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Chapter 1: Q12. (page 49)
Define statistical thinking.
Statistical thinking refers to designing and conducting studies about data to draw detailed conclusions about the observed data by focusing on research questions.
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What is a representative sample? What is its value?
Consumer recycling behavior. Under what conditions will consumers dispose of recyclable paper in the garbage? This was the question of interest in an article published in the Journal of Consumer Research (December, 2013). In one of the studies conducted, the researchers instructed 78 college students to cut an 8.5-×11-inch sheet of paper into eight smaller pieces. Half the students were randomly assigned to list five uses for the cut paper (usefulness is salient condition). The students in the other half were asked to list their five favorite TV shows (control condition). After completing an unrelated task, all students were asked to dispose of the paper upon leaving. There was a trash bin and a recycling bin outside the door. The researchers kept track of which students recycled and which students disposed of their paper in the garbage. This information was used to test the theory that students in the usefulness is salient condition will recycle at a higher rate than students in the control condition.
a. Explain why the data-collection method used in this study is a designed experiment.
b. Identify the experimental unit in this study.
c. Identify the variables measured in this study. What data type (quantitative or qualitative) is produced from each variable? (Hint: Two variables are measured.)
d. About 68% of the students in the usefulness is recycled, compared to 37% of students in the control condition. Use this information to make an inference about the population of interest.
Question: Performance-based logistics. In industry, performance-based logistics (PBL) strategies are increasingly popular ways to reduce cost, increase revenue, and attain customer satisfaction. The Journal of Business Logistics (Vol. 36, 2015) used the opinions of a sample of 17 upper-level employees of the U.S. Department of Defense and its suppliers to determine the factors that lead to successful PBL projects. The current position (e.g., vice president, manager [mgr.]), type of organization (commercial or government), and years of experience were measured for each employee interviewed. These data are listed below. Identify each variable measured as producing quantitative or qualitative data.
Interviews | Position | Organization | Experience (years) |
1 | Vice president | Commercial | 30 |
2 | Post production | Government | 15 |
3 | Analyst | Commercial | 10 |
4 | Senior mgr. | Government | 30 |
5 | Support chief | Commercial | 30 |
6 | Specialist | Government | 25 |
7 | Senior analyst | Government | 9 |
8 | Division chief | Government | 6 |
9 | Item mgr. | Government | 3 |
10 | Senior mgr. | Government | 20 |
11 | MRO mgr. | Government | 25 |
12 | Logistics mgr. | Government | 30 |
13 | MRO mgr. | Commercial | 10 |
14 | MRO mgr. | Commercial | 5 |
15 | MRO mgr. | Commercial | 10 |
16 | Specialist | Government | 20 |
17 | Chief | Government | 25 |
Explain how populations and samples differ?
List and define the five elements of an inferential statistical analysis.
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