TABLE 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.

-Referring to Table 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 α = 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 α = 0.10 level, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that females have a lower mean starting salary than male MBA graduates.
C) at the α = 0.10 level, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that females have a higher mean starting salary than male MBA graduates.
D) at the α = 0.10 level, there is insufficient evidence to indicate any difference in the mean starting salaries of male and female MBA graduates.

Question

TABLE 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.
 
-Referring to Table 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 α = 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 α = 0.10 level, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that females have a lower mean starting salary than male MBA graduates. 
C) at the α = 0.10 level, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that females have a higher mean starting salary than male MBA graduates. 
D) at the α = 0.10 level, there is insufficient evidence to indicate any difference in the mean starting salaries of male and female MBA graduates.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The proper conclusion for this test is that at the α = 0.10 level, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that females have a lower mean starting salary than male MBA graduates. This is because the p-value (0.042) is less than the significance level (0.10) and the t-statistic (-1.77) is negative, indicating that the mean salary for females is lower than the mean salary for males. Therefore, we reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there is a significant difference in mean starting salaries between male and female MBA graduates, with females having a lower mean starting salary.

TABLE 10-2 A Researcher Randomly Sampled 30 Graduates of an MBA Program