“
The groups even expressed relief in having
us at the conference as ‘stat experts.’
”
The Next Stages: Deeper Analyses
and Formal Presentations
consultants. After all, the sociology students were
The next unit of the sociology research methods
our peers and we did not want to step on any toes.
course was to create a research poster and the first
As it turned out, some groups came expecting us to
manuscript of a research paper. We explained to our
simply guide them through the stages, while others
peers the goal of a research poster in statistics: to
came under the impression that we would do the
create an eye-catching representation of the knowl-
complete statistical analysis for them. Fortunately,
edge gained from the study. In a final meeting, we
we were somewhat prepared for the diversity of sta-
proofed their research manuscripts, happy to find
tistical clients from our experience through CIR.
that everyone’s hard work had paid off. By the end
of the semester, many of the groups had wrapped up
Consulting for Primary Analyses:
work on their projects and were looking forward to
What’s in a p-Value?
presenting at a regional conference in the spring.
Because CIR projects run the entire school year,
Once the survey was administered, we had to make
we continued with the projects by conducting analy-
certain the data were accurately coded so results
ses of our own after the sociology research methods
would stay true to the survey data. For instance, we
course was complete. This gave us a chance to inves-
had to create a summation of Likert scale respons-
tigate further relationships and more sophisticated
es that was accurate in relation to the amount of
modeling techniques. Each of us contributed an
agreement with a certain feeling to make our Likert
appendix to the sociology students’ scientific papers
indexes. We also had to omit responses from those
with our own results and discussion sections.
who may have not been truthful on the survey,
We concluded our work by attending the
such as one respondent who reported “mango” for
Midwest Sociological Society Conference and pre-
their gender.
senting with the sociology students to an audience
After the coding was complete, the data was ready
of students and faculty. Initially, we had concerns
to be analyzed and we were called upon for a consul-
about stepping on toes, as the projects were not ours
tation. It might be fair to say that, at this point, many
to begin with. However, the responses we received
students believed their primary goal of data analysis
from the groups we worked with were overwhelm-
was to obtain a p-value of < 0.05 and our influence
ingly appreciative. The groups even expressed relief
might make this happen. Most students also groaned
in having us at the conference as “stat experts.” The
a bit when we mentioned the need to first look at
positive reactions were not limited to our groups,
the data through graphical representations, such as
either. Many conference attendees expressed interest
boxplots and scatterplots, and to check for assump-
in having undergraduate statistical consultants for
tions (not everyone’s favorite part of data analysis).
their schools or businesses in the future.
Fortunately, the sociology students confessed how
“fun” it was to see the final results once we got into
Final Thoughts on a Significant
our various parametric and nonparametric tests.
Statistics Undergraduate Experience
We could tell how disappointed some groups
were to find null results, so we made sure to stress
In addition to helping our fellow students through
the importance of null findings. For example, it was
the process of conducting a research project, we
interesting that there was no difference between
were awarded valuable experience as statistical con-
males and females in the number of hook-ups they
sultants. We made a few mistakes along the way, but
have engaged in at St. Olaf. Another surprising null
our contributions provided many learning opportu-
finding was that the perceived level of intimacy in
nities for each of us. Working with peers in a differ-
couples was not associated with the total number of
ent discipline forced us to familiarize ourselves with
romantic relationships a person had been in, unless
the basics in their field, as well as new techniques
we controlled for the number of romantic relation-
in ours. Through this experience, we found it help-
ships between St. Olaf students.
ful to think about how to explain basic statistical
This portion of the consultation was probably
terms and techniques to an audience without a
one of the most rewarding for us. Many students,
strong background in statistics, strengthening our
undergraduates in particular, are initially intimidated
own understanding of statistics through the process.
by anything related to math or statistics. However,
Most importantly, undergraduate statistical consult-
the sociology students came to enjoy the data analy-
ing gave us the opportunity to apply the tools we
sis because they finally got to see the results they had
have learned in the classroom to real-world research
been waiting for.
that we were able to follow from start to finish. n
50 AMSTAT NEwS SEPTEMbER 2009
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