discussion 6

Results from surveys or opinion polls often report a range of valuesthe sample statistic plus or minus a margin of error (the resulting range is called a confidence interval). This tells us that the range is likely to contain the population parameter. How much wiggle room we provide is based on how much confidence we wish to have that the range contains the actual population mean. That confidence level is directly related to the middle “truth” area we will accept versus the dubious tail area we will rejectalso known as alpha (). The more confidence we wish to havethe more middle ground we will need to accept (more wiggle room)thus a smaller tail area. If we insist on a larger alpha (more dubious tail area), we narrow the middle ground we will accept and thus provide less wiggle roomso the more likely it is that we will miss the true average (and, thus, we have a lower confidence level). A 95% confidence level leaves 5% alpha. A 99% confidence level leaves 1% alpha.

Now, without calculating a mean or margin of error or a confidence level, provide an example from your current (or your future) professional or personal life that describes a measurement that is normaland how much wiggle room on either side would be appropriate. When would you want a 95% confidence interval, and when would you want a 99% confidence level (a little more wiggle roomso a wider range)? This serves as your initial post to the discussion (if you choose topic 1) and is due by 11:59 p.m. EST on Saturday.