ECO 510 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric Overview The final project for this course is the creation of an empirical analysis for HHS executives. Economists conduct research, collect and analyze data, monitor economic trends, and develop forecasts. They use their understanding of economic relationships to advise businesses, industry, and government agencies. For this assignment, you are tasked to be an economist consulting on a study to advise the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on economic and demographic factors that might influence the amount of physical activity of the population. Understanding this nexus among economics, demographics, and physical activity will be vital for HHS to be able to focus its limited funding for a health improvement initiative. The project is divided into three milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three, Seven, and Nine. The final project will be submitted in Module Ten. In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes: • Analyze quantitative data through the integration of appropriate and relevant mathematical objects such as matrices, polynomials, graphs, and derivatives to solve economic problems • Apply appropriate data collection instruments and measures for planning and conducting economic research • Analyze statistical data using appropriate statistical methodologies for the study of economic growth, business cycles, and other dynamic business behavior • Apply probability theory in making economic decisions to competitively position a business Prompt The aim of the HHS initiative, known as NEXI (National Economics of Exercise Initiative), is to increase the amount of leisure-time physical activity of the population for health and economic benefits. A secondary aim of NEXI is to provide some directions for small businesses, nonprofits, and states to apply for contracts and grants, which will provide more leisure-time physical activities to the U.S. population. Therefore, your empirical analysis should answer the following questions: • What are some economic and demographic factors that influence the level of leisure-time physical activity? • Which states and which geographical regions might benefit the most from NEXI? • What kind of businesses can monetarily benefit by creating services for NEXI (based on your findings for the previous questions)? What are the optimal services? 'v ,..,ellOrm the statistical tests, you will use Minitab. The four assigned critical tasks are designed to give a basic introduction to some of the main statistical functions that you will use for your empirical analysis. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: I. Research. The research will provide foundational knowledge for you to select the appropriate data sets and qualitativ ...

1. ECO 510 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
The final project for this course is the creation of an empirical
analysis for HHS executives.
Economists conduct research, collect and analyze data, monitor
economic trends, and develop forecasts. They use their
understanding of economic
relationships to advise businesses, industry, and government
agencies. For this assignment, you are tasked to be an
economist consulting on a study to advise
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on
economic and demographic factors that might influence the
amount of physical activity of the
population. Understanding this nexus among economics,
demographics, and physical activity will be vital for HHS to be
able to focus its limited funding for a
health improvement initiative.
The project is divided into three milestones, which will be
submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold
learning and ensure quality final
submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules
Three, Seven, and Nine. The final project will be submitted in
Module Ten.
In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the
following course outcomes:
• Analyze quantitative data through the integration of
appropriate and relevant mathematical objects such as matrices,
polynomials, graphs, and
derivatives to solve economic problems
• Apply appropriate data collection instruments and
measures for planning and conducting economic research
• Analyze statistical data using appropriate statistical
methodologies for the study of economic growth, business
cycles, and other dynamic business

2. behavior
• Apply probability theory in making economic decisions to
competitively position a business
Prompt
The aim of the HHS initiative, known as NEXI (National
Economics of Exercise Initiative), is to increase the amount of
leisure-time physical activity of the
population for health and economic benefits. A secondary aim
of NEXI is to provide some directions for small businesses,
nonprofits, and states to apply for
contracts and grants, which will provide more leisure-time
physical activities to the U.S. population.
Therefore, your empirical analysis should answer the following
questions:
• What are some economic and demographic factors that
influence the level of leisure-time physical activity?
• Which states and which geographical regions might benefit
the most from NEXI?
• What kind of businesses can monetarily benefit by creating
services for NEXI (based on your findings for the previous
questions)? What are the optimal
services?
'v ,..,ellOrm the statistical tests, you will use Minitab. The four
assigned critical tasks are designed to give a basic introduction
to some of the main statistical
functions that you will use for your empirical analysis.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Research. The research will provide foundational
knowledge for you to select the appropriate data sets and
qualitative information, in order to
answer the three central questions listed in the prompt. Conduct
research to gather background information about the following:
A. Demographics as predictors of health
B. Economic indicators as predictors of health (or vice versa)
e. Leisure-time physical activity as a predictor of health
D. The economics of health

3. Deliverables: For each of the four topics listed above, create a
single two-column table in a Microsoft Word document, where
you list an APA citation
and a brief summary of what you see as valuable information
provided by the material. Each brief summary should be one to
two sentences in length.
You must include at least two scholarly sources for each topic.
II. Data Collection. From your background research,
evaluate and obtain relevant government information and data.
u.S. government sources include
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Bureau of Economic
Analysis, the Centers for Disease Control, and the u.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services.
A. Identify the national and state-level data that you will use
for your qualitative and quantitative analysis.
B. Analyze the strengths and limitations of your data, based
on your background research.
Deliverables: Create an Excel spreadsheet that contains all
relevant data addressing part A. Aggregate your data in relevant
tables, as you will include
these in your final paper. In addition, respond to part B in a
separate Microsoft Word document, including APA citations
where appropriate.
III. Definition of Required Statistical Tests. Identify the
statistical and mathematical tools you will use to conduct your
analysis.
A. The required statistics are:
i. Best-fit line
ii. Central tendencies
iii. Linear regression
iv. Variances
v. Confidence and prediction intervals
B. Determine a maximum of three predictors (independent
variables) for the level of leisure-time physical activity (the
response, or dependent

