Brief introduction of this week assignment:
Graphs and Descriptive Statistics, When you read a newspaper, a corporate annual report, or a government study, you are almost sure to see tables and graphs of statistical data. Some of these tables and graphs are very simple, while others can be quite complex. Some make it easy to understand the data; others may be confusing or even misleading (Bennett, Briggs & Triola, 2009). Statistical data are represented visually by creating graphs and charts, histograms, bar graphs, box plots, pie charts, stem and leaf charts, frequency tables, and line charts. This week, you will learn and calculate important descriptive statistics, such as measures of central tendency and dispersion, quartiles, and how to identify the shape of distributions. By the end of this assignment, you should be able to present data visually through the use of charts, graphs and tables and calculate and interpret the mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, and quartiles for given data.

1. Review the resources listed in the Books and Resources area below to prepare for this week’s assignments.

2. Complete the following Spotlight on Skills if you need assistance with the tools used to complete your assignments.

Spotlight on Skills: Preparing a Discussion Post
This week, you will enter into a discussion with your fellow students and course instructor. See Preparing the Discussion Post for more information on how to prepare a discussion assignment.
Reading chapters 3 & 4:Books

Reference
Instruction:Statistical reasoning for everyday life. Read Chapters 3 and 4

Chapter 3 Link:http://www.coursesmart.com/9780321817709/firstsection#X2ludGVybmFsX0J2ZGVwRmxhc2hSZWFkZXI/eG1saWQ9OTc4MDMyMTgxNzcwOS83OA==
Chapter 4
http://www.coursesmart.com/9780321817709/firstsection#X2ludGVybmFsX0J2ZGVwRmxhc2hSZWFkZXI/eG1saWQ9OTc4MDMyMTgxNzcwOS8xMTk=
*Read two Articles as well*.
Assignment Instructions: Activity Description

Upon completion of the readings and discussion component of this assignment, you should have a solid understanding of the importance of presenting data visually and of the value of descriptive statistics in understanding the world at large.

Download Data File 2 and complete the problems and questions as presented. Show your work (either your hand calculations or your statistical program output). You may either scan your handwritten work and submit it as a low-resolution graphic, type your answers directly into the document, or cut and paste your work into a Word file. Be sure to name the file using the proper NCU naming conventions before its submittal.

Support your paper with a minimum of three (3) scholarly resources. In addition to these specified resources, other appropriate scholarly resources, including older articles, may be included.

Length: 5-7 pages not including title and reference pages, may include spreadsheets.

Your response should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards where appropriate. Be sure to adhere to Northcentral University’s Academic Integrity Policy.