Jackson Northrup

Amanda Ballard
Alejandra Pavon
Luis Pavon

RESEARCH QUESTION
Do STEM students have a higher proportion of supporting controversial scientific topics than
non STEM students?
DATA COLLECTION PLAN
We conducted an observational study with SLCC students as our observational
units via an anonymous questionnaire. The purpose of our study was to evaluate whether STEM
students have a more positive disposition to controversial scientific topics as opposed to non-
STEM students. The controversial topics we gathered data on were evolution, GMOs, and
climate change. We created a short questionnaire consisting of in favor or not in favor
options in regards to the above topics. The sampling method that was conducted from this
observational study is convenience sampling. We used a paper survey that we used to sample 60
students in study areas around the Salt Lake Community College Redwood Taylorsville campus.
The study areas we surveyed were buildings most associated with STEM classes, as well as
buildings not associated with STEM classes so that a diverse sample can be achieved.
The variables in our study are

1. STEM or non-STEM major. Categorical

2. Opinion on evolution (in favor or not in favor). Categorical

3. Opinion on GMOs in food (in favor or not in favor). Categorical

4. Opinion on climate change (in favor or not in favor). Categorical

Are you a STEM major or are you interested in studying a STEM-related topic?

YES NO

Do you believe in the theory of evolution?

YES NO

Are you in favor or not in favor of GMOs in our food?

IN FAVOR NOT IN
FAVOR

Do you agree or disagree that climate change is affecting our planet?

AGREE DISAGREE
 Jackson Northrup
Amanda Ballard
Alejandra Pavon
Luis Pavon

DATA

Stem Non-STEM Total

Evolution yes 24 21 45

no 7 6 13

Total 31 27 58

STEM Non-STEM Total

Gmo yes 13 12 25

no 18 15 33

31 27 58

STEM Non-STEM Total

Climate change yes 29 25 54

no 2 2 4

Total 31 27 58

Surveys that Included maybes or no answer were excluded from the data sets.

SUMMARY STATISTICS
Evolution

Difference in Proportion=-0.0035
P-value =0.629,
95% CI(-0.2187,0.2115)

GMO
Difference in proportion= -0.0251
P-value= 0.66(0.657)
95% CI (-0.2806,0.2305)

Climate Change
Difference in proportion =0.0095
 Jackson Northrup
Amanda Ballard
Alejandra Pavon
Luis Pavon

P-value= 0.66
95% CI (-0.1217,0.1409)

GRAPHICS

Evolutions Graph

GMO support in food

 Jackson Northrup
Amanda Ballard
Alejandra Pavon
Luis Pavon

Climate Change
 Jackson Northrup
Amanda Ballard
Alejandra Pavon
Luis Pavon

DISTRIBUTION
Looking at the data we can see that the difference in proportions between the two groups is

extremely similar for every question we had on the survey. With two of the observed differences

being zero and the other having a nearly negligible difference. The distributions for the data sets

are extremely close to zero if not at zero.

ANALYSIS PLAN
 Jackson Northrup
Amanda Ballard
Alejandra Pavon
Luis Pavon

We plan to use theory based statistics for the one data set we were able to get 10 entries

within each box. As well as run simulations for the others. Corresponding graphs will be drawn

and labeled for each of these.