Sampling Cities to Examine Correlation Between Proportion of College Graduates & Median Income

Abstract

In this assignment, students will work in groups to apply the knowledge that they typically gain in a general sociological research methods courses to collect and analyze quantitative data about cities. This assignment is ideal for assessing student learning after topics of probability sampling and correlation have been introduced. First, students will...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Quantitative Methodology, Research Methods

Resource Type(s):

Assignment

Class Level(s):

Any Level

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

The list of cities included as part of this assginment can be subtitued for a more relevant list depending on the location of the course. The list included is of California cities. Another state's cities can be used instead.

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Correctly apply a probability sampling technique to identify cases to analyze
2. Visually Display Quantitative Data
3. Compute and interpret the correlation coefficient

Goal Assessment(s):

1. Students will utilize simple random sampling to identify 10 cities to analyze. Students will explain how they selected each of the cities using this specific technique.
2. Students will make a scatterplot to display the relationship between a city’s percentage of college graduates and its median income.
3. Students will use a correlation calculator to compute the correlation coefficient for the relationship between a city’s percentage of college graduates and its median income. Students will explain the meaning of the correlation coefficient based on the direction (positive or negative) and strength of the relationship (strong, moderate, weak).