Statistical Analysis: Consumption of Alcohol by Undergraduates and Graduates
Kristen Petreyko
Statistics: MA 105
Statistics Project
Due: December 17, 2012
INTRODUCTION
Being a recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I have found that a person’s whole lifestyle changes with the simple act of graduating college. One of the most obvious lifestyle modifications for many recent graduates is the decrease in the amount of partying, and the realization that it ends when college does. I conducted a statistical analysis on the consumption of alcohol for those still enrolled in undergraduate programs compared to the consumption of recent graduates. My research objectives include the following: * Document with statistical evidence that UMass Amherst students currently enrolled in courses consume more alcohol than UMass Amherst recent graduates. * Use hypothesis testing and a confidence interval to test the claim “the mean of days per week and the mean of the amount of alcohol consumed each time one drinks will be greater for UMass students than those who’ve recently graduated” * Establish a connection between the amount of alcohol consumed each time one drinks and the number of days per week alcohol is consumed.
The null hypothesis is: the mean of days per week, and mean of amount of alcohol per sitting, is equal for those enrolled at UMass Amherst and recent UMass Alum. This null hypothesis, and all null hypotheses, indicates that there is no change in the two means. The alternative hypothesis which is also the claim in this case is, as stated above, “the mean of days per week and the mean of the amount of alcohol consumed each time one drinks will be greater for UMass students than those who’ve recently graduated from UMass.” I chose this claim because from speaking to fellow recent graduates and witnessing first hand, I find that while in college there is more time to drink and it is a much more alcohol induced atmosphere. One major aspect is the fact that in college Thursday evenings are
Statistics: MA 105
Statistics Project
Due: December 17, 2012
INTRODUCTION
Being a recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, I have found that a person’s whole lifestyle changes with the simple act of graduating college. One of the most obvious lifestyle modifications for many recent graduates is the decrease in the amount of partying, and the realization that it ends when college does. I conducted a statistical analysis on the consumption of alcohol for those still enrolled in undergraduate programs compared to the consumption of recent graduates. My research objectives include the following: * Document with statistical evidence that UMass Amherst students currently enrolled in courses consume more alcohol than UMass Amherst recent graduates. * Use hypothesis testing and a confidence interval to test the claim “the mean of days per week and the mean of the amount of alcohol consumed each time one drinks will be greater for UMass students than those who’ve recently graduated” * Establish a connection between the amount of alcohol consumed each time one drinks and the number of days per week alcohol is consumed.
The null hypothesis is: the mean of days per week, and mean of amount of alcohol per sitting, is equal for those enrolled at UMass Amherst and recent UMass Alum. This null hypothesis, and all null hypotheses, indicates that there is no change in the two means. The alternative hypothesis which is also the claim in this case is, as stated above, “the mean of days per week and the mean of the amount of alcohol consumed each time one drinks will be greater for UMass students than those who’ve recently graduated from UMass.” I chose this claim because from speaking to fellow recent graduates and witnessing first hand, I find that while in college there is more time to drink and it is a much more alcohol induced atmosphere. One major aspect is the fact that in college Thursday evenings are