Assignment Research Question and Answer: Using Git, SPSS and Markdown

Tools required for the assignment

You will be required to use specific tools to achieve this:

• Git, a source code control tool.

• SPSS tool for statistical analysis.

• Markdown, a mechanism for writing structured documents in plain text.

In addition, you will complete an examination testing your knowledge of the background reading.

Caution: in case of ambiguity in either the problem statement or assessment criteria, the interpretation of the assignment tutor will apply. As such, if any statement is unclear, seek clarification rather than make assumptions, as your assumptions are likely to differ from the tutor’s interpretation.

Part A–Research Question and Answer

1. Research question (10 points). Formulate a research question (or questions) that can potentially be answered by statistical analysis of one of the datasets specified as candidates for this assignment.

2. Research question answer (50 points). Write a report documenting:

(a) An introduction to the context and problem related to your research question, plus a general question. Example: cricket is played around the world, at cities with widely varying altitudes. How does altitude affect performance?

(b) The background that lead to the formulation of your research question. Example: what studies or articles have been published about cricket at various altitudes?

(c) Your research question. Example: does high altitude favour left-handed batters?

(d) Your approach to answering your research question. This should identify your dataset, and the statistical methods used to analyse it.

(e) Your results (the answer to your research question).

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(f) Your interpretation of the implications of your results. Example: if altitude favours left-handed batters, managers should adjust the batting order accordingly.

(g) Any conclusions. Usually this is a restatement of the introduction, but in the past tense as you have now answered the question. Include properly cited references to the literature.

3. Individual evaluation

• Definitely contributed.

• Contributed somewhat.

• Did not contribute.

• Hindered progress.

Part B–Project Management

1. Project plan (5 points). Create a work breakdown structure that identifies all of the artefacts you need to create in order to complete this assignment. Add each of the tasks from your work breakdown structure as cards in your Trello Backlog column, one card per task.

2. Process (5 points). Select a subset of tasks you can complete in a week for the current week’s “Sprint Backlog.” Self-assign team members to each task card as

capacity allows. Move cards to “Internal review” and “Done” as they progress. Part C–Test of Readings Test of knowledge of readings (20 points). This component requires you first to read the assigned papers, then take a time-constrained assessment of your knowledge of the papers.

Caution statement

The test of readings will be marked as a percentage of questions answered correctly. Content of each of the other elements will be marked according to the following qualitative assessment rubric:

Mark & associated criteria Numeric score

Outstanding: all aspects of work exceed expectations and show exemplary performance and understanding. In addition, new insights into the problem, or a truly innovative and unique solution, are described.

Examples: Coverage of issues includes exemplification and goes beyond what was discussed in class. Writing is concise, professional, and free of colloquialisms. No spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. References are thoroughly researched and cited correctly. Diagrams are free of syntax and semantic errors, are clearly drawn, and identify all relevant elements, including those that are not obvious.

Insights and presentation are of a quality suitable for submission to a conference or journal for publication. Project plan is not only updated regularly and used to manage the project, but shows real understanding of the reasons behind the various techniques involved.

Excellent: all aspects of work exceed expectations and show exemplary performance and understanding.

Examples: Coverage of issues includes exemplification and  goes beyond what was discussed in class. Writing is concise, professional, and free of colloquialisms. No spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. References (when needed) are cited correctly. Diagrams are free of syntax and semantic errors, are clearly drawn, and identify all relevant elements, including those that are not obvious. Presentation is of a quality suitable for paying clients of a consultancy firm. Project plan is updated regularly and used to manage the project.

Very good: all aspects of work meet expectations, many aspects of work exceed expectations, showing exemplary performance and understanding.

Examples: Coverage of issues often goes beyond what was discussed in class and includes exemplification. Writing is concise and free of colloquialisms. No spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. References (when needed) are cited correctly. Diagrams are free of syntax and semantic errors, are clearly drawn, and identify all relevant elements, including those that are not obvious. Presentation is of a quality suitable for portfolio-level management. Project plan is updated regularly and there is evidence it was actually used to manage the project.

Mark & associated criteria Numeric score

Good: all aspects of work meet expectations, with solid performance and understanding.

Examples: Coverage of all expected elements. Writing is free of colloquialisms. No grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors. References (when needed) are cited correctly. Diagrams are free of syntax and semantic errors, are clearly drawn, and identify all expected constructs, operations, types, and/or parameters. Presentation is of a quality suitable for a report to program-level management.

Project plan shows evidence of being updated regularly.

Clear pass: Approaching expectations, but some mistakes or omissions.

Examples: Solutions identify the main concepts. Writing may use colloquialisms, but is understandable and mostly free of grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. References (when needed) are not cited correctly. Diagrams have correct syntax, are readable, and identify the main concepts or interactions. Project plan is updated sporadically.

Marginal fail: Some correct performance, emerging understanding, but mastery not thorough and there are numerous