Question

Students recruited at the cafeteria at Hope College were blindly given a single Skittles® candy to put in their mouth. They were told the five possible flavors and then were asked which flavor they had. Of the 154 healthy students tested, 78 gave the correct answer. Of the 118 students tested who had stuffy or runny noses, 44 gave the correct answer.

1. Did the study involve random sampling, random assignment, both, or neither?
2. An appropriate analysis of the data shows that there is strong evidence that healthy students were more likely to give the correct answer. Is it appropriate to conclude that the health of the student affects ability to taste? Why or why not?

Answer 1

1) both

2) Yes. It is appropriate to conclude that the health of the student affects ability to taste.

Explanation:

Random Sampling is done when each element of the sample has equal probability of being chosen. In both the samples of healthy and runny nose students each student has equal probability of being tested.

Random Assignment is one in which there is a control group and experimental group. The control group contains all the participants and each participant has the equal probability of being placed in the experimental group. For example in this experiment each student has equal probability of being tested with the given chocolate bar.

2) Yes. It is appropriate to conclude that the health of the student affects ability to taste.

the probability of success in healthy student is 78/154= 0.5065 = 50.65%

the probability of success in runny nose student is 44/118= 0.3729 = 37.29%

From this we see the probability of success is more in healthy students as compared to runny nose students

50.65> 37.29

Therefore it is appropriate to conclude that the health of the student affects ability to taste.