Skip to main content
Ch. 7 - Estimating Parameters and Determining Sample Sizes
Triola - Elementary Statistics 14th Edition
Triola14th EditionElementary StatisticsISBN: 9780137366446Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 7, Problem 7.4.22

Job Interviews In a Harris poll of 514 human resource professionals, 463 said that the appearance of a job applicant is most important for a good first impression. Use 1000 bootstrap samples to construct a 99% confidence interval estimate of the proportion of all human resource professionals believing that the appearance of a job applicant is most important for a good first impression. How does the result compare to the confidence interval found in Exercise 24 part (b) in Section 7-1?

Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Identify the sample proportion (p̂) from the given data. The sample proportion is calculated as the number of successes (human resource professionals who believe appearance is most important) divided by the total sample size. Use the formula: = 463514.
Step 2: Generate 1000 bootstrap samples. To do this, repeatedly resample (with replacement) from the original sample of 514 professionals, and for each resample, calculate the proportion of successes (p̂). This will create a distribution of bootstrap sample proportions.
Step 3: Determine the 99% confidence interval from the bootstrap distribution. To find this, sort the bootstrap sample proportions and identify the lower and upper percentiles corresponding to the middle 99% of the distribution. Specifically, find the 0.5th percentile (lower bound) and the 99.5th percentile (upper bound).
Step 4: Compare the bootstrap confidence interval to the confidence interval found in Exercise 24 part (b) in Section 7-1. Note whether the intervals are similar or different, and discuss any potential reasons for discrepancies, such as differences in methods (bootstrap vs. traditional formula-based approach).
Step 5: Interpret the results. Explain what the 99% confidence interval means in the context of the problem. For example, it provides a range of plausible values for the true proportion of all human resource professionals who believe appearance is most important for a good first impression, with 99% confidence.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
4m
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

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

Bootstrap Sampling

Bootstrap sampling is a resampling technique used to estimate the distribution of a statistic by repeatedly sampling with replacement from the observed data. This method allows for the construction of confidence intervals and hypothesis testing without relying on traditional parametric assumptions. In this context, 1000 bootstrap samples will help estimate the proportion of HR professionals who prioritize appearance in job interviews.
Recommended video:
05:11
Sampling Distribution of Sample Proportion

Confidence Interval

A confidence interval is a range of values, derived from sample statistics, that is likely to contain the true population parameter with a specified level of confidence, such as 99%. It provides an estimate of uncertainty around the sample proportion, indicating how much the sample result might vary if different samples were taken. Understanding how to interpret and calculate confidence intervals is crucial for making inferences about the population based on sample data.
Recommended video:
06:33
Introduction to Confidence Intervals

Proportion

In statistics, a proportion is a type of ratio that represents the part of a whole, often expressed as a fraction or percentage. In this scenario, the proportion refers to the number of HR professionals who believe that appearance is most important, relative to the total number surveyed. Analyzing proportions helps in understanding trends and making comparisons across different groups or studies.
Recommended video:
Guided course
09:27
Difference in Proportions: Hypothesis Tests
Related Practice
Textbook Question

Critical Thinking. In Exercises 17–28, use the data and confidence level to construct a confidence interval estimate of p, then address the given question.


Gender Selection Before its clinical trials were discontinued, the Genetics & IVF Institute conducted a clinical trial of the XSORT method designed to increase the probability of conceiving a girl and, among the 945 babies born to parents using the XSORT method, there were 879 girls. The YSORT method was designed to increase the probability of conceiving a boy and, among the 291 babies born to parents using the YSORT method, there were 239 boys. Construct the two 95% confidence interval estimates of the percentages of success. Compare the results. What do you conclude?

Textbook Question

Red Blood Cell Count Here is a 95% confidence interval estimate of obtained by using the red blood cell counts of adult females listed in Data Set 1 “Body Data” in Appendix B:

[Image].

Identify the corresponding confidence interval estimate of and include the appropriate units.

Textbook Question

FINDING SAMPLE SIZE Instead of using Table 7-2 for determining the sample size required to estimate a population standard deviation σ, the following formula can also be used


n=12(zα/2d)2n=\(\frac{1}{2}\]\left\)(\(\frac{z_{\alpha/2}\)}{d}\(\right\))^2


where zα/2z_{_{}\(\alpha\)/2} corresponds to the confidence level and d is the decimal form of the percentage error. For example, to be 95% confident that s is within 15% of the value of σ, use zα/2=1.96 and d=0.15 to get a sample size of n=86. Find the sample size required to estimate the standard deviation of IQ scores of data scientists, assuming that we want 98% confidence that s is within 5% of σ.

Textbook Question

Constructing and Interpreting Confidence Intervals. In Exercises 13–16, use the given sample data and confidence level. In each case, (a) find the best point estimate of the population proportion p; (b) identify the value of the margin of error E; (c) construct the confidence interval; (d) write a statement that correctly interprets the confidence interval.


Eliquis The drug Eliquis (apixaban) is used to help prevent blood clots in certain patients. In clinical trials, among 5924 patients treated with Eliquis, 153 developed the adverse reaction of nausea (based on data from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.). Construct a 99% confidence interval for the proportion of adverse reactions.

Textbook Question

Minting Quarters Listed below are weights (grams) of quarters minted after 1964 (based on Data Set 40 “Coin Weights” in Appendix B). Construct a 95% confidence interval estimate of the mean weight of all quarters minted after 1964. Specifications require that the quarters have a weight of 5.670 g. What does the confidence interval suggest about that specification?


Textbook Question

Atkins Weight Loss Program In a test of weight loss programs, 40 adults used the Atkins weight loss program. After 12 months, their mean weight loss was found to be 2.1 lb, with a standard deviation of 4.8 lb. Construct a 90% confidence interval estimate of the mean weight loss for all such subjects. Does the Atkins program appear to be effective? Does it appear to be practical?

1
views