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Section1:
2 x 2 Tables
Chi-Square

Degrees of Freedom

p-Value

Flip Coin 100 times
Breast Cancer Example

 

Comparison in Simple 2 x 2 Tables

So-called 2 x 2 tables arise frequently in empirical work, both inside and outside of law.
We start with some non-law-related examples, and then apply what you have learned to a legal setting.

Coin Example

Consider two coins, A and B.
Each are flipped 10 times, with the following results:

 


Number of Heads

Number of Tails
Totals

Coin A

5

5

10

Coin B

7

3

10

Totals

12

8

20

Suppose we think that the coins have the same probability of heads and tails.

Question

Can we reject the hypothesis that the variation we observe, 50 percent heads for one coin versus 70 percent heads for the other coin, occurs by chance? That is, what does your intuition tell you?


      

 
Copyright © 2002 by Theodore Eisenberg & Kevin M. Clermont
Cornell University
Cornell Law School
Cornell University
Comments to ted@teddy.law.cornell.edu
Last updated: September 2002