Mens Bicep Size and Pull Up Ability

Math 1040 Term Project

Lauren Johnson 4/14/2013

Purpose
The purpose of our study was to determine if bicep size (measured in cm.) in males is related to the number of pull ups the male is able to do.

Study Design

Explanatory variable- Bicep size (in cm.) Response variable- Number of pull ups completed (counted) Population- Males n= 60 Sampling technique- We chose to use a stratified sample. We chose three strata, randomly sampling twenty men from each strata. Our first strata consisted of men at the gym, our second consisted of men in a workplace, and our third strata consisted of men at a sports viewing event. We chose a stratified sample to gain a wider range of data. (For example, if we had collected all of our samples at the gym we would not have accounted for the men who did not work out on a regular basis). We collected data from each sample in the same manner. We first measured each subjects right bicep (or arm) in centimeters, we then had them perform as many pull ups as they could do on a pull up bar placed in a door jam and recorded the results.

Data, Statistics and Graphs

Bicep Size in cm. and Pull Ups Completed

Bicep Size (cm) 26 27.9 29 29.4 29.5 30 30 30.5 30.5 31 31 31.5 31.5 31.8 32 32 32 32.4 32.5 33 33 33 33.25 33.4 33.4 33.5 33.5 33.5 33.5 34 # of Pull Ups 5 20 14 11 10 22 18 6 15 14 11 10 17 8 4 8 5 14 15 16 5 19 5 17 9 8 19 6 10 17

34 34.3 34.5 35.4 35.5 35.5 35.5 35.6 36 36 36 36.8 36.8 36.8 37.5 38 38 38 38.1 38.5 39 39.4 39.4 40 40.6 41 41.5 41.5 43.5 48.5

13 18 14 11 18 20 1 7 24 14 9 1 4 13 15 20 18 7 7 5 0 4 12 15 6 1 9 2 8 0

Summary statistics: Bicep Size (cm.) Column Mean Std. Dev. Range Min Max Q1 22.5 Q3 IQR
Mode- 33.5

Bicep Size (cm) 34.8125 4.1400547

26 48.5 32 37.75 5.75 Outliers- 48.5

Summary statistics: # Of Pull Ups Column # of Pull Ups Mean Std. Dev. Range Min Max Q1 Q3 IQR 10.9 6.149824 24 0 24 6 15.5
Mode- (Bimodal) 5, 14

9.5 Outliers- None

Simple linear regression results: Dependent Variable: # of Pull Ups Independent Variable: Bicep Size (cm) # of Pull Ups = 28.292253 - 0.49959797 Bicep Size (cm) Sample size: 60 R (correlation coefficient) = -0.3363

Difficulties/Surprises Encountered
I encountered a few difficulties with this study. First, the collection of data was a bit difficult. I had to choose a few new samples because I had some of my randomly chosen samples refuse to participate. I was surprised at the self consciousness of many of the men. I did not expect to encounter this issue in my sampling. I was surprised at the data I obtained as well; the data was not what I expected it to be. I found that weight correlated more so with pull up ability than our explanatory variable (Bicep size). After creating a scatter plot I initially thought that there was not a linear correlation between our variables. After further inspection I realized that there was in fact a moderate negative correlation. I had almost missed this by simply observing the scatter plot. I had expected my data to display a positive linear correlation, so I was quite surprised by these results.

Analysis
Both of the histograms I created for each of my variables are skewed slightly right; however the histogram for the variable number of pull ups displays a much wider spread. Initially when I examined my scatter plot and r value (-0.3363) I concluded that there was not a linear correlation between my variables. After further research, however, I found that the critical value for a sample size n=60 is .254. The absolute value of my r value is 0.3363, which is greater than the critical value for my sample size; therefore it displays a negative linear correlation. This correlation turned out to be quite moderate, but a negative linear correlation none the less.

Interpretation and Conclusions

Because my correlation coefficient was greater than the critical value for a sample size of n=60, I concluded that I did, in fact, have a negative correlation between bicep size in males and the number of pull ups they are able to do. Based on these results I have concluded that, in general, men with smaller bicep size (or arm size) are able to do more pull ups. Initially I expected to have my data display a positive correlation rather than a negative correlation. I believe I obtained these results because I did not take into account body weight or body fat percentage. (Even though I tried to control for these factors using random sampling through a stratified sampling technique.) Although some of the men may have had bigger arm measurements, my measurements did not take into account the fat content of their arm, nor did it account for the weight of the men (how much they had to lift.) I believe the men with

bigger biceps often had a lower body fat content, therefore giving them a leaner arm and a smaller measurement of the arm.