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A study of the death penalty in Kentucky reported the results shown in the table. (Source: Data from T. Keil and G. Vito, Amer. \(J .\) Criminal Justice, vol. \(20,1995,\) pp. \(17-36 .)\) a. Find and compare the percentage of white defendants with the percentage of black defendants who received the death penalty, when the victim was (i) white and (ii) black. b. In the analysis in part a, identify the response variable, explanatory variable, and control variable. c. Construct the summary \(2 \times 2\) table that ignores, rather than controls, victim's race. Compare the overall percentages of white defendants and black defendants who got the death penalty (ignoring, rather than controlling, victim's race). Compare to part a.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Calculate percentages with separate considerations for victim's race in Part a. Use percentage formulas and identify variables for Part b. Create and analyze an overall summary table for Part c to compare with Part a.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Problem

We're given data on death penalty decisions in Kentucky based on the race of the defendant and the victim. We need to calculate percentages of death penalties, identify variables in the analysis, and create a summarized table ignoring victim's race.
02

Analyzing Part a (i)

We need to calculate the percentage of white defendants who received the death penalty with a white victim. Then, calculate the percentage of black defendants with a white victim. Use the formula: \(\text{Percentage} = \frac{\text{Number of Death Penalties}}{\text{Total Number of Defendants}} \times 100\). Apply this to the data for each group.
03

Analyzing Part a (ii)

Repeat the process from Step 2, but this time focus on cases where the victim was black. Calculate and compare the percentage of white defendants vs. black defendants who received the death penalty when the victim is black.
04

Identifying Variables for Part b

In part a, the **response variable** is whether the death penalty was given (yes or no). The **explanatory variable** is the race of the defendant, and the **control variable** is the race of the victim.
05

Constructing Summary Table for Part c

Create a \(2 \times 2\) table that summarizes the data without considering the race of the victim. Add up all the cases of death penalty outcomes and total defendants, irrespective of the victim's race, for both white and black defendants.
06

Calculating Overall Percentages for Part c

Use the summary table to calculate the overall percentage of white and black defendants who received the death penalty, this time without accounting for the victim's race. Compare these overall percentages to those calculated in part a.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Understanding the Response Variable
In any study or statistical analysis, the response variable is the main aspect of interest—the result you're evaluating.
In this analysis of death penalty decisions in Kentucky, the response variable represents whether the death penalty was given or not to the defendant.
This variable is typically categorical, indicating the specific outcome of interest in response to varying conditions. Response variables are crucial because they tell us the effects or results after considering other variables in the study.
In this context, it directly relates to how often the death penalty is applied, making it the center of the study's conclusions. To ensure clarity, when analyzing such studies, always keep the response variable in focus:
- It's the outcome being measured.
- Helps determine the impact of other factors like race on decisions.
- Conclusions drawn are based on analyzing changes or patterns in the response variable.
Identifying the Explanatory Variable
The explanatory variable, often considered the independent variable, helps to explain or predict changes in the response variable.
In the case of the death penalty exercise, the explanatory variable is the race of the defendant. The explanatory variable provides context and background for the changes you observe in the response variable.
It helps answer questions like why or how often a particular outcome occurs:
  • It provides insight into potential biases based on the defendant's race.
    It can highlight disparities in judicial outcomes.
Analyzing the explanatory variable allows researchers to:
  • Develop hypotheses about potential causations.
  • Understand underlying factors influencing outcomes like the death penalty decisions.
By considering different explanatory variables, researchers can better predict or elucidate different patterns evident in the response variable.
Role of the Control Variable
Control variables are used to maintain consistency and ensure that the analysis results are accurate and unbiased.
In this study regarding the death penalty, the control variable is the race of the victim. Control variables help in isolating the relationship between the explanatory and the response variables.
They ensure that the effects noticed are genuinely due to the explanatory variable and not some unconsidered factor. Here's why control variables are important in studies like this:
  • They limit the impact of confounding variables.
    They help isolate the true relationship between race and death penalty outcomes.
  • They improve the validity of findings.
    By controlling certain factors, researchers can attribute changes in the response variable mainly to the explanatory variable.
In engaging with such studies, it's crucial to recognize what factors are controlled to better understand the potential implications and biases involved.

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