This semester Kristin Snopkowski, an associate professor of anthropology, involved her students in a successful data research project with Zoo Boise for her DATA-LA 485: Statistical Modeling in R class.
Snopkowski designed this service-learning assignment to give her students hands-on experience analyzing data while addressing a real community need. Through this assignment, students conducted statistical analyses to produce a report on whether the new zoo exhibits increased empathy among young visitors.
Zoo Boise was delighted with the final reports; the nonprofit plans to utilize them to fulfill a grant requirement and for a report that will be distributed to funders and fellow organizations that are members of the network Advancing Conservation through Empathy.