Introduction:

Statistics is known as the study of data analysis and interpretation. Statistics is used everyday by people everywhere. One of the most popular uses of statistics can be found in the sports section of a newspaper or magazine. Sports writers across the world use statistics to analyze players and their performances day in and day out. Statistics are even used to predict how a player will perform in the future. A player’s statistics are even used when determining how much money the player will make when he/she signs a contract!

 Task:

Write three sports columns (choosing a player from Football, Basketball, and Baseball) analyzing a player’s statistics and using these statistics to determine how the player will perform in the next upcoming season.

 Resources:

When calculating a player’s statistics, it is important to know the method in which the player’s statistics are calculated. To learn more about statistical measures, check out Mean, Median, and Mode Discussions.

To find statistics of your players, check out the following sites:

• ESPN Sportszone
• CNN Sports Illustrated
• FOX Sports
• National Football League
• National Basketball Association
• Major League Baseball

 Process:

The following steps should be taken to complete this assignment:

1. Research statistics for your favorite player from each of the three major sports (football, basketball, and baseball). Make sure that the player you choose has at least five years of statistical data available.
2. Calculate the mean, median, and mode for each set of data you have collected.
3. For each player, graph the data collected in a scatter plot to see if a relationship exists.
4. For each scatter plot, draw a line of best fit.
5. For each player, use your line of best fit to predict how the player will perform in the next season.
6. For each player, write a sports article analyzing the player’s statistics and how you think he/she will perform in the next season.

 Evaluation:

Your final project will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Proper selection of players to analyze.
2. Correct, complete, and accurate calculations of player statistics (Mean, Median, Mode).
3. Justification of which statistical measure will be used when analyzing a player’s performance.
4. Correct, complete, and accurate scatter plots of statistics gathered.
5. Accurate prediction and justification of a player’s future performance.
6. Final presentation of sports articles.

 Conclusion:

After completing this assignment, you will have learned the basics for calculating the measures of central tendency for a set of data. You will also have a basic idea of the statistical measures which sports writers use to analyze a player’s performance.