Question

1.) Why is it not possible to calculate a chi-square on the following hypothesis:  Males have a higher number of total arrests than females?

2.) What statistical test would a researcher use to test the following research hypothesis:  Individuals who report less favorable attitudes toward the police (measured as 1 = very favorable, 2 = somewhat favorable, 3 = somewhat not favorable, and 4 = not at all favorable) are more likely to be sentenced to higher security prisons (measured as 1 = minimum, 2 = medium, and 3 = maximum).

Answer 1

1 ) Chi-Square test can only be conducted on dichotomous variables ,i.e., where there are two variables of interest . Here for this problem , we have only one variable of interest ---- Number of arrests . Hence Chi-Square test can not be conducted for this problem .  

2 ) Here there are two variables of interest ----------- individuals who report less favorable attitudes toward the police and individuals who are more likely to be sentenced to higher security prisons . Hence for this problem , a Chi-square test will be appropriate .