Exercise 3

The world is full of interesting ideas, contexts and topics to explore, with so many examples to choose from when deciding to engage in a statistical investigation. Think about several different topics or areas that you find interesting, that could be used to carry out a statistical investigation. Make notes to help you frame your ideas.

If you are keen to get stuck in and conduct a statistical investigation, think about using the PPDAC cycle, which will help you engage with the investigation (Wild and Pfannkuch, 1999). Below is a diagram to help guide you further:

Image

The PPDAC. The Data Problem Solving Cycle. Image from: https://dataschools.education/about-data-literacy/ppdac-the-data-problem-solving-cycle/.

Click on the link below, which will give you a list of interesting ideas, that could be used to carry out a statistical investigation:

Click here for more ideas

The Impact of Exercise on Mental Health: Analysing the relationship between physical activity and mental well-being using survey data.

Smartphone Usage and Academic Performance: Investigating whether there is a correlation between the time spent on smartphones and students’ academic achievements.

COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy: Analysing real-world data to assess the effectiveness of different COVID-19 vaccines in preventing infections and severe outcomes.

Customer Behaviour Analysis in E-commerce: Examining patterns in customer shopping behaviour to identify factors influencing purchase decisions.

Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events: Analysing historical weather data to determine if there has been an increase in extreme weather occurrences over the past few decades.

Income Inequality and Health Outcomes: Investigating the relationship between income disparity and various health indicators in different regions.

Social Media Impact on Political Opinions: Assessing the influence of social media exposure on shaping people’s political views.

Financial Market Volatility and Economic Indicators: Studying the relationship between stock market volatility and key economic indicators.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Function: Analysing data to understand how lack of sleep affects cognitive performance.

Gender Wage Gap: Investigating the wage disparity between genders in specific industries or regions.

Effectiveness of Online Learning: Comparing the academic outcomes of students in online education versus traditional classroom settings.

Dietary Habits and Heart Health: Analysing data to understand the relationship between dietary choices and heart disease risk factors.

Crime Rates and Socioeconomic Factors: Exploring the correlation between crime rates and various socioeconomic variables.

Impact of Advertising on Consumer Behaviour: Assessing the effectiveness of different advertising campaigns on consumer purchase decisions.

Factors Affecting Employee Job Satisfaction: Investigating the factors that contribute to job satisfaction and productivity in the workplace.

Renewable Energy Adoption and Environmental Impact: Analysing the adoption of renewable energy sources and its impact on reducing carbon emissions.

Consumer Perception of Brand Image: Examining consumer perceptions of different brands and their impact on brand loyalty.

Happiness and Life Satisfaction: Studying the factors that contribute to overall happiness and life satisfaction in different demographics.

Impact of Education on Income Levels: Analysing the relationship between education levels and earning potential.

Voter Turnout and Electoral System: Investigating the factors influencing voter turnout and their implications on the electoral process.

Remember to choose a topic that aligns with your interests and available data sources. Conducting a statistical investigation can be a rewarding and motivating experience when you are genuinely curious about the subject matter.

Reference

Wild, C.J. and Pfannkuch, M. (1999). Statistical thinking in empirical enquiry. International Statistical Review, 67(3), 223–265.