Paul Zander

Statistics/Humphrey
April 17, 2017
E portfolio on Activity 1

My group looked at any possible correlation between the amount of TV viewed in a

household and the amount such a household earned salary was. We hypothesized

that those who viewed TV more would not only be a correlated, but a factor of

causation. That the more a person viewed TV the less they spent in the workplace.

We used the amount of TV viewed in hours per day as our response variable while

income per year was our explanatory variable. In this we graphed our data using X

and Y coordinates. Using real data, we discovered that the data showed no

causation, not even a correlation between the two subjects.

However, that is only what our graph described, not our other data. Here we used

the critical value and our correlation coefficient r. We used the least squares

regression line to interpret the slope and y-intercepts. We still found that there was

no correlation. We also found that for every one unit (in ten thousand) added, the

amount of TV viewed will increase by 0.000016860 hours. Since 0 is nowhere near

the X variable, the y-intercept cannot be interpreted. Also, that number above is

very small, meaning its an unusaual event, such that it probably wouldnt happen

though its possible to occur rarely.

Our experiment did not prove unsuccessful, but proved a point. That statistics can

show us by data that some variables are not correlated when previously thought

they had a correlation.

Statistics can be used a variety of subjects, including the medical field which I am

participating in. We need studies to prove data is correct or not for drug testing, or

figuring out if a watering hole is affecting so many people with appendicitis. We gain

conclusions by taking data and working the numbers to see if such things are

feasible. Or if the likelihood of success if great compared to the likelihood of failure

which would be good to know for drug testing.

At this time, Im taking physiology and in the lab, weve used statistics language

and formulas to prove data or to prove confounding factors took place. We took the

mean average of everyones sleep time and showed it on a graph including all

outliers. Then we hypothesized why we had outliers and why the average was so

low in the class. Based off the data, we could assume the type of lifestyle our class

mates had in accordance to sleep to prove a need for more sleep.

I never realized how statistics could ever play a major role in my life. An old man

told me once that taking a statistics class changed the way he saw the world. I had

no idea how in the world a person who was not a math whiz was changed by math

so much. But now I see the implications and the specific need for statistics in

everyday life. Without it, companies couldnt base predictions on certain product or

guarantee success of a product even. Such information now a day builds the

foundation of a credible company people can rely and trust on or not.