Chapter 3: Q. 190 (page 139)

Magazine Ads. Advertising researchers F. Shuptrine and D. McVicker wanted to determine whether there were significant differences in the readability of magazine advertisements. Thirty magazines were classified based on their educational level-high, mid, or low-and then three magazines were randomly selected from each level. From each magazine, six advertisements were randomly chosen and examined for readability. In this particular case, readability was characterized by the numbers of words, sentences, and words of three syllables or more in each ad. The researchers published their findings in the article "Readability Levels of Magazine Ads" (Journal of Adrertiving Reseanch, Vol. $21, N o . 5, p p . 45 - 51$ ). The number of words of three syllables or more in each ad are provided on the Weissstats site.

Short Answer

Expert verified

On average, the number of words is higher in high education level magazines and lowest in medium education level magazines. The high and medium education level magazines appear to vary roughly the same amount in the number of words, while the low education level magazines vary a lot less in the number of words.

Step by step solution

Step 1:Given Information

We are given case study of thirty magazines which were classified based on their educational level-high, mid, or low-and then three magazines were randomly selected from each level. From each magazine, six advertisements were randomly chosen and examined for readability. Readability was characterized by the numbers of words, sentences, and words of three syllables or more in each ad.

Step 2:Explanation

From given information we get following data:

	Min.	Q1	Median	Q3	Max
High	$3$	$6$	$17$	$31$	$39$
Medium	$0$	$3$	$6.5$	$22$	$29$
Low	$1$	$10$	$12$	$15$	$43$

Center: On average, the number of words is higher in high education level magazines and lowest in medium education level magazines, because the line in the box of the boxplot of "High" is more to the right than the line in the box of the boxplot

of "Low" and even more to the right than the line in the box of the boxplot "Medium".

Variation: The high and medium education level magazines appear to vary roughly the same amount in the number of words, while the low education level magazines vary a lot less in the number of words, because the boxplots of "High" and "Medium" have roughly the same width, while boxplot for "Low" appears much narrower.

Unusual features: The sample containing low education level magazines have a few unusually low and high number of words.

Hence, we conclude that On average, the number of words is higher in high education level magazines and lowest in medium education level magazines. The high and medium education level magazines appear to vary roughly the same amount in the number of words, while the low education level magazines vary a lot less in the number of words.