STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS

Objectives
To provide students with the opportunity to:

• Apply the statistics they have studied all semester in a meaningful way.
  
• Understand the relationship between statistics and other disciplines.
  
• Work cooperatively with other students in the class.
  
• Develop computer skills by downloading data from the internet and displaying the data in meaningful forms.
  
• Prepare a written report discussing the use of statistics and the conclusions supported by the data.
  
• Make a presentation to the class and discuss the appropriateness of the statistical methods used and their conclusions.
  

Focus of the study

1. Compare the water quality between sites
   
2. Is there a correlation between water temperature and oxygen concentration?
   
3. Is there a relationship between precipitation and pH levels?
   
4. Is there a significant difference in water quality over the period of time in the study? You may wish to compare the water quality last fall with the water quality this fall.
   
5. Compare the water quality of the BCC site or sites with that of some other body of water.
   
6. Is there a relationship between precipitation and nutrients in the water?
   
7. Are there any other relationships/trends?
   

Expectations

• Descriptive Statistics: mean, median, mode, midrange, standard deviation, variance,
  
  1. range, quartiles, etc.
     
• Graph & charts
  
• Inferential Statistics – confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, etc.
  
• Written Report – thorough, readable, neat, etc. Must contain the following:
  
  1. List of data collected .
     
  2. Description of the method of analysis.
     
  3. Relevant graphs and/or statistics.
     
  4. Statement of conclusions.
     
  5. Reasons why the results might not be correct, along with a description of ways
     
• which the study could be improved, given more time and money.
  
• Oral Presentation – understandable, interesting, complete, etc.
  

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 9653672. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.