Data Collection:  The first Step.

This class is part of the new dragon core. In addition to economics, we also provide information on critical thinking and multicultural thinking. We started the CT sections by examining an argument and presenting the basic terminology used not only logic courses, but in most sciences.  Our next CT sections will discuss model building. (That is why Econ and CT are a perfect match!)  We already have some of the basics with the scientific method.  And we will use the scientific method to bring in the multicultural aspects.  The first step in the scientific method is to examine the data.  That is your job.

 Consult the census web site (www.census.gov) to answer the following questions about poverty in America. Your answers must be typed and labeled appropriately.  I do not want a list of numbers. The graph and tables can be done on graph paper if you do them professionally. However, I suggest that you use the table function in a spreadsheet program, like Excel.  We will follow up this data collection with the second stage of the scientific method, making a hypothesis.  That will be after the Thanksgiving.

 1. Briefly describe how the government determines whether an individual is in poverty?

 2. What is the poverty threshold for an individual under the age of 65?

 3. What is the poverty threshold for a family of four (two adults and two children)?

 4. What is the poverty threshold for a family of four (one adult and three children)?

 5. What was the total number of people in poverty in 2005?

 6. What is the percentage of the total population in poverty in 2005?

 7. What percentage of those in poverty were White?

 8. What percentage of those in poverty were Black?

 9. What percentage of those in poverty were Asian?

 10. What percentage of those in poverty were Hispanic?

 11. Make a pie chart showing the racial composition of poverty.

 12. What region of the United States has the greatest number in poverty?  What is the number in poverty?

 13. What percentage (on the average over the last 3 years) of the White (non-Hispanic) population is in poverty?

 14. What percentage (on the average over the last 3 years) of the Black population is in poverty?

 15. What percentage (on the average over the last 3 years) of the American Indian population is in poverty?

 16. What percentage (on the average over the last 3 years) of the Asian population is in poverty?

 17. What percentage (on the average over the last 3 years) of the Hispanic population is in poverty?

 18. Make a pie chart illustrating the numbers (or percentages) by age- group of people in poverty.

 19. Make a line chart of the numbers in poverty from 1960 to 2005.

 20 Make a line chart of the per capita numbers in poverty (number in poverty / total population) from 1960 to 2005.

 21. What percentage of those below 100% of poverty did not have a High School diploma?

 22. What percentage of those below 100% of poverty did not had a four-year degree?

 23. What percentage of the males below 100% of poverty did not have a High School diploma?

 24. What percentage of the females below 100% of poverty did not have a High School diploma?

 25. What percentage of the "White alone" below 100% of poverty did not have a High School diploma?

 26. What percentage of the "Black alone" below 100% of poverty did not have a High School diploma?

 27. What percentage of the "Asian alone" below 100% of poverty did not have a High School diploma?

 28. What percentage of the Hispanic (of any race) below 100% of poverty did not have a High School diploma?