Open data exploration quiz • Name:

In the "real world" no one is likely to ask you to calculate the mean, make a box plot, or run a t-test. The reality is that someone comes to you with some data and questions. You then have to decide how to analyze the data and the statistical meaning of the results of that analysis. This first example comes from a round island relay run in March 2013.

On 30 March 25 runners from election district three ran the round island relay race. Each runner ran two miles. This open data exploration is based on the estimated duration of time in minutes for each runner. Time-stamped photographs taken that day provided rough estimates for each runner's time. This data set represents an exercise in data exploration from the field of exercise sport science.

Imagine that you are the team statistician. Your job is to provide statistical information in a report of use to the coach. There are plans to run this race again with teams invited from abroad. Based on the time data, what useful statistics can you report? The coach wants to be able to make decisions on who should start, who should anchor, who should be retained, and who should be replaced and why. Provide a complete statistical report on the data. For any decisions, cite statistical support. Look also for unusual data, if any, reporting the unusual data and why that data is unusual. Provide statistical values that support your recommendations. Sketch any appropriate charts.