MATH 217: Guidelines for Group Presentation

• Let Mary know you’re only presenting the results and discussion (including suggestions for the next study or improvement of this study) portion of your paper, since she clearly knows the motivation of the problem and the data collection; also let her know that the simple percentages she already has from the Excel analysis will not be rehashed (except to see how representative the sample is of the population).

• Mary does not have a background in statistics, so you must explain (in non-technical terms) the chi-square test and how it’s used. You also must explain the issue of multiple comparisons (as it applies to making inference to a population).

• For Mary’s main research question, show her all the results (whether significant or not—for a non-significant chi-square analysis, this amounts to simply showing her the large p-value).

• For the other data analysis you do (“data snooping”) only show the most significant or interesting results (e.g., that might inform her actions).

• At the end (after you’ve discussed the results and the implications), give a list of suggestions for the next study. (You might want to use the example of having to code no,* to no,0 and what a time-consuming process that was—something that could have been avoided in the data entry portion. But mention this is an objective, helpful way, not in a make-Mary-feel-guilty way. J).

• Go slowly so Mary can process everything. You’ve been working on this project for weeks, so it’s second-nature. Friday will be Mary’s first time to see any of these results. She will need time to process what you’re showing and telling her. Hence, go slowly, and look to Mary before you move on.

• Designate a note-taker to record any questions Mary has (that aren’t completely answered) or any additional analyses she wants done. And at the end, be sure to ask her if there is further work she wants done.

• Practice, practice, practice. Be sure you actually practice what you plan to say (don’t just assume you’ll be able to “wing it”—that rarely works well).