to draw inferences about the population represented, accounting for randomness. These inferences may take the form of hypothesis testing (i.e., answering yes/no questions about the data), estimation (estimating numerical characteristics of the data), correlation (describing associations within the data), and modeling relationships within the data. (QSO.510.4)
   3. Null Hypothesis (QSO.510.2): Refer to a general or default position—that there is no relationship between two measured phenomena. Rejecting or disproving the null hypothesis is concluding that there are grounds for believing that there is a relationship between two phenomena or that a potential treatment has a measurable effect.
4. Primary-Source Analysis (QSO.510.2): Select sources in support of your thesis statement. Critically examine the sources in context of your paper topic. Remember that this is not based on opinion, but rather based on analysis of the statistical data. The source methodology supports your thesis statement.

Milestones

Milestone One: Topic Selection

In task 3-2, you will submit a 2–3-page paper summarizing your topic selection. Why did you select this topic? What is the significance? Which statistical method(s) will be used? The feedback provided by the instructor should be applied to your final research paper. This milestone is graded with the Milestone One Rubric.