Statistics 101
Data Analysis and Statistical Inference
 

Instructions for lab 8

Lab Objective

The purpose of the lab is to analyze a data set from scratch, using methods that we have learned in class.

Lab Procedures

Does spending more money on education have an impact on students' learning?    Some evidence suggests a positive impact, whereas other evidence suggests hardly any impact at all.  In this lab, we'll look at a particular aspect of this question, namely the association between statewide expenditures on education and SAT scores.

Open the data set satjse.jmp by clicking on the link.   The file contains data from 1997 on all 50 states of the U.S. for the following variables:

State:  state name.

Expenditure:  Per pupil expenditure in state in thousands of dollars.

Student/Faculty Ratio:  Number of faculty per pupil in state.

Salary:  Average salary for teachers in state in thousands of dollars.

Percent taking:  Percentage of students taking the SAT, expressed as % times 100.

Verbal:  Average score on verbal part of SAT for students who took it.

Math:  Average score on math part of SAT for students who took it.

Total SAT Score:  Average combined score of SAT for students who took it.

Expenditure (100s): Per pupil expenditure in state in hundreds of dollars.


These data were collected by Professor Lynn Guber of the University of Vermont.

Questions:

The political commentator George Will examined a similar scatter plot between expenditures per pupil and average combined SAT score, and he concluded that spending more money per pupil does not affect average SAT scores (The Washington Post, September 12, 1993).  Do you agree with his analysis?  If so, explain how these data justify Will's conclusions. If not, explain how these data cast doubt on Will's conclusions.  You must support or criticize his analysis; waffling will result in no credit.  Use the information in the data to make your arguments.  Include or sketch relevant graphical displays or summary statistics that illustrate your points. Failing to cite evidence from the data will lose credit.