Absenteeism is a problem at a large county administrative department. The HR Director believes that a general lack of physical fitness among the employees may be contributing to absenteeism. The department began a fitness program to encourage employees to use the onsite gym during their extended lunch break. To evaluate the success of the program, the Director selected a random sample of 8 participants and compared the number of days each person was absent six months before the fitness program had begun (2016) to the number of days the same person was absent six months after the fitness program began (2017). At the 0.05 level of significance, can she conclude that the fitness program was effective, on average, in reducing absenteeism among the employees who participated?

# of absences # of absences

Employee 2016 2017

Barnes 6 5

Noble 6 2

Ben 7 1

Jerry 7 3

Elaine 4 3

George 3 6

Susan 5 3

Kramer 6 7

Question 1

The null hypothesis should read:

Question 2

The alternate hypothesis should read:

Question 3

What is the correct test statistic? Choose between the z-test and the t-test.

Question 4

Will the upper tail, lower tail, or both tails be used?

Question 5

What is (are) the critical values: (Fill in the blank with the correct number to 4 decimal places.)

Question 6

What is the difference mean? (Fill in the blank with the correct number to 4 decimal places.)

Question 7

What is the difference standard deviation? (Fill in the blank with the correct number to 4 decimal places.)

Question 8

What is the computed value of the test statistic? (Fill in the blank with the correct number to 4 decimal places.)

Question 9

Does the test statistic fall in the critical region or the rejection region:

Question 10

Is your decision not to reject or to reject the null hypothesis:

Question 11

Is your decision in favor of the null hypothesis or the alternate hypothesis:

Question 12

The correct statistical conclusion is:

Question 13

What is a potential meaning of these results for the department's efforts to reduce absenteeism?