The Word Is …
the following are testimonials given by two former statCom
After finalizing the questionnaire, the city was
members:
responsible for administering the surveys to a random
null
sample of West Lafayette residents and all business
to someone contemplating creating a volunteer
owners near the parkway. Data from returned surveys
student-run consulting service like statCom, I would say two
were entered by a city official and sent to StatCom.
words: ‘Do it!’ The benefits to the university, the department,
The StatCom team conducted all data analyses and
and the students are great. It is my impression that statCom
provided a written report for both surveys.
was a unifying force in the department. It brought the Results were presented by the group at a pub-
students together, and I perceived an increase in the faculty’s lic meeting, and questions from the general public
respect for the students’ contributions. A statistical consulting
were addressed. The task force created a final report
service that provides free service to local nonprofit groups
that summarized their recommendations for the
yields many tangible and intangible benefits.”
Sagamore Parkway area. The StatCom reports and
presentations were instrumental in prioritizing these
— Craig Johnson, Professor, Mathematics Department, Brigham Young recommendations.
university-Idaho and Former statCom Director at Purdue university In 2006, StatCom conducted a follow-up study
to assess outcomes of the project by interviewing six
null
I was a member of statCom for four semesters while an
of the community leaders involved in the project.
Ms (applied statistics) student. It had always been my
These discussions resulted in recommendations,
intention to obtain employment after my degree, and it was
including the addition of street lights with banners,
important for me to have a broad range of experiences in the
the establishment of a farmers’ market, the improve-
application of statistics for that purpose. In addition to
ment of sidewalks and landscaping, and a market-
strengthening my résumé, I saw statCom as a way to gain
ing effort for new sit-down restaurants.
practical experience in using statistics for real-life situations.”
An additional function of the StatCom program
at Purdue is to provide educational outreach to the
— Patricia Yoshida, statistician, Analytics Group, Affinnova, Inc. and P–12 educational community. StatCom members
Former statCom Project Manager at Purdue university design and lead statistics-based activities for local
schools and community events to educate younger
students about the value of statistics. The P–12 pro-
Team members conduct analyses, document their
gram benefits graduate and undergraduate students
results, and present their findings to clients.
who wish to pursue educational careers and gives
The StatCom program is run and administered
them experience working with others to explain dif-
by students, so the program was designed to be sec-
ficult concepts. In this way, StatCom members are
ondary to coursework. Clients are informed of this
helping to train a more statistically educated genera-
and accept it. The general commitment level for
tion of students.
a StatCom team member working on a project is
approximately one to two hours per week.
StatCom Across the Nation
One of Purdue University’s StatCom projects is If you are you interested in developing a StatCom
the Sagamore Parkway Task Force. The Sagamore program at your college or university, StatCom at
Parkway is an economically important roadway/ Purdue University can help. In 2006, StatCom was
area in West Lafayette, Indiana. In 2003, the mayor awarded an ASA member initiative grant to help
appointed a task force of community members and other universities and institutions begin student-
city officials to develop a plan for making improve- driven pro bono statistical consulting programs.
ments to the parkway area. The task force decided a The goal is to form a StatCom network that will
major part of this effort should be conducting two serve as a resource to local governmental and non-
surveys—one to city residents and one to business profit community groups across the nation, as well
owners adjacent to the parkway—to elicit feedback as to connect student statisticians who are devoting
on how to prioritize proposed improvements. time to service-oriented consulting. So far, StatCom
A StatCom team of five graduate students worked programs have been developed at the University of
directly with the city and task force to conduct these Washington, University of Michigan, Iowa State
surveys from start to finish. The team started by University, Virginia Tech, University of Arizona,
working with task force members to write the ques- and the University of Hasselt, with continuing
tionnaires. StatCom students offered guidance on interest from other institutions.
question style and reviewed the questionnaires for For more information, visit
www.amstat.org/
bias. They also recommended Likert (1–5) scaling education/statcom or
www.stat.purdue.edu/external_
to make a quantitative data analysis possible. relations/statcom.
n
12 AmstAt News December 2009
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