SCENARIO 10-2
a Researcher Randomly Sampled 30 Graduates of an MBA

question 266

Multiple Choice

SCENARIO 10-2
A researcher randomly sampled 30 graduates of an MBA program and recorded data concerning their starting salaries.Of primary interest to the researcher was the effect of gender on starting salaries.
The result of the pooled-variance t-test of the mean salaries of the females (Population 1) and males
(Population 2) in the sample is given below. $\begin{array}{|l|r|}\hline \text { Hypothesized Difference } & 0 \\\hline \text { Level of Significance } & 0.05 \\\hline\text { Population 1 Sample }\\\hline \text { Sample Size } & 18 \\\hline \text { Sample Mean } & 99210 \\\hline \text { Sample Standard Deviation } & 13577 \\\text { Population 2 Sample } \\\hline \text { Sample Size } & 12 \\\hline \text { Sample Mean } & 105820 \\\hline \text { Sample Standard Deviation } & 11741 \\\hline\\\hline \text { Difference in Sample Means } & -6610 \\\hline t \text { Test Statistic } & -1.37631 \\\hline\\\hline {\text { Lower-Tail Test }} \\\hline \text { Lower Critical Value } & -1.70113 \\\hline \text { p-Value } & 0.089816 \\\hline\end{array}$
-Referring to Scenario 10-2, the researcher was attempting to show statistically that the female MBA graduates have a significantly lower mean starting salary than the male MBA graduates.The proper conclusion for this test is:

• A)At the \(\alpha\) = 0.10 level, there is sufficient evidence to indicate a difference in the mean starting salaries of male and female MBA graduates.
• B)At the \(\alpha\)= 0.10 level, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that females have a lower mean starting salary than male MBA graduates.
• C)At the \(\alpha\) = 0.10 level, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that females have a higher mean starting salary than male MBA graduates.
• D)At the \(\alpha\) = 0.10 level, there is insufficient evidence to indicate any difference in the mean starting salaries of male and female MBA graduates.

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Definitions:

Coefficient Alpha

A measure of the internal consistency or reliability of a psychometric test score for a sample of examinees.

Average Interitem Correlations

A statistic used to measure the consistency of responses among related items on a questionnaire or test, indicating the scale's internal reliability.

Reliability Estimate

A statistical measure that quantifies the consistency of a set of measurements or ratings.

Validity

The extent to which a concept, conclusion, or measurement is well-founded and corresponds accurately to the real world.