*Application: Research questions

This assignment has TWO parts: A process section and a writeup.

Process:

Consider using the following document as a resource: Questions we will answer using statistics.docx Download Questions we will answer using statistics.docx

The process section of this assignment should identify the following for EACH of the three types of analysis (univariate, bivariate, multivariate):

• Identify, in brief, the process and/or justification you used for identifying appropriate questions for univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis. Why is this interesting or important for your community partner?
• Describe (one sentence for each is plenty) why these research questions are appropriate for the type of analysis you have proposed.

In other words, provide the background justification that led you to the writeup, but which would not necessarily be appropriate to include in the writeup.

Note: I strongly recommend having each person focus on one particular dependent (effect/outcome) variable, with each member of the team focusing on a different dependent variable. Be sure these are coordinated. Remember that the requirements of application assignments may not sufficiently cover the breadth of the analysis required for the final project; plan accordingly. Coordinate research questions such that the final report will cover--either in writing or through use of tables and graphics--all of the information necessary for a complete report to the community partner. Remember also that not all analysis you perform will be appropriate to report (you will run *lots* of tests and models!!). Focused effort and coordination at this stage of the project will minimize wasted effort.

Example process section:

Our community partner is interested in citizen satisfaction, both overall and by department. While other members of the team will look at satisfaction with specific departments, I have chosen to focus on overall satisfaction as my dependent variable. Univariate analysis involves just one variable at a time, so this includes descriptive statistics, which I will use to describe overall satisfaction (and as a team we will also describe the other department-level satisfaction items). Bivariate analysis involves only two variables at a time, so I will look at the impact of each department-level satisfaction item on the overall satisfaction. I think this will help Springville city to focus their efforts on improvement in departments that have the greatest impact on overall satisfaction. Because I think demographic variables will likely impact both department-level satisfaction and overall satisfaction, and because I want to distinguish between all the departments and see which impact overall satisfaction the most, I will include all these variables in a multivariate model (which can handle more than two variables at once).

Writeup:

The writeup of this section should clearly, professionally, and concisely describe at least one plausible and appropriate question for each of the following elements of your final project:

• Univariate analysis (descriptive statistics)
• Bivariate analysis
• Multivariate analysis

Example writeup section:

Springville City is interested in Springville citizens’ overall satisfaction with city services. This analysis will therefore describe citizens' general level of satisfaction with each department and with the city as a whole using descriptive statistics. To determine the impact of each individual service department (police, fire, sanitation, parks, etc.) on citizens' overall satisfaction levels, we will employ bivariate analysis. The analysis will culminate in a multivariate model that examines the impact of a variety of factors (including individual city services, demographics, type and duration of residency, etc.) on citizen satisfaction.