Workshop Statistics Lab 2 PreLab
Background: On the Mythbusters TV show, the hosts investigated whether yawning is contagious. (View video here or if that doesn't work here.) We will analyze the data from their last study, where visitors to a local flea market were led to one of three rooms. For two of the rooms, Carrie yawned as she was showing them into the small room where they sat for several minutes. For the other room, the so-called yawn seed was planted. Via video cameras, the show's hosts determined whether or not the subject yawned.
Pre-lab Instructions: Answer the following questions the best you can with your current knowledge.
a. Based on the preceding description of the study, identify the following terms in the context of this study. Also classify the variables as quantitative or categorical.
- Experimental/Observational units:
- Explanatory variable (Type)
- Response variable (Type)
b. Identify the type of study: anecdotal, observational, experimental. Explain how you are deciding.
c. How was randomness used in the design of this study: random sampling, random assignment, both, or neither? Explain.
d. Explain what calculations you will perform from the data to measure the effect of the yawn seed.
