CRJ 640

Statistics in Criminal Justice

Homework One

 

 

A correctional administrator attempts to reduce the number of violations issued to inmates in the high security disciplinary unit.  Fifteen inmates are selected to take part in this special study.  For four hours each day the inmates are required to sit inside a specially designed cell complete with soft colored lights and relaxing music.  This routine continues for 6 months.  At the end of the six month test period the number of violations issued each of the 15 inmates is added up.  The results of this tabulation are presented in the table below.  Answer the questions following the table.

 

1                                                                    10

2                                                                    11

3                                                                    9

4                                                                    7

5                                                                    14

6                                                                    6

7                                                                    10

8                                                                    7

9                                                                    8

10                                                                12

11                                                                10

12                                                                9

13                                                                9

14                                                                15

15                                                                4

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1)                  What is the mean number of violations for the inmates?  What is the median number of violations for the inmates?  What is the mode number of violations for the inmates?  Is this distribution normal or skewed?

2)                  What is the range of scores for the inmates?  What is the variance for the inmates?  What is the standard deviation for the inmates?  In English, what does the standard deviation tell the researcher about the inmate test?

3)                  Discuss the concept of the normal curve.  What about the concept of the standardized normal curve?  Why are these concepts important to the study of statistics?