An Exercise Where Students Demonstrate the Meaning of "Not Statistically Significantly Different"

Making Decisions with Data

“…In order to identify possible sources of data that would provide students an opportunity to experience data collection and analysis from beginning to end, the archives of The American Biology Teacher were searched. The search turned up a paper by Zales and Colosi (1998), who had their students collect leaves from the north (shade leaves) and south (sun leaves) sides of Forsythia shrubs and measure the leaf length from the tip of the blade to the end of the petiole. Their students used the data they collected to illustrate the meaning of "not statistically significantly different."…”

“…Their students used the data they collected to illustrate the meaning of "not statistically significantly different." But rather than have students measure the leaf length from the tip of the blade to the end of the petiole (as in Zales & Colosi, 1998), in the activity presented here students determine the surface areas of samples of sun leaves and shade leaves and compare their mean values. This activity can be characterized as a structured inquiry, "where students investigate a teacher-presented question through a prescribed procedure" (Bell et al, 2005, p. 33).…”