MDM4U Culminating Project

The main focus of this project is for you to gather, organize, and analyze secondary and/or primary data.
Your study will include relevant descriptive statistics that you have learned about in this course.
Complete each of the following tasks independently or with a partner:

Task 1: Creating a Thesis

This thesis question must aim to solve a significant problem using large amounts of real data. This thesis
question will be the foundation for the research you complete. Make sure to review section 2.1 –
Developing a Thesis to help you understand the criteria of a good thesis question.

Task 2: Designing your Study

• Hypothesis – What do you expect to find?

• Define the population and describe the characteristics of the population (e.g. all players in the
NBA that played at least 70 games during the 2006-07 regular season).
• Define the sample you will be using (e.g. all players from Raptors and Warriors that played at
least 70 games in 2006-07) and describe the sampling method used (even if it is non-random,
mention that and explain why you did that).
• Define the independent variables (e.g. points per game in 2006-07 NBA regular season,
rebounds per game in 2006-07 NBA regular season)
• Define the dependent variables (e.g. player salary).
• Make a plan for what graphs and numerical calculations you could use to answer your thesis
question

Task 2.5: Design your Survey (only if you are collecting primary data)

• Create a useful survey that uses at least 3 different question types

o Use either a paper survey or www.surveymonkey.com to do an online survey
• Make sure the survey looks professional and have me approve it
• Have a plan for what summary tables you are going to make from the data and what graphs you
will make with the tables
Task 3: Collecting and Organizing Data

You must collect a sufficient amount of secondary and/or primary data to help you answer your thesis
question. One table of data is not enough. It may be helpful to break your thesis in to sub-questions and
then collect data to help answer each sub-question. Read through the rest of the project requirements to
help determine how much data will be necessary. Some places that students often obtain secondary data
from are as follows:

a. Professional sports websites (www.nhl.com)

b. Statistics Canada: www.statcan.ca
c. Nation Master www.nationmaster.com

You then need to organize your data in to tables using some type of spreadsheet software (excel,
numbers, libre, google sheets). All organized tables of raw data need to be included in your final
report.

If you used a survey to collect primary data, you need to record the results from EVERY completed survey
in an organized table.

Task 4: Analyzing the Data

For each sub-question identified, use the statistics we learned in class to describe the data or find
trends/relationships. Only use those that are relevant. You are required to make a minimum of three
graphical displays of data and calculate a minimum of three numerical statistics.

(a) Graphical Representations (you must include at least 3)

• Scatter plots (this should be included in every project as you will be finding many relationships)
• Bar graph / relative frequency polygon (freq. as a %)
• Histogram
• Boxplot
• Pie graph

(b) Numerical Statistics (you must include at least 3)

• Find measures of central tendency

• Find measures of spread
• Use linear regression and find the correlation coefficient, equation of a line of best fit
• Use non-linear regression and find the coefficient of determination, equation of a curve of best fit
• Relate your data to the Normal Distribution
• Use z-scores and z-tables to find some useful information.
• Predict the probability of certain events using your knowledge of counting techniques

Make sure it is clear which data table was used to create each graph and do each calculation.
Task 5: Analyzing your Graphs and Calculations

With each graph AND calculation, you must include descriptive sentences. This part is very important
and often overlooked by students. Don’t just provide numbers and statistics. Be sure to interpret them for
the reader. What do the graphs and numbers tell you about your thesis question?

Task 6: Conclusion

• Draw conclusions that directly relate to your thesis.

• Note any biases that you believe occurred in your study.
• Make suggestions for further/follow-up studies or any modifications that would make to the
current study.

Task 7: Bibliography

Web sites cited using APA format. General format/sequence:

Author. (Date published if available; n.d. (no date) if not). Title of article. Title of web site . Retrieved
date. From URL.
You must hand in a final report as one organized file that includes evidence of all tasks being complete.

