Category: Projects

Project #1: Commute Time Statistics
Due Date: Friday, May 15

For this project, you will collect and analyze data regarding how long it takes you to commute to campus. This project will count as 5% of your course grade.

Data collection: Each time you commute to campus this semester, record how long your commute takes:

• Set up a spreadsheet with columns for “Date” and “Commute time”; you can also include an optional third column for “Notes.”
• Each time you commute to campus, make a note of what time you start your commute and what time you arrive (or just use a stopwatch on your phone). Subsequently enter the data in your spreadsheet.
  • If you are using Google Sheets you can record this data immediately if you install the Google Sheets app on your phone. Alternatively, write down the data, and later transfer it to your spreadsheet.

• Use the optional “Notes” column to record information that may be useful later when you analyze your commute times. E.g., if you use different commute routes you may want to record which route you used; if your commute takes much longer than usual, you may want to record why (subway delay, stops along the way, etc).

 

• Example: Here is a link to my spreadsheet, in which I’m recording my commute time data: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Mk8u2jksNkCF-N6KNJPrzU4I6TTANuX4x_VBvMnArHo/edit?usp=sharing

 

Data analysis: At the end of the semester you will:

• use your spreadsheet to create a frequency table and histogram using your data, and compute the standard summary statistics (mean, median, variance, standard deviation);
• briefly describe (in 1-2 paragraphs) the distribution and analyze the summary statistics.  Further details (and my example) on how to describe the distribution and analyze the summary statistics will be discussed in class over the course of the semester.