Question

A poll of a random sample of1400 adults reported that respondents slept an average of 6.5 hours on weekdays and 7.2 hours on​ weekends, and that 20% of respondents got eight or more hours of sleep on​ weekdays, whereas 43% got eight or more hours of sleep on weekends. To compare the means or the percentages using inferential​ methods, should you treat the samples on weekdays and weekends as independent samples or as dependent​samples?

A. Independent Samples
B. Dependent Samples

Answer 1

b) Dependent sample

Explanation:

Given:

Sample size, n = 1400

The average sleep of the respondents in weekdays = 6.5 hours

The average sleep of the respondents in weekends = 7.2 hours

% with eight or more hours of sleep on​ weekdays = 20%

% with eight or more hours of sleep on​ weekends = 43%

Required: To Check if the samples on weekdays and weekends are independent or dependent.

When samples are independent, it means one sample does not influence the other and vice versa, while samples are said to be dependent if the outcome of one test influences the outcome of the other. The tests might be from a similar population or from various populations.

In this case, the sample gathered are from similar population because same sample is used for both weekdays and weekends. Therefore, we can say the sample is a paired sample.

The samples on weekdays and weekends are dependent since same people are used, also since sleep on weekdays and sleep on weekends may influence each other.