4. variable). Some possible predictors are: employment, mean
household income, education attainment, and per capita GDP.
e. Provide reasons for using these tests.
Deliverables: Create a rough draft of the above items, ready to
be incorporated into your final paper.
IV. Analysis. Conduct your tests. Use Minitab to perform
the statistical tests and to generate the graphs. Refer to
Minitab's user guide for instructions on
how to perform the statistical tests. Additional Minitab tutorials
are listed in the resources section at the bottom of this
document.
A. Test your hypotheses with the appropriate statistics.
B. Provide a simple linear regression or a multiple regression
model.
e. Provide summaries of the statistical tests, tables of statistical
results (generated by Minitab), and graphs.
D. Discuss the correlation and causal relations between the
variables in your tests.
Deliverables: Create a draft of the graphs, summaries, and
tables. You will be evaluated on the correct use of Minitab in
performing the statistical tests.
The results and analysis will be incorporated into your final
paper.
V. Summary and Conclusion. Based on your background
research and data analysis, address the following:
A. What are some economic and demographic factors that
influence the level of leisure-time physical activity? Consider
employment, mean
household income, education attainment, per capita GDP, and so
on.
B. Which states and which geographical regions might benefit
the most from NEXI? Consider employment, mean household
income, education
attainment, per capita GDP, percent of no leisure-time activity,
and so on.
e. How could businesses, nonprofits, and states make a

5. contribution? What businesses might profit from starting up,
growing, or expanding into
new territories (region or states)? What is the probability of
success for these businesses?
D. What are the limitations of your results?
E. Based on confidence intervals and regression statistics,
what is your level of confidence in your results?
Deliverables: Final paper incorporating research, analysis, and
conclusions.
Resources
In this course, you must use Minitab. If you have not done so
already, download the application and take the Minitab Quality
Trainer, available here. Register for
an account to utilize this training resource.
Minitab is a Windows-only program. If you have a Mac, you
can access Minitab using SNHU's virtual desktop infrastructure
(VDI). Click herefor instructions to
download the VOl.
Statistics with Minitab tutorials:
linear Regression
Multiple Regression
Confidence and Prediction Intervals
First Order Multiple Regression Model
Multiple Regression Model With Interaction Terms
Second Order Regression Model
Higher Order Regression Model with Two Independent
Variables
Regression Model With a Qualitative Predictor
Regression Model With Two Qualitative Predictors
Multiple Regression Model With Qualitative and Quantitative
Predictors
Detecting Lack of Fit Part I
Detecting Lack of Fit Part II
Milestones
Milestone One:Research and Data Collection
In Module Three, you will submit your research and data

6. collection results. For each of the four topics listed in the
research section above, create a single two-
column table in a Microsoft Word document, in which you list
an APA citation and a brief summary of what you see as the
valuable information provided by the
material. Each brief summary should be one to two sentences in
length. You must include at least two scholarly sources for each
topic.
For data collection, you will submit an Excel spreadsheet that
contains all relevant data addressing part A in the data
collection section listed above. Aggregate
your data in relevant tables, as you will include these in your
final paper. In addition, respond to part B in a separate
Microsoft Word document, including APA
citations where appropriate. This milestone is graded with the
Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two:Draft of Definition of Required Statistical Tests
In Module Seven, you will submit a draft addressing all
components of the definition of required statistical tests section.
You will identify the statistical and
mathematical tools you will use to conduct your analysis,
determine a maximum of three predictors (independent
variables) for the level of leisure-time physical
activity (the response, or dependent variable), and provide
reasons for using these tests. This milestone is graded with the
Milestone Two Rubric.
Milestone Three:Draft of Analysis
In Module Nine, you will submit a draft of your analysis. You
will create a draft of the graphs, summaries, and tables
developed from the Analysis critical element
as listed above. You will be evaluated on the correct use of
Minitab in performing the analysis. This milestone is graded
with the Milestone Three Rubric.
Final Submission:Empirical Analysis for HHS Executives
In Module Ten, you will submit your final paper summarizing
your empirical analysis to HHS executives. It should be a

7. complete, polished artifact containing all
of the critical elements of the final project. It should reflect the
incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This
milestone will be graded using the
Final Project Rubric.
Deliverables
Milestone
Deliverable
Module Due
Grading
1
Research and Data Collection
3
Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric
2
Draft of Definition of Required Statistical Tests
7
Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric
3
Draft of Analysis
9
Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric
Final Submission: Empirical Analysis for HHS Executives
10
Graded separately; Final Project Rubric
-----
--------------------
Final Project Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: The final submission must be 8-10
pages in length. All resources used to support the presentation
must be properly cited in APA
format.

