Question

Professor Meanie’s persistent rate (i.e. students who do not drop the course) is historically 65%. However, this semester he decided to “flip” his classroom. Instead of coming to class for a typical lecture, students are expected to watch the lecture online the night before. The next day students will work in groups of three on exercises that reinforce concepts from the video lectures. He started with 120 students and 72 completed the course. Ideally, he is trying to increase the persistence rate with the alternative pedagogy, but a decline would also be unwelcome. Assume the 120 students represent a random sample of all students for Professor Meanie. Also note, that Professor Meanie has been teaching this course for nearly 20 years and seen roughly 4000 students during that time.

(a) Is there evidence at the 2.5% significance level to conclude the persistence rate changed with the flipped classroom?

(b) Interpret the P-value in the context of this test.

(c) Explain what a Type I error would mean in the context of this test.

(d) Explain what a Type II error would mean in the context of this test.

Answer 1

c. In this context, type 1 error means concluding that the persistence rate changed due to flipped classrooms when in actual the rate remains the same.

d. Type 2 error means concluding persistence rate reamined the same when in actual the rate changed.