Diaper Cost Analysis

DIAPER COST ANALYSIS

Directions: Your family friend is expecting her first baby and she is nervous about how much it is going to cost. She is especially confused about how much diapers are going to cost and her friends give her conflicting advice on where to purchase them. Some of her friends swear by using coupons at the local grocery store, other friends say an Amazon Mom membership will save her money even though it costs an annual fee. Help your friend figure it out by gathering the data, analyzing the variables, comparing 4 different retailers and solving this problem.

Analysis Paper Outline

I. Introduction

II. Methodology

III. Assumptions

IV. Data Collection

V. Results

VI. Study Limitations

VII. Discussion

VIII. Conclusions

Introduction

 The introduction paragraph should draw your audience in and describe the situation, the problem, and the analysis you are going to do to solve it. This paragraph should contain some background information to enhance the understanding for the reader as to the reason for the analysis.

Methodology

 Explain the steps you took to solve the problem. E.g. multiplied cost of a diaper by monthly usage. The steps should be in sequential order.

Assumptions

 Keep track of all the assumptions you make when solving the problem. Explain all the assumptions you made even if you think they are understood. For example, “the study assumes that children are potty trained by age 3.”

www.FamilyConsumerSciences.com Data Collection

 This is where you give the actual data you collected. You need to do this in an organized way so some writing may be appropriate, but also use charts, tables, and graphic organizers.

Results

 After you do the math necessary to figure out which retailer has the cheapest option you should show your work by providing graphs or charts.

 Explain in sentences the results like which one was cheaper and what variable(s) played the biggest role in making it that way.

Study Limitations

 In this section is where you write about anything that you know your analysis is not accounting for, or potential errors with your analysis.

Discussion

 Anticipate questions and answer objections in this section. For example one might say that your study is invalid because you didn’t consider coupons. If you did consider coupons, explain why they were not part of your study or why you eliminated it as a variable.

Conclusions

 Conclusions are more than just saying which company to buy from. Your conclusions should be other broad, general findings you have discovered along the way. For example, “online retailers offer more coupons than grocery stores if you sign up for their daily emails.”

www.FamilyConsumerSciences.com DIAPER ANALYSIS REPORT RUBRIC

4 Points 3Points 2 Points 1-0 Points Title Page A title page with Missing one Missing two No title page or title, subtitle, component of components missing 3 or more Name, Block, proper title page. of proper title components of Date is included. page. proper title page. Introduction The purpose of The purpose of The purpose The purpose of the analysis was the analysis was of the analysis the analysis was clearly identified identified and was partially erroneous, and reasons for reasons for study identified and irrelevant, study was given. was given but in reasons for missing or the a somewhat study was reasons for study unclear manner. given may or were unclear or may not have missing. been given. Methodology All steps are Most steps are Some steps Section is either presented in presented in presented but missing, vague, or logical order logical order, are either out contains too few however may be of order or steps to solve the missing one or missing 3 or problem. two. more. Data Results Professional Accurate Either data is Data is either looking and representation of not presented inaccurate, accurate the data in clearly or missing, or representation of tables/graphs. missing tables/graphs are the data in Graphs and titles/labels. unacceptable. tables/graphs. tables are Labels and titles labeled and present. titled. Discussion & Ideas in Ideas in Ideas in Vague or non- Study discussion are discussion are discussion existent Limitations organized and organized and either are not discussion to successfully anticipate and organized, or answer objections anticipate and answer some study was not or discuss flaws answer analysis analysis thought out in analysis. objections/flaws. objections/flaws. enough to answer objections or discuss flaws. Conclusions Conclusions are Conclusions for Conclusions Conclusions poor, extremely logical, the most part are are vague, missing or are specific, logical, specific, general, or vague, general, or thorough and use and use data to don’t use don’t use specific data to support support findings. specific data data to support findings. to support findings. findings. Writing Demonstrates A few grammar, Some Does not use or www.FamilyConsumerSciences.com correct word voice, word grammar, incorrectly uses choice and choice or spelling voice, word appropriate word scholarly voice. mistakes but not choice or choice and/or Report contains enough to spelling voice. Many no grammatical distract from mistakes that grammar/spelling or spelling flow of paper. distract from errors. errors. flow of paper. Presentation Report is Report is neat Report is Report’s neatness extremely neat and easy to read lacking either and/or and easy to read. and contains formatting, readability is It is formatted in some formatting. headings, unsatisfactory. a way that makes labels, or it easy to read neatness that with proper would make it section titles and easier to read. labeled figures. Footer contains page number.

TOTAL POINTS: ______