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Impossible Inferences: A Note on Inconsistency in Business Statistics

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  • Eisenhauer, Joseph G.

Abstract

Textbooks designed for business statistics customarily present inferential statistics whose premises contradict the definitions developed in descriptive statistics. In particular, because the standard deviation of a population cannot be calculated if the population mean is unknown, hypothesis tests and confidence intervals for the mean that rely on the population standard deviation pose an inconsistency between lessons. To reduce potential confusion and utilize both class time and students’ homework time efficiently, the present note proposes de-emphasizing these tests and intervals in favor of those that depend on the sample standard deviation.

Suggested Citation

  • Eisenhauer, Joseph G., 2025. "Impossible Inferences: A Note on Inconsistency in Business Statistics," Applied Economics Teaching Resources (AETR), Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 7(4), August.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaeatr:377653
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    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/377653/files/AETR_2025_0220%20Final.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Simons, Andrew M., . "Making Business Statistics Come Alive: Incorporating Field Trial Data from a Cookstove Study into the Classroom," Applied Economics Teaching Resources (AETR), Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 2(3).
    2. Ismael G. Dambolena & Steven E. Eriksen & David P. Kopcso, 2009. "An Intuitive Introduction to Hypothesis Testing," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 9(2), pages 53-62, January.
    3. Scott P. Stevens & Susan W. Palocsay, 2012. "Identifying Addressable Impediments to Student Learning in an Introductory Statistics Course," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 12(3), pages 124-139, May.
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