Statistics hypothesis test question Many states now collect
Statistics hypothesis test question?
Many states now collect data on traffic stops regarding the race of the driver. With more data in hand attention has turned to civil rights issues. Example, data from 2533 traffic stops in Cincinnati report the race of the driver (Black, White, or Other) and whether the traffic stop resulted in a search of the vehicle. Is race a factor in vehicle searches? At =0.05, what conclusion can we make? (Adapted from: STATS Data and Models, 8th edition).
Searched
Black
White
Other
Total
No
787
594
27
1408
Yes
813
293
19
1125
Total
1600
887
46
2533
Ho: Ha:
Critical Value(s)/rejection region(s):
Test Statistic:
P-value:
Decision and conclusion:
| Searched | Black | White | Other | Total |
| No | 787 | 594 | 27 | 1408 |
| Yes | 813 | 293 | 19 | 1125 |
| Total | 1600 | 887 | 46 | 2533 |
Solution
Here,
Ho: Traffic stops is independent of race.
Ha: Traffic stops is not independent of race.
*********************************
With df = (a - 1)(b - 1), where a and b are the number of categories of each variable,
a = 3
b = 2
df = 2
Thus, the critical value is
significance level = 0.05
chi^2(critical) = 5.991464547 [ANSWER, CRITICAL VALUE]
Thus, reject Ho when chi^2 > 5.9915. [ANSWER, REJECTION REGION]
********************************
Doing an Expected Value Chart,
889.3801816 493.0501382 25.56968022
710.6198184 393.9498618 20.43031978
Using chi^2 = Sum[(O - E)^2/E],
chi^2 = 73.25312847 [ANSWER, TEST STATISTIC]
**********************************
Also, the p value is
P = 1.23961*10^-16 [ANSWER]
**********************************
As chi^2 > 5.9915, and P < 0.05, we REJECT THE NULL HYPOTHESIS.
Thus, there is significant evidence that traffic stops is not independent of race. [CONCLUSION]

