Course: Statistics 205
STATISTIC 205 PROJECT
Topic : Statistical Analysis of ACT student experience
Worked: Paola Balliu
Part A: Planning and preparing for the survey
Project question: “Is there a link between the number of countries visited and students’ academic performance, and if so, can a pattern be noticed in terms of the major that students are pursuing? Does traveling have a positive or negative impact on academic achievement because it takes up so much of student’s time?”
Throughout the survey I will be collecting data on how much do traveling affects students’ academic background or if it has a positive or negative affect on their academic achievement. Moreover, I will be observing their majors relating to traveling habits and making judgments on them. As we all know, traveling allows us to broaden our horizons and maybe become more independent, but it also consumes a significant amount of our time, which can have a detrimental impact on our accomplishments.
A1: Population
The population of my project will be the ACT students which consists on an approximately number of 700 students. ACT provides a considerable number of majors including the main once: Computer Science, Business, English and Psychology. Regarding the statistics of ACT, the highest number of students are business major. My population is between the 17-23 age with many different nationalities. The highest nationalities are: Greeks, Albanians, Serbian, Americans, Russian, Macedonians etc.
A2: Variables
The aim and goal of this study is to figure out if traveling affects students academic background and if there is a connection between their major and traveling as long as traveling allows us to broaden our horizons and maybe become more independent, but on the other hand traveling might distract and might make students lose track of their studies which can negatively affect their academic achievement. By fulfilling this project, I will have a deeper idea if traveling affects student academic background positively or negatively.
The attributes on my project will be :
Countries visited – Quantitative, Discrete, Ratio
Throughout this variable, I will get a general idea of how many places have ACT students visited. This will be the main question from which continually I will do the rests. Regarding the places number I will be able to connect it with their academic background and connect it with their major as well. As a result, I will be comparing my data in order to accomplish my aim.
Majors- Qualitative, nominal, Variables
By going through this question on the survey I will be able to gather my population majors and later on about their GPA. This will be able for me to connect with the number of places visited from them from which I can make the judgment throughout comparison likewise did they had a higher number of visited places and a low GPA or do they have high GPA and high visited number of countries. Moreover, I will be connected it with their major in order to come up if there is a connection of traveling desire with student major. Usually social student oriented are more extrovert and travel more than those science oriented students.
GPA- Quantitative, continues, Interval
The GPA variable will play a significant role on the survey as it will be used for comparison. Students will be writing down their approximately GPA based on their grades. The ACT follows the United States grading system from 0.00 until -4.00. This can be transformed in qualitative grades from A (4.00) until 0.00 ( F) as well. However, in my survey I will be using Quantitative GPA.
Gender-Qualitative, nominal
On my survey and data, I will be using gender of my sample as well because I would like to get an idea of which gander will dominate regarding the traveling habits.
A3: Aims
The goal of this study is to determine whether traveling has an impact on students’ academic backgrounds and whether there is a link between their major and travel. Furthermore, I will determine whether individuals with a higher number of travelled places have a higher or lower GPA, as well as observe their major and compare which major students had a higher number of visited nations at the end.
Additionally, taking in consideration some of my experiences with my friends I believe that the outcome will be similar as below: Those students who travel often do have a lower GPA but, however they gain other cultural benefits. Students who travel throughout the year get distracted, lose track of their studies and consume some of their studying time.
My project results can be used potentially in future observation, in case of students who have visited a high number of countries and have low GPA, it might help colleges in giving students more time for traveling or organise more college trips on suitable times for them, likewise after finals or during breaks . Moreover, it might help academic professors realise the effects of traveling on students’ academic background throughout academic year.
A4: Survey Methods
The most suitable method to use these days will be online google forms. Taking in consideration the COVID distancing restrictions I believe that this will be more convenient for everyone. Moreover, students will be filling their answers from the comfort of their home at a time that suits them. Additionally, throughout email I will be able to reach a highest number of students rather than approaching them face to face because some of them might not be at school at the times that I would want to complete the survey. Google forms survey are pretty accurate and generate data right after the student submission. Moreover, online google form is free and it will save me a lot of time instead of approaching students one by one I can just send emails to them with the google form link.
A5: Sampling
Taking in consideration the population number is quite big I will be choosing a smaller group to fill out the survey form. The surveys sample will include a high diverse number of students in order for my survey to be fair, accurate and a great representative of my whole population. I will be including at least 30 students per year with different majors and approximately 100 students total in my sampling. By considering students from various backgrounds, I strongly believe that will make my survey to reach accurate and realistic data which will help me to reach the desirable realistic conclusion and fulfilled the goal or aim of my project
A6: Survey Draft
Regarding up my survey I have been gathering some of my question which I will be using on it. This are not the final question as it includes just a draft of them. The questions will be updated on the following parts of the projects until I finalise my survey online form.
Q1: What is your student ID number?………….
Q2: How do you define your gender? ………….
Q3: Which college year are you currently pursuing?………
Q4: How many countries have you visited so far?……..
Q5: What is you approximately GPA?……..
Q6: What major are you perusing on ACT?…….
Q7: Based on your own experiences on traveling, does traveling during the academic college year distract you from the studies?………..
