Objective: Explore utility and application of various statistics in a real-world context.
Recall:
Rhonda is majoring in psychology and enjoying the activities at her school now that she is a second semester junior. She feels she has college life pretty well figured. She hasn't thought much about her future, assuming she'll marry and have children. She has a boyfriend, Ricky, who is a business/psychology major. He is on the basketball team (he gets to play every few games). Ricky wishes he could play more but complains that the coach just doesn't see his ability. Rhonda goes home every weekend unless Ricky has a game. Rhonda is the person everyone turns to for advice and Rhonda is happy to give it.
New Information:
Ricky and Rhonda are hanging in her room, "studying" statistics. Actually, he's griping about the coach. "Coach said I'd get to play last night but I never got in. If I'd been the one fouled I could have made those baskets and saved the game."
Rhonda was getting tired of hearing him complain. She'd been hearing this all year. "Well, Ricky, why don't you just show him how good you are."
"I've tried, but he won't listen! He's dazzled by Jeffries because Jeffries is 7 foot. But I'm fast and accurate. He just makes me do drills."
Rhonda sighed and tried to get him back on the task. She said without seriousness, "Maybe some of these stats could help you prove your case."
Something clicked in Ricky, "Yeh, maybe you've got something there. Come here, darlin', we're going to make up a table...." Rhonda rolled her eyes. Once Ricky got going, he worried a topic to death.
Feel free to "Suppose" and "If...then." Look over all the questions first. Fill in every line, use the back if you need to. Turn it in with your portfolio.
What is the problem from Ricky's point of view?
...from the Coach's point of view?
What types of information or data might persuade the Coach to use Ricky more?
How might Ricky use the basic statistics we've reviewed to make his best case to the Coach....
...if he were to use an external standard of performance (e.g., free throw percentage--should he report mean, median or mode)?
...if he were to do a comparison of himself to Jeffries or others? (To whom should he compare himself?)
...if he were to present information about himself, without comparison?
Of all the arguments/methods you've considered, which do you think will be most effective on the Coach and why?
Created December 23, 2000; Last Modified: February 3, 2003. All contents © Sally Kuhlenschmidt