Module 1 - Discussion
Module 1 - Discussion
What is the population of interest for your specific question and why?
What type of sampling method (name the method and define it) would you use to collect data to answer your
question, and why?
Describe a study that you might perform to answer your question. Include whether your study is experimental or
observational, and why.
My son always asks me to give him a smart phone. He said that a lot of his school friend have smart phones.
Thinking about giving him one, I have a question in my mind “What percentage of students in public elementary
schools in USA who have cell phones?”. In order to answer that question, I need to do a statistical study.
which has few steps: determine the population, choose sampling method.
First, to determine the population of interest, I try to look at the whole picture. According to the National Center for
Education Statistics, there are some types of educational institution such as public schools (elementary, secondary,
combined, other), private schools, postsecondary title IV institutions.
Public schools in
Public schools in USA in 2015-16
2015-16 6,788 691
Elementary 66,758
24,040
Secondary 24,040
66,758
Combined 6,788
Other 691
Total 98,277
Elementary Secondary Combined Other1
My son studies in a public elementary school in Texas. In order to have good comparison with my son, the
population of interest should be all of the public elementary schools in USA. I cannot find the educational institution
information in 2019, so I temporarily use the information for 2015-16.
Prekinder- Kinder- 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th Ungraded
garten garten grade grade grade grade grade grade grade grade Elementary
1,425 3,697 3,684 3,672 3,724 3,699 3,786 3,893 3,916 3,874 88
Option 2: