In QNT'215, the students perform three projects as part of their grade. The first project, in multiple regression, allows for the students to go through the stages of model building using a small number of variables. The emphasis is on using statistical measures as guides to building a correct model. The second project uses Dbase III to expose students to considerations in designing and manipulating databases. The student does not use the data definition language, but instead uses a database already created by the instructor.
Emphasis is on using the database to answer managerial questions.
Finally, the third project uses the statistics package again and is concerned with regression model building and variable transformation. During student evaluation, equal weight is given to the student arriving at a good model and in explaining how the model building is performed using the package as an information system. The result of this study is that other factors can be used to explain the variation in traffic deaths from state to state, notably the location of the state in the country. This project is written as a scenario involving a United States Congress person who wants to make a position statement on whether to change the current speed limit law from 55 miles per hour. It is explained that an office staff person would perform the actual analysis using an even more extensive database than su plied by the package.