1. The document presents 6 practice problems involving determining whether to use parametric or non-parametric methods to analyze relationships between variables. 2. The problems involve different variable types including continuous/scaled, categorical/nominal, and ranked variables. 3. The correct method - parametric or non-parametric - depends on whether the variables are normally distributed and meet other assumptions as well as whether they are continuous or categorical.

1. Practice Problems
Differentiating between relationship problems
that use the following methods:
Parametric Nonparametric

2. Problem #1

3. The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their systolic blood pressure.
Advance the slide to see the options
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness = .08)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 75 33
2 85 47
3 85 31
4 95 32
5 95 43
6 97 25
7 97 48
8 97 52
9 102 65
10 102 54
11 102 59
12 102 70
13 110 62
14 115 46
15 115 65
16 120 77
17 120 52
18 125 79

4. Advance the slide to see the answer
The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their systolic blood pressure.
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness = .08)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 75 33
2 85 47
3 85 31
4 95 32
5 95 43
6 97 25
7 97 48
8 97 52
9 102 65
10 102 54
11 102 59
12 102 70
13 110 62
14 115 46
15 115 65
16 120 77
17 120 52
18 125 79

5. The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their systolic blood pressure.
Advance the slide to see the explanation
Which is it?Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness = .08)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 75 33
2 85 47
3 85 31
4 95 32
5 95 43
6 97 25
7 97 48
8 97 52
9 102 65
10 102 54
11 102 59
12 102 70
13 110 62
14 115 46
15 115 65
16 120 77
17 120 52
18 125 79

6. Advance the slide to the next problem
Age is scaled and normally
distributed
Blood Pressure is scaled and
normally distributed
Explanation
The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their systolic blood pressure.
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness = .08)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 75 33
2 85 47
3 85 31
4 95 32
5 95 43
6 97 25
7 97 48
8 97 52
9 102 65
10 102 54
11 102 59
12 102 70
13 110 62
14 115 46
15 115 65
16 120 77
17 120 52
18 125 79

7. Problem #2

8. The director of a health clinic has asked you see if there is a
relationship between systolic blood pressure and gender.
Advance the slide to see the options
Patients Blood Pressure
Reading
(Skewness = .23)
Gender
(1,2)
1 75 1
2 85 1
3 85 2
4 95 1
5 95 1
6 97 1
7 97 2
8 97 2
9 102 2
10 102 1
11 102 2
12 102 1
13 110 2
14 115 1
15 115 2
16 120 1
17 120 2
18 125 1

9. Advance the slide to see the answer
The director of a health clinic has asked you see if there is a
relationship between systolic blood pressure and gender.
Patients Blood Pressure
Reading
(Skewness = .23)
Gender
(1,2)
1 75 1
2 85 1
3 85 2
4 95 1
5 95 1
6 97 1
7 97 2
8 97 2
9 102 2
10 102 1
11 102 2
12 102 1
13 110 2
14 115 1
15 115 2
16 120 1
17 120 2
18 125 1
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric

10. The director of a health clinic has asked you see if there is a
relationship between systolic blood pressure and gender.
Advance the slide to see the explanation
Patients Blood Pressure
Reading
(Skewness = .23)
Gender
(1,2)
1 75 1
2 85 1
3 85 2
4 95 1
5 95 1
6 97 1
7 97 2
8 97 2
9 102 2
10 102 1
11 102 2
12 102 1
13 110 2
14 115 1
15 115 2
16 120 1
17 120 2
18 125 1
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric

11. The director of a health clinic has asked you see if there is a
relationship between systolic blood pressure and gender.
While the blood pressure variable
is scaled and normally distributed,
the gender variable is nominal.
Explanation
Which is it?
Patients Blood Pressure
Reading
(Skewness = .23)
Gender
(1,2)
1 75 1
2 85 1
3 85 2
4 95 1
5 95 1
6 97 1
7 97 2
8 97 2
9 102 2
10 102 1
11 102 2
12 102 1
13 110 2
14 115 1
15 115 2
16 120 1
17 120 2
18 125 1
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
Advance the slide to the next problem

