Each Task contains videos and questions for discussion…

Words limit …250-300 words for every tasks 

You are required to make three hundred (300) words contributions . As a guide, the 

contributions need to be based on thoughts that arise after completing the week’s reading, after watching video 

materials, etc. The thoughts may be based on personal experiences in (a not to be named) 

organisation (past or current), or perhaps from a web-site, journal article or mass media item that is 

relevant to the Task. The thoughts that are posted should be 

considered and reflect logic and rationale discourse.

Task 1..

Types of Sampling Techniques

Location: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rASK8PpqakM

Concept: A video showing the different probability sampling approaches one can use to select a sample.

Description: Goes over some examples of probability sampling in a classroom setting.

Questions for discussion: Suppose a marketing researcher wanted to select an appropriate sample of Coca-Cola drinkers and try to understand their attitudes and perceptions towards the brand. Discuss why the probability sampling methods outlined in the video clip would be inappropriate. What might be a pragmatic sampling technique to use?

Task 2..

Peter Donnelly shows how stats fool juries

Location: www.ted.com/index.php/talks/peter_donnelly_shows_how_stats_fool_juries.html

Concept: Patterns can be confusing, averages.

Clip description: Oxford mathematician Peter Donnelly reveals the common mistakes humans make in interpreting statistics, and the devastating impact these errors can have on the outcome of criminal trials. From the archives of the outstanding annual TED conference.

Discussion points/suggested activities: What did you think would be most frequent: HTT or HTH? What are the implications of getting our statistics wrong?

Task 3..

Statistical vs. Practical Significance, by Keith Bower

Location: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rz1TAI3BKg

Concept: A discussion on how low p-values may not imply ‘practical’ significance.

Clip description: a brief explanation of why a large sample almost always will give us statistically significant results, but not necessarily results of any real consequence.

Discussion points/suggested activities: How do we decide what is an important difference then?

Task 4…

Life after Death by Powerpoint with Don McMillan, by transekid

Location: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp8dugDbf4w

Concept: Bad PowerPoint presentation habits.

Clip description: How not to do PowerPoint. Don McMillan presents slides with too much text, spell checking, too many bullet points, bad colour schemes, too many slides, too much data on a slide, and animation.

Discussion points/suggested activities: Do you make presentations like this? Does anyone you know do this? How do you present complex results then? Part seven: Formulating Conclusions and Writing the Final Report