Assume You Want to Compare the Means of Two Samples

Essay

Assume you want to compare the means of two samples [male (n = 35) and female (n = 27) offenders] regarding the average number of drinks an offender consumed per week prior to incarceration. The female sample (n = 27) had an average of 5.1 drinks/week (s = 1.2) and the male sample (n = 35) had an average of 9.4 drinks/week (s = 2.6). Let us assume we know the t value, which we assume to be 1.96.
a. State the null and alternative hypothesis (nondirectional, two tailed).
b. Calculate the degrees of freedom.
c. State the decision rule (α = 0.05).
d. Indicate your decision and explain.