12. Problem #3

13. The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their systolic blood pressure.
Advance the slide to see the options
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness =
3.32)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 5 33
2 85 47
3 85 31
4 95 32
5 95 43
6 97 25
7 97 48
8 97 52
9 102 65
10 102 54
11 102 59
12 102 70
13 110 62
14 115 46
15 115 65
16 120 77
17 120 52

14. Advance the slide to see the answer
The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their systolic blood pressure.
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness = .08)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 75 33
2 85 47
3 85 31
4 95 32
5 95 43
6 97 25
7 97 48
8 97 52
9 102 65
10 102 54
11 102 59
12 102 70
13 110 62
14 115 46
15 115 65
16 120 77
17 120 52
18 125 79
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness =
3.32)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 5 33
2 85 47
3 85 31
4 95 32
5 95 43
6 97 25
7 97 48
8 97 52
9 102 65
10 102 54
11 102 59
12 102 70
13 110 62
14 115 46
15 115 65
16 120 77
17 120 52

15. The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their systolic blood pressure.
Advance the slide to see the explanation
Which is it?Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness =
3.32)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 5 33
2 85 47
3 85 31
4 95 32
5 95 43
6 97 25
7 97 48
8 97 52
9 102 65
10 102 54
11 102 59
12 102 70
13 110 62
14 115 46
15 115 65
16 120 77
17 120 52

16. Advance the slide to the next problem
While both variables are scaled
and Age is normally distributed,
Blood Pressure is skewed (3.32)
Explanation
The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their systolic blood pressure.
Which is it?
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness =
3.32)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 5 33
2 85 47
3 85 31
4 95 32
5 95 43
6 97 25
7 97 48
8 97 52
9 102 65
10 102 54
11 102 59
12 102 70
13 110 62
14 115 46
15 115 65
16 120 77
17 120 52
Parametric
Non-
Parametric

17. Problem #4

18. The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their nationally ranked systolic
blood pressure.
Advance the slide to see the options
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Nationally
Ranked)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 22nd 33
2 34th 47
3 54th 31
4 49th 32
5 50th 43
6 51st 25
7 54th 48
8 55th 52
9 76th 65
10 77th 54
11 78th 59
12 79th 70
13 80th 62
14 81st 46
15 82nd 65
16 95th 77

19. Advance the slide to see the answer
The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their nationally ranked systolic
blood pressure.
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Nationally
Ranked)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 22nd 33
2 34th 47
3 54th 31
4 49th 32
5 50th 43
6 51st 25
7 54th 48
8 55th 52
9 76th 65
10 77th 54
11 78th 59
12 79th 70
13 80th 62
14 81st 46
15 82nd 65
16 95th 77

20. The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their nationally ranked systolic
blood pressure.
Advance the slide to see the explanation
Which is it?Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Nationally
Ranked)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 22nd 33
2 34th 47
3 54th 31
4 49th 32
5 50th 43
6 51st 25
7 54th 48
8 55th 52
9 76th 65
10 77th 54
11 78th 59
12 79th 70
13 80th 62
14 81st 46
15 82nd 65
16 95th 77

21. The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their nationally ranked systolic
blood pressure.
Advance the slide to the next problem
Because one of the variables is
ranked – the method
will be parametric.
Explanation
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Nationally
Ranked)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
1 22nd 33
2 34th 47
3 54th 31
4 49th 32
5 50th 43
6 51st 25
7 54th 48
8 55th 52
9 76th 65
10 77th 54
11 78th 59
12 79th 70
13 80th 62
14 81st 46
15 82nd 65
16 95th 77

22. Problem #5

23. A political think take wants to determine if there is relationship
between gender and support of Proposition “X”.
Advance the slide to see the options
Patients Support (1) or Oppose (2)
Proposition “X”
Gender
(1,2)
1 1 1
2 1 1
3 2 2
4 1 1
5 1 1
6 2 1
7 1 2
8 2 2
9 2 2
10 1 1
11 2 2
12 1 1
13 1 2
14 2 1
15 2 2
16 1 1
17 2 2
18 2 1

24. Advance the slide to see the answer
A political think take wants to determine if there is relationship
between gender and support of Proposition “X”.
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
Patients Support (1) or Oppose (2)
Proposition “X”
Gender
(1,2)
1 1 1
2 1 1
3 2 2
4 1 1
5 1 1
6 2 1
7 1 2
8 2 2
9 2 2
10 1 1
11 2 2
12 1 1
13 1 2
14 2 1
15 2 2
16 1 1
17 2 2
18 2 1

25. A political think take wants to determine if there is relationship
between gender and support of Proposition “X”.
Advance the slide to see the explanation
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
Patients Support (1) or Oppose (2)
Proposition “X”
Gender
(1,2)
1 1 1
2 1 1
3 2 2
4 1 1
5 1 1
6 2 1
7 1 2
8 2 2
9 2 2
10 1 1
11 2 2
12 1 1
13 1 2
14 2 1
15 2 2
16 1 1
17 2 2
18 2 1

26. A political think take wants to determine if there is relationship
between gender and support of Proposition “X”.
Because both variables are
nominal.
Explanation
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
Patients Support (1) or Oppose (2)
Proposition “X”
Gender
(1,2)
1 1 1
2 1 1
3 2 2
4 1 1
5 1 1
6 2 1
7 1 2
8 2 2
9 2 2
10 1 1
11 2 2
12 1 1
13 1 2
14 2 1
15 2 2
16 1 1
17 2 2
18 2 1 Advance the slide to the next problem

27. Problem #6

28. The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their systolic blood pressure
controlling for gender.
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness = .08)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
Gender
1 75 33 1
2 85 47 2
3 85 31 1
4 95 32 1
5 95 43 2
6 97 25 2
7 97 48 2
8 97 52 2
9 102 65 1
10 102 54 2
11 102 59 1
12 102 70 2
13 110 62 2
14 115 46 1
15 115 65 1
16 120 77 1
17 120 52 2
Advance the slide to see the answer

29. The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their systolic blood pressure
controlling for gender.
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness = .08)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
Gender
1 75 33 1
2 85 47 2
3 85 31 1
4 95 32 1
5 95 43 2
6 97 25 2
7 97 48 2
8 97 52 2
9 102 65 1
10 102 54 2
11 102 59 1
12 102 70 2
13 110 62 2
14 115 46 1
15 115 65 1
16 120 77 1
17 120 52 2
Advance the slide to see the answer
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric

30. The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their systolic blood pressure
controlling for gender.
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness = .08)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
Gender
1 75 33 1
2 85 47 2
3 85 31 1
4 95 32 1
5 95 43 2
6 97 25 2
7 97 48 2
8 97 52 2
9 102 65 1
10 102 54 2
11 102 59 1
12 102 70 2
13 110 62 2
14 115 46 1
15 115 65 1
16 120 77 1
17 120 52 2
Advance the slide to see the explanation
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric

31. The director of a health clinic has asked you to determine if there is a
relationship between patients’ age and their systolic blood pressure
controlling for gender.
Patients
Blood Pressure
Readings
(Skewness = .08)
Age
(Skewness = -.13)
Gender
1 75 33 1
2 85 47 2
3 85 31 1
4 95 32 1
5 95 43 2
6 97 25 2
7 97 48 2
8 97 52 2
9 102 65 1
10 102 54 2
11 102 59 1
12 102 70 2
13 110 62 2
14 115 46 1
15 115 65 1
16 120 77 1
17 120 52 2
Which is it?
Parametric
Non-
Parametric
The End
Explanation
Because we are eliminating
the effect of Gender (which
is nominal), we use the
other two variables that are
scaled an normally distributed
as a basis for considering this
problem “parametric”