section 2.3: case study: gender discrimination

Question 1

what is the background of the gender discrimination case study?

Answer 1

48 male bank supervisors were given the same file, but on half the name was changed from a man’s name to a woman’s, looking to see if men were promoted more than women

Question 2

was this a randomized experiment?

Answer 2

yes

Question 3

which hypothesis is assumed until the other is proven true?

Answer 3

the null hypothesis, H0

Question 4

what were the results of the experiment?

Answer 4

a 30% difference between male and female promotion rates

Question 5

We saw a difference of almost 30% (29.2% to be exact) between the proportion of male and female files that are promoted. Based on this information, which of the below is true?
A. If we were to repeat the experiment we will definitely see that more female files get promoted. This was a fluke.
B. Promotion is dependent on gender, males are more likely to be promoted, and hence there is gender discrimination against women in promotion decisions.
C. The difference in the proportions of promoted male and female files is due to chance, this is not evidence of gender discrimination against women in promotion decisions.
D. Women are less qualified than men, and this is why fewer females get promoted.

Answer 5

it could be B or C, we have to analyze the data to find out

Question 6

what is the null hypothesis in general?

Answer 6

saying there is nothing going on

Question 7

what is the alternative hypothesis in general?

Answer 7

there is something going on

Question 8

what is the null hypothesis of the experiment?

Answer 8

Promotion and gender are independent, no gender discrimination, observed difference in proportions is simply due to chance

Question 9

what is the alternative hypothesis of the experiment?

Answer 9

Promotion and gender are dependent, there is gender discrimination,
observed difference in proportions is not due to chance

Question 10

we never declare the null hypothesis to be true, we can only ___________

Answer 10

fail to reject the null hypothesis

Question 11

If the test results suggest that the data do not provide convincing evidence for the alternative hypothesis,

Answer 11

we fail to reject the null hypothesis

Question 12

If the test results suggest the data provides convincing evidence for the alternative hypothesis,

Answer 12

then we reject the null hypothesis

Question 13

after running the simulation, does its results provide convincing evidence of gender discrimination against women, i.e. dependence between gender and promotion decisions?

Answer 13

yes, so we reject the null hypothesis