MTH156 Module 3 Critical Thinking: Springdale Shopping Survey

The major shopping areas in the community of Springdale include Springdale Mall, West Mall, and the downtown area on Main Street. A telephone survey has been conducted to identify strengths and weaknesses of these areas and to find out how they fit into the shopping activities of local residents. The 150 respondents were also asked to provide information about themselves and their shopping habits. The data are provided in the file SHOPPING. The variables in the survey can be found in the file CODING.

The contingency tables and relative frequency probabilities in this exercise are based on the Springdale Shopping Survey database. Information like that gained from the two parts of this exercise could provide helpful insights into the nature of the respondents, their perceptions, and their spending behaviors. In particular, part 2 examines how conditional probabilities related to spending behavior might vary, depending on the gender of the respondent.

1. Based on the relative frequencies for responses to each variable, determine the probability that a randomly selected respondent from:

a. [variable 4] spends at least $15 during a trip to Springdale Mall.

b. [variable 5] spends at least $15 during a trip to Downtown.

c. [variable 6] spends at least $15 during a trip to West Mall.

Comparing the preceding probabilities, which areas seem strongest and weakest in terms of the amount of

money a shopper spends during a typical shopping visit?

d. [variable 11] feels that Springdale Mall has the highest-quality goods.

e. [variable 11] feels that Downtown has the highest-quality goods.

f. [variable 11] feels that West Mall has the highest-quality goods.

Comparing the preceding probabilities, which areas are strongest and weakest in terms of the quality of goods offered?

2. Set up a contingency table for the appropriate variables given, then determine the following probabilities:

a. [variables 4 and 26] Given that the random respondent is a female, what is the probability that she

spends at least $15 during a trip to Springdale Mall? Is a male more likely or less likely than a female to

spend at least $15 during a visit to this area?

b. [variables 5 and 26] Given that the random respondent is a female, what is the probability that she

spends at least $15 during a trip to Downtown? Is a male more likely or less likely than a female to

spend at least $15 during a visit to this area?

c. [variables 6 and 26] Given that the random respondent is a female, what is the probability that she

spends at least $15 during a trip to West Mall? Is a male more likely or less likely than a female to

spend at least $15 during a visit to this area?

Based on the preceding probabilities, at which shopping areas are males and females most likely and least

likely to spend $15 or more during a shopping visit?

Write a report that adheres to the Written Assignment Requirements under the heading “Expectations for CSUGlobal Written Assignments” found in the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. As with all written assignments at CSU-Global, you should have in-text citations and a reference page too, all of which follow our APA requirements.

Be sure that your report contains the following:

• A title page

• An introduction

• The body of the paper that answers the questions posed in the problems and includes calculations and

graphs.

• A conclusion paragraph that addresses your findings and what you have determined from the data and

your analysis.

Be sure to submit your Excel file.