In February 2012, the Pew Internet & American Life project conducted a survey th
ID: 3354754 • Letter: I
Question
In February 2012, the Pew Internet & American Life project conducted a survey that included several questions about how Internet users feel about search engines and others websites collecting information about them and using this information either to shape search results or target advertising to them (Pew Search Center, March 9, 2012). In one question participants were asked, “ If a search engine kept track of what you search for, and then used that information to personalize your future search results, how would you feel about that?” Respondents could either indicate “ Would not be okay with it because you feel it is an invasion of your privacy” or “ Would be okay with it, even if it means they are gathering information about you.” Frequencies of responses by age group are summarized in the following table. Age Not Okay Okay Total 18-29 0.1485 0.0604 30-49 0.2273 0.0907 50+ 0.4008 0.0723 Total 1. What is the probability a survey respondent will say she or he is not okay with this practice? 2. Given a respondent is 30-49 years old, what is the probability the respondent she or he is okay with this practice? 3. Given a respondent says she or he is not okay with this practice, what is the probability the respondent is 50+ years old? 4. Is the attitude about this practice independent of the age of the respondent? Why or why not? 5. Do attitudes towards this practice for respondent who are 18-29 years old and respondent who are 50+ years old differ? In February 2012, the Pew Internet & American Life project conducted a survey that included several questions about how Internet users feel about search engines and others websites collecting information about them and using this information either to shape search results or target advertising to them (Pew Search Center, March 9, 2012). In one question participants were asked, “ If a search engine kept track of what you search for, and then used that information to personalize your future search results, how would you feel about that?” Respondents could either indicate “ Would not be okay with it because you feel it is an invasion of your privacy” or “ Would be okay with it, even if it means they are gathering information about you.” Frequencies of responses by age group are summarized in the following table. Age Not Okay Okay Total 18-29 0.1485 0.0604 30-49 0.2273 0.0907 50+ 0.4008 0.0723 Total 1. What is the probability a survey respondent will say she or he is not okay with this practice? 2. Given a respondent is 30-49 years old, what is the probability the respondent she or he is okay with this practice? 3. Given a respondent says she or he is not okay with this practice, what is the probability the respondent is 50+ years old? 4. Is the attitude about this practice independent of the age of the respondent? Why or why not? 5. Do attitudes towards this practice for respondent who are 18-29 years old and respondent who are 50+ years old differ?Explanation / Answer
1) probability a survey respondent will say she or he is not okay with this practice =0.7766
2) probability the respondent she or he is okay with this practice Given a respondent is 30-49 years old
=0.0907/0.318 =0.2852
3) probability the respondent is 50+ years old given respondent says she or he is not okay with this practice
=0.4008/0.7766 =0.5161
4) as probability the respondent is 50+ years old given respondent says she or he is not okay with this practice is not equal to probability of respondent is 50+ years old , therfore attitude about this practice is not independent of the age of the respondent
5) relative probability of okay among 18-29 yr old =0.0604/0.2089 =0.2891
relative probability of okay among 50+ yr old =0.0723/0.4731 =0.1528
as abvoe both are different therefore Yes they differ,
age not okay okay total 18-29 0.1485 0.0604 0.2089 30-49 0.2273 0.0907 0.318 50+ 0.4008 0.0723 0.4731 total 0.7766 0.2234 1