Checklist for final report

Section 1: Design of Study

What needs to be included: ✓

Title Page
Thesis question
Hypothesis
Detailed description of population, sample, and sampling method
Description of independent and dependent variables

Section 2: Collection of Data

What needs to be included: ✓

Full organized tables of all data that was collected
Blank survey (if you collected primary data)

Section 3: Analysis of Data

What needs to be included: ✓

Minimum 3 graphs included; with each graph is the data table used and the sub-question it is
analyzing
Minimum 3 statistical calculations included; with each calculation is the data table used and the
sub-question it is analyzing
All graphs and calculations include descriptive sentences that relate them back to the thesis
question

Section 4: Conclusion

What needs to be included: ✓

Summarize how your graphs and numerical calculations provide an answer to your thesis
question.
Biases that were present in your study
Modifications to current study and ideas for further studies on topic
Bibliography in APA format (if secondary data was used)
Report Rubric

Criteria Level 0-1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Total

Title Page Title is not representative Title is lacking insight Title is okay or missing one Interesting title, includes 2
of the topic and/or missing and/or missing 2 of the key of the key components of a name, course code, date and
3 or more key components components of a title page. title page. teacher’s name. Includes a
of a title page. relevant picture or graphic

Problem Demonstrates limited ability Demonstrates some ability Demonstrates considerable Demonstrates superior ability 4
to formulate a clearly to formulate a clearly ability to formulate a clearly to formulate a clearly stated,
stated, measurable, and stated, measurable, and stated, measurable, and measurable, and manageable
Formulate appropriate thesis question manageable research manageable research manageable research report research report problem
report problem report problem problem

Design of Study Limited effectiveness Some effectiveness Considerable effectiveness Highly effective 8

Hypothesis
Population vs. Sample
Variables defined

Data Collection Limited effectiveness Some effectiveness Considerable effectiveness Highly effective 12

Collected sufficient data to answer thesis

question. Includes full table of collected
data and organized summary tables of
useful and relevant data in report. Survey
used meets criteria of a good survey.
Show knowledge of using graphs as a Shows limited ability to Shows some ability to Shows considerable ability to Shows excellent ability to 10
data analysis tool (at least 3 graphical identify course data identify course data identify course data analysis identify course data analysis
summaries) analysis tools relevant to analysis tools relevant to tools relevant to project tools relevant to project
project problem project problem problem problem

Show knowledge of using numerical Shows limited ability to Shows some ability to Shows considerable ability to Shows excellent ability to 10
summaries as a data analysis tool (at identify course data identify course data identify course data analysis identify course data analysis
least 3 numerical summaries) analysis tools relevant to analysis tools relevant to tools relevant to project tools relevant to project
project problem project problem problem problem

Analysis of graphs and calculations Limited effectiveness Some effectiveness Considerable effectiveness Highly effective. 8

Comments thoroughly on the results.

Results are presented in a logical and
sequential manner. Descriptive sentences
clearly link to the thesis question and help
to answer it.

Use of mathematical terminology and Uses terminology or Usually uses correct Consistently uses correct Consistently uses correct 4
notation notation inconsistently or terminology and notation; terminology and notation terminology and notation
incorrectly; makes major may make minor errors which enhances the
errors presentation

Mathematical content Presents material with Presents material with Presents material with Presents material with 4
mathematical content that mathematical content that mathematical content that is mathematical content that is
is incorrect or incomplete; is generally correct and completely correct and completely correct, complete
major errors or omissions complete; may have minor complete and always pertinent to the
errors or omissions report.

Conclusion Limited effectiveness Some effectiveness Considerable effectiveness Highly effective. 4

Student restates and summarizes in a clear

manner what the overall results of the
work. Also notes biases and possible
further studies.
Bibliography and Appendix Limited effectiveness Some effectiveness Considerable effectiveness Highly effective. 2

Bibliography is accurate and uses APA

formatting. Full data tables and blank
survey included as an appendix at end of
report.