Read pages 147-31 of Visual and Statistical Thinking by E.R. Tufte on the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger. Based on your reading, answer the following questions:

1. What were the rocket engineers concerned about on the day before the flight, and why? What made them change their recommendation?

2. The engineers and other officials were interested in the population/process of shuttle launches. What was the available sample that enabled them to infer something about the next (i.e. Challenger) launch?

3. What was the key explanatory variable the engineers were interested in? What was the response variable they were concerned about? Why did the engineers believe there was a relationship between these two variables?

4. The day before the shuttle launch, the rocket engineers presented an analysis along with a recommendation. Very briefly, describe the contents of this analysis. Identify some of the key weaknesses of the engineers presentation.

5. What was the critical omission (in terms of the available sample) that weakened the engineers' recommendation? Why wouldn't NASA officials accept their recommendation?

6. Briefly and clearly describe what you see in the scatterplot at the top of page 23. How does this relate to the engineers' concerns?

7. Describe some of the problems associated with the plots and charts presented during the testimony before the presidential commission.

8. Identify some ways in which the key ideas and relationships of the charts presented to the commission could have been communicated more clearly.

9. Who was Richard Feynman, and what "experiment" did he demonstrate before the committee? In what way was his demonstration pivotal to the investigation?

10. Describe specifically how the principles discussed in the Conclusion apply to research in your field. Use an example, if possible.