Answer:The value of z test statistics is 1.561.
Explanation:
We are given that a poll finds that 54% of the 600 people polled favor the incumbent.
Shortly after the poll is taken, it is disclosed that the incumbent had an extramarital affair. A new poll finds that 50% of the 1030 polled now favor the incumbent.
Let p_1 = population proportion of people who favor the incumbent in the first poll
p_2 = population proportion of people who favor the incumbent in the second poll
So, Null Hypothesis, H_0 : p_1\geq p_2 {means that his support has increased or remained same after the second poll}
Alternate Hypothesis, H_0 : p_1 < p_2 {means that his support has decreased after the second poll}
The test statistics that would be used here is Two-sample z test for proportions;
where, \hat p_1 = sample proportion of people who favor the incumbent in first poll = 54%
\hat p_1 = sample proportion of people who favor the incumbent in second poll = 50%
n_1 = sample of people in first poll = 600
n_2 = sample of people in second poll = 1030
So, the test statistics = 1.561
Hence, the value of z test statistics is 1.561.