8. Instructor Feedback: This activity uses an integrated rubric in
Blackboard. Students can view instructor feedback in the Grade
Center. For more information,
review these instructions.
Critical Elements
Exemplary (100)
Proficient (90)
Needs Improvement (70)
Not Evident (0)
Value
Research
Submission meets "Proficient"
Submission includes a two-
Submission includes a two-
Submission does not provide the
10
criteria and provides additional
column table with all necessary
column table, but does not list
required table or resource
citations with summaries
background information, listing at
two APA citations and/or a brief
information
least two APA citations and a brief
summary of scholarly sources for

9. summary of scholarly sources for
each topic
each topic
Data Collection
Submission meets "Proficient"
Submission provides national and
Submission does not provide
Submission does not identify
10
criteria and provides an insightful
state-level data in Excel for
national and state-level data in
possible data sources for analysis
rationale for why the data sources
qualitative and quantitative
Excel for qualitative and
are important to the study
analysis, and analyzes the
quantitative analysis, and/or does

10. strengths and limitations of the
not analyze the strengths and
data, based on background
limitations of the data, based on
research
background research
1.
--_. ----- /
Statistical Tests
Submission meets "Proficient"
Submission identifies the
Submission does not identify the
Submission does not identify the
20
criteria and clearly explains why
statistical and mathematical tools
statistical and mathematical tools
statistical and mathematical tools

11. the selected predictors are
for conducting analysis and shows
for conducting analysis and/or
for conducting analysis or show all
superior to those not selected
all required statistics, determines
does not show all required
required statistics
a maximum of three predictors
statistics, and does not determine
for the level of leisure-time
predictors for the level of leisure-
physical activity, and provides
time physical activity or provide

12. I
reasons for using these tests
reasons for using these tests
I
Analysis: Graphs
Meets "Proficient" and
Submission uses Minitab to
Submission uses Minitab to
Statistical tests and graphs are not
10
!
demonstrates insight into
perform the statistical tests and
perform the statistical tests and
produced in submission or
identifying the best descriptive

13. generate the graphs, tests the
generate the graphs, and tests the
Minitab is not used
I
statistics for hypothesis testing in
hypotheses with the appropriate
hypotheses but not with the
economics
statistics, and provides a simple
appropriate statistics, or does not
linear regression or a multiple
provide a simple linear regression
i
regression model
or a multiple regression model

14. Analysis: Tables
Meets "Proficient" criteria and
Submission includes an
Submission provides incoherent
Submission does not include
10
shows exceptional insight into the
appropriate set of charts, graphs,
or unrelated charts, graphs, or
supporting charts, graphs, or
how graphs, tables, and other
or tables that directly support the
tables
tables
representations of data analysis
statistical analysis of the test
are crucial for testing and

15. communication of results
Analysis: Summary
Meets "Proficient" criteria and
Submission provides a summary
Submission provides an
Submission does not provide a
10
shows exceptional insight into the
accurately interpreting the results
incomplete summary or errors in
summary and analysis
interpretation of the results of the
of the statistical tests (tables and
interpretation of test results are

16. hypothesis test
graphs) and discusses the
present
correlation and causal relations
between the variables tested
UVU'-'.l.lVl...I...£ ,- ...•.•. - .•..•..•.. r----- - _ _ J
Summary and
Meets "Proficient" criteria and
Incorporates relevant research,
Does not incorporate correct
Does not incorporate research,
20
Conclusion
shows exceptional insight into the
cogent analysis, and logical

17. research, analysis, and/or
analysis, and conclusions
interpretation of the results
conclusions, including economic
conclusions, or explain the
and demographic factors that
limitations of results, and/or state
influence the level of leisure-time
the level of confidence based on
physical activity and identification
confidence intervals and
of states and organizations that
regression statistics

18. might benefit from or make a
contribution to NEXI; submission
also explains the limitations of
results and states student's level
of confidence based on

19. confidence intervals and
regression statistics
Articulation of
Submission is free of errors
Submission has no major errors
Submission has major errors
Submission has critical errors
10
I
related to citations, grammar,
related to citations, grammar,
related to citations, grammar,
related to citations, grammar,
I
Response

20. spelling, syntax, and organization
spelling, syntax, or organization
spelling, syntax, or organization
spelling, syntax, or organization
and is presented in a professional
that negatively impact readability
that prevent readability and
and easy-to-read format
and articulation of main ideas
articulation of main ideas
Earned Total
100