Final answer:
The best statistical test to determine if there is a significant difference in the severity of punishment among different race/ethnicity groups is the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best statistical test to determine if there is a significant difference in the severity of punishment among the different groups is the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test.
ANOVA can be used when comparing the means of more than two groups, which is the case in this study with the seven race/ethnicity groups.
By conducting an ANOVA test, you can determine if there are significant differences in the average length of suspension among the different race/ethnicity groups.