- The student will conduct a hypothesis test of a single mean with known population standard deviation.
Summary: This module provides a practice of Hypothesis Testing of Single Mean and Single Proportion as a part of Collaborative Statistics collection (col10522) by Barbara Illowsky and Susan Dean.
Suppose that a recent article stated that the mean time spent in jail by a first–time convicted burglar is 2.5 years. A study was then done to see if the mean time has increased in the new century. A random sample of 26 first–time convicted burglars in a recent year was picked. The mean length of time in jail from the survey was 3 years with a standard deviation of 1.8 years. Suppose that it is somehow known that the population standard deviation is 1.5. Conduct a hypothesis test to determine if the mean length of jail time has increased. The distribution of the population is normal.
Is this a test of means or proportions?
State the null and alternative hypotheses.
Is this a right-tailed, left-tailed, or two-tailed test? How do you know?
What symbol represents the Random Variable for this test?
In words, define the Random Variable for this test.
Is the population standard deviation known and, if so, what is it?
Calculate the following:
Since both
State the distribution to use for the hypothesis test.
Sketch a graph of the situation. Label the horizontal axis. Mark the hypothesized mean and the sample mean

Find the p-value.
At a pre-conceived
Does it appear that the mean jail time spent for first time convicted burglars has increased? Why or why not?
"Reviewer's Comments: 'I recommend this book. Overall, the chapters are very readable and the material presented is consistent and appropriate for the course. A wide range of exercises introduces […]"