Create a social science research question that you would like to learn more about.

Note that everyone should create

a unique question. An example might be, “Does alcohol abuse increase the rate of domestic violence?” Write down
your question here.

What is the population of interest for your specific question and why?

What type of sampling method (name the method and define it) would you use to collect data to answer your
question, and why?

Describe a study that you might perform to answer your question. Include whether your study is experimental or
observational, and why.
My son always asks me to give him a smart phone. He said that a lot of his school friend have smart phones.
Thinking about giving him one, I have a question in my mind “What percentage of students in public elementary
schools in USA who have cell phones?”. In order to answer that question, I need to do a statistical study.

which has few steps: determine the population, choose sampling method.

First, to determine the population of interest, I try to look at the whole picture. According to the National Center for
Education Statistics, there are some types of educational institution such as public schools (elementary, secondary,
combined, other), private schools, postsecondary title IV institutions.

Educational Institutions in USA in Educational Institutions

2015-16 in USA in 2015-16

Public schools 98,277 7,021

Public schools
Private schools2 34,576
34,576 Private schools2
Postsecondary Title IV
7,021 98,277
institutions
Postsecondary Title IV
institutions

Public schools in
Public schools in USA in 2015-16
2015-16 6,788 691

Elementary 66,758
24,040
Secondary 24,040
66,758
Combined 6,788
Other 691
Total 98,277
Elementary Secondary Combined Other1

My son studies in a public elementary school in Texas. In order to have good comparison with my son, the
population of interest should be all of the public elementary schools in USA. I cannot find the educational institution
information in 2019, so I temporarily use the information for 2015-16.

 Population of interest: All of the public elementary schools in USA

 Number of population of interest: 66,758
Different school location may have different economy conditions (rich or poor), land form condition (hill, mountain,
river, island, valley), social (urban, rural) which may affect to the number of student who own cell phones.

Option 1: From Table 203.10. National Center for Education Statistics

Prekinder- Kinder- 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th Ungraded
garten garten grade grade grade grade grade grade grade grade Elementary

1,425 3,697 3,684 3,672 3,724 3,699 3,786 3,893 3,916 3,874 88

Projected number of students in public school - 2019

(in thousand)
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0

3,786,000 students - percentage - simple random sample

Option 2: