Susan Bouman was denied a promotion to sergeant in the LA county Sheriff\'s Depa

Question

Susan