Ch. 1 - Introduction to Statistics

Larson - Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World 8th Edition

Larson8th EditionElementary Statistics: Picturing the WorldISBN: 9780137493470Not the one you use?Change textbook

Larson 8th Edition

Ch. 1 - Introduction to Statistics

Problem 1.3.21

Chapter 1, Problem 1.3.21

A researcher wants to study the effects of sleep deprivation on motor skills. Eighteen people volunteer for the experiment: Jake, Arya, Xavier, Nyla, Shaniece, Chen, Juan, Hana, Nia, Ansel, Liam, Bruno, Mei, Zoey, Kayla, Liam, Sofia, and Kai. Use a random number generator to choose nine subjects for the treatment group. The other nine subjects will go into the control group. List the subjects in each group. Tell which method you used to generate the random numbers.

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Assign a unique number to each of the 18 participants. For example, Jake = 1, Arya = 2, Xavier = 3, and so on until Kai = 18.

Step 2: Use a random number generator to generate nine unique random numbers between 1 and 18. Ensure that the random number generator does not repeat numbers.

Step 3: Match the generated random numbers to the participants' assigned numbers. These participants will form the treatment group.

Step 4: The remaining participants (those whose numbers were not selected) will automatically be assigned to the control group.

Step 5: Document the method used for generating random numbers (e.g., a computer-based random number generator or a random number table) and list the participants in each group based on the random selection process.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.

Video duration:

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Random Sampling

Random sampling is a technique used to select a subset of individuals from a larger population, ensuring that each member has an equal chance of being chosen. This method helps to eliminate bias and allows for the generalization of results to the entire population. In this scenario, the researcher uses random sampling to assign subjects to either the treatment or control group, which is crucial for the validity of the experiment.

Control Group vs. Treatment Group

In experimental research, the treatment group receives the intervention or treatment being tested, while the control group does not, serving as a baseline for comparison. This distinction is essential for assessing the effects of the treatment. In this study, the treatment group will experience sleep deprivation, while the control group will not, allowing the researcher to measure the impact on motor skills effectively.

Random Number Generator

A random number generator (RNG) is a tool used to produce a sequence of numbers that lack any pattern, ensuring randomness. In the context of this experiment, the RNG is employed to select which subjects will be assigned to the treatment group, thereby facilitating an unbiased selection process. This method enhances the reliability of the study's findings by ensuring that the groups are comparable.

Recommended video:

Guided course

07:09

Intro to Random Variables & Probability Distributions

Related Practice

Textbook Question

Determine whether the data are qualitative or quantitative, and determine the level of measurement of the data set.

The top six final scores at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Championships are listed. (Source: NBC Sports)

232.61 215.33 214.98 213.39 199.95 178.89

views

Textbook Question

The items below appear on a physician’s intake form. Determine the level of measurement of the data for each category.

a. Temperature

b. Allergies

c. Weight

d. Pain level (scale of 0 to 10)

views

Textbook Question

Determine whether the number describes a population parameter or a sample statistic. Explain your reasoning.

Voter registration records show that 47% of all voters in a county are registered as Democrats.

views

Textbook Question

Identify the sampling technique used, and discuss potential sources of bias (if any). Explain.

Soybeans are planted on a 48-acre field. The field is divided into one-acre subplots. A sample is taken from each subplot to estimate the harvest.

views

Textbook Question

Determine whether the statement is true or false. If it is false, rewrite it as a true statement.

Inferential statistics involves using a population to draw a conclusion about a corresponding sample.

views

Textbook Question

"Determine the level of measurement of the data set. Explain your reasoning.

The top ten fiction hardcover books on The New York Times Best Sellers List based on sales in the week ending March 6, 2021, are listed. (Source: The New York Times)

1. Life After Death

2. The Four Winds

3. Klara and the Sun

4. Dark Sky

5. The Affair

6. The Midnight Library

7. The Lost Apothecary

8. The Vanishing Half

9. Infinite Country

10. A Court of Silver Flames"