Outliers may not be the result of actual observations, but rather the result of errors in data collection, data recording, or other parts of the data life cycle. This can be used to identify outliers for closer examination.
Students will calculate various measures of central tendency using data on the number of people who bike to work in select states. Students will then create a box plot to represent the data set and answer conceptual questions about the impact of the data set’s outlier.
Spreadsheets Across the Curriculum/Geology of National Parks module. Students use the geometric mean and multiplicative standard deviation to examine the right-skewed distribution of nutrient concentrations in water-quality data at Mammoth Cave National Park.
What does it mean to be "successful"? After analyzing TED Radio Hour episodes, students will discuss, reflect, draft, and create a speech/ podcast that synthesizes their ideas of success. "Success Stories: On the Radio" can be paired with core readings from Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" and Gladwell's "Outliers."
Geospatial data analysis is a growing field in science with practical applications in government and industry. This problem-based learning module guides learners through exploring the relationship between the amount of trash found relative to the location of waste receptacles in their community. Recording the location of identified items of trash/recyclables and placing them on a map allows students to identify if there is a correlation between the amount of trash and the distance away from waste receptacles. While this module uses trash, almost any item can be tracked and plotted for analysis. Some other ideas were: locations of Pokemon in Pokemon Go, animal migration, safety devices, various plant species, texting and driving are just a few examples.