Set up: You are teaching aerobics and weight training and want to know if the proportion of males and females is the same in each course. In aerobics you have have 2 males and 18 females and in weight training you have 10 males and 0 females. (Do not use SPSS)

Question:

Part (a): Does your research have a significant finding? How do you know?

Part (b): Interpret the results of your study.


I have no idea how to go about this. It seems a lot simpler than what I am making it out to be but I just can't seem to figure it out. Any help on how to go about solving this problem would be appreciated and rewarded. Thank you.

You can calculate proportions using algebra or lowest common demoniator.

First glance, obviously the proportions are really skewed.

The ratio for the aerobics class is 2 (male) : 18 (female). If you reduce your fraction we have 1:9 male to female ratio.
We know the ratio is 2:18 (1:9). 10 males in the weight training class is 5x more than the number in the aerobics class. In order for the proportion to be the same we would need 5x more females (18 * 5 = 90).

A Ratio of 10:90 = 1:9 = 2:18

With 0 females in the weight training class there is absolutely not a proportionate number of males to females in each class.

Does the research have significant findings? Yes, weight training had no females present, in order for the proportion to be the same, for the 10 males in weight training we would need 90 females in the same class. With zero females in this class at all the ratio is extremely skewed and the proportions are not similar at all. In fact, they are almost reversed.

Interpret results: The results of the study showed a vast discrepancy between the two classes. For the 2 males in the aerobics class there were 18 females, for the weight training class however there were 10 males and no females at all.

Hope that helps.

Thank you!!