Chapter 11
Comparisons Involving Proportions and a Test of Independence
Case Problem: A Bipartisan Agenda for Change
1. Descriptive statistics
Question: Should legislative pay be cut for every day the state budget is late?
Yes
No
Totals
Democrat
22
14
36
Independent
10
9
19
Republican
39
6
45
Totals
71
29
100
Percentage responding yes: Democrat, 61.1%; Independent, 52.6%; Republican, 86.7%
Question: Should there be restrictions on lobbyists?
Yes
No
Totals
Democrat
21
15
36
Independent
15
4
19
Republican
34
11
45
Totals
70
30
100
Percentage responding yes: Democrat, 58.3%; Independent, 78.9%; Republican, 75.6%
Question: Should there be term limits requiring legislators serve a fixed number of years?
Yes
No
Totals
Democrat
17
19
36
Independent
10
9
19
Republican
32
13
45
Totals
59
41
100
Percentage responding yes: Democrat, 47.2%; Independent, 52.6%; Republican, 71.1%
2. The p-value associated with the test for independence is .006. Since the p-value is less than the level
of significance, .05, we can reject the null hypothesis of independence.
3. The p-value associated with the test for independence is .156. Since the p-value is greater than the
4. The p-value associated with the test for independence is .078. Since the p-value is greater than the
5. There does appear to be broad support across all political lines with regard to restrictions on
lobbyists and requiring legislators serve a fixed number of years. However, with regard to the issue