Amy Stauffer and her colleagues (2006) examined the interactive effects of victim race and gender on capital murder death sentence outcomes in North Carolina. Their analysis is based on sentences rendered from 1979 to 2002. Demographic statistics are presented in the following table. Row percentages equal 100%.

Describe the relationship between victim race and gender, separately and combined (an interaction), on capital murder sentences. Are offenders more likely to be sentenced to death if their victims were female or white?

Transcribed Image Text:

Demographic No Death Sentence Death Sentence Characteristics N N Victim gender Female 42.5 174 57.5 235 Male 54.6 297 45.4 247 Victim race White 47.3 296 52.7 330 Black 53.5 175 46.5 152 Victim race and gender White female 41.2 105 58.8 150 White male 51.5 191 48.5 180 Black female 44.8 69 55.2 85 Black male 61.3 106 38.7 67