M&M Lab Instruction- Descriptive/Inferential Stats, Representative Sample/Size

Works for BOTH the new 2024 CED as well as the old 2019 CED.

This lab is based on using M&Ms to help students understand the importance of sample size and representative samples when using inferential statistics (and comparing that to descriptive statistics). This Slides helps walk students walk through the activity step-by-step to reduce confusion and hopefully prevent the teacher from having to repeat instructions.

Original Instructions taken from pages 38-40/42-44 of this free unit plan by TOPSS: https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/lessons/research-methods-statistics.pdf

Data lab sheet available for free here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/0B7A1MwZAF8r2M2RsbGlIY3hpQ28/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=108614042136291766353&resourcekey=0-efVoMsRF169NLv18M-LX8g&rtpof=true&sd=true

Essential Knowledge addressed in this activity:

2.B.4- In a research scenario, identify the participants of a study who make up the sample that is drawn from a population.

2.B.5- Determine whether the sample used is representative of the population and is selected by either random sampling or convenience sampling.

2.B.6- Evaluate whether the sampling procedure involves sampling bias.

2.B.7- Determine to what extent the sampling method allows for results of the study to be generalized.