Question

We have data from a survey on 200 17-year old girls who have been in touch with the criminal justice system. It includes data on high school graduation and number of prior arrests. We want to know if there is a difference in the number of prior arrests depending on whether a respondent graduated from high school. Which statistical test would you use?

a) matched-sample t-test

b) t-test with equal variances

c) t-test with unequal variances

d) two-sample z-test

Answer 1

A two-sample z-test would be used to determine if there is a difference in the number of prior arrests depending on high school graduation. The correct answer is d) two-sample z-test.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine if there is a difference in the number of prior arrests depending on whether a respondent graduated from high school, you would use a two-sample z-test. This test is appropriate when the sample sizes are large and the variance is known or can be assumed to be equal in both groups.

The two samples in this case are the respondents who graduated from high school and those who did not. The number of prior arrests would be the variable of interest.

The null hypothesis would be that there is no difference in the number of prior arrests between high school graduates and non-graduates. The alternative hypothesis would be that there is a difference.