A Bipartisan Agenda for Change

Case Study: A Bipartisan Agenda for Change

OIS 3440

Executive Summary

After a study showed that more than 700 New Yorkers from different demographics and political parties broadly supported pay cuts for state legislators, restrictions on lobbyists, and term limits for legislators a second study has been performed. The second study focuses solely on western New Yorkers and their opinions to these same issues. This survey covered 100 individuals and all three of the major political parties (Republican, Democrat, Independent).

I chose to analyze the data based on the number of individuals from each party that voted yes on each of the three issues. I then used this data to run a chi-square test (this was to determine if the data was truly independent of political party). My null or primary hypothesis was that the data was independent of political party. My alternative hypothesis was that the data was not independent of political party. I made these same hypotheses for each of the three questions asked.

Analysis Page

Pay Cut?

Yes No Totals

Democrat 22 14 36

Independent 10 9 19

Republican 39 6 45

Totals 71 29 100

Yes answers: Democrat 61.11% Independent 52.63 Republican 86.67%

A high number of Republicans answered yes so the data may not be independent.

Lobbyists?

Yes No Totals

Democrat 21 15 36

Independent 15 4 19

Republican 34 11 45

Totals 70 30 100

Yes answers: Democrat 58.33% Independent 78.95% Republican 75.56%

There is no party that greatly outnumbers the rest, so the data may be independent.