Comparing Sample Means and MADS

This lesson, led by Mrs. Abia, focuses on using sample data to compare the means of two or more populations. It introduces informal inferential procedures to determine if population means differ significantly. Through examples involving real and fake words, and a study on homework time, students learn to draw inferences from sample data. The lesson emphasizes the importance of random sampling and understanding the concept of Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) to make informed conclusions about population means.

What is the main focus of using sample data in this lesson?

• To compare the means of two or more populations

• To calculate the exact population size

• To determine the median of a population

• To find the mode of a dataset

Why did Linda choose to randomly select students for her study?

• To ensure the groups are similar

• To save time

• To focus on a specific group

• To avoid using a computer

What is the significance of a difference of at least two MADS between sample means?

• It suggests the data is symmetrical

• It means the data is skewed

• It shows that the samples are identical

• It indicates a significant difference between population means

In Linda's study, what was the mean number of real words recalled?

• 5.36

• 9.43

• 7.21

• 11.50

What conclusion can be drawn if the number of MADS separating two sample means is less than two?

• The difference might be due to sampling variability

• The data is skewed

• The populations have different means

• The samples are identical

What variables did Ken include in his study on sixth and eleventh graders?

• ID numbers, grades, sports participation, sleep

• Homework time, sleep, grades, sports participation

• ID numbers, minutes texting, reaction time, homework time, sleep

• Minutes texting, reaction time, sports participation, grades

How did Ken determine the number of hours of homework completed by each student?

• By using a survey

• By using a random number generator to select student IDs

• By asking each student directly

• By observing students in class

What was the mean time spent on homework for eleventh graders in Ken's study?

• 9.50 hours

• 10.32 hours

• 7.05 hours

• 8.40 hours

What should be concluded if the number of MADS separating two sample means is greater than two?

• The samples are not random

• The data is skewed

• The samples are identical

• The populations likely have different means

Why is it important for samples to be random when comparing population means?

• To ensure the results are unbiased

• To make the process faster

• To focus on a specific group

• To avoid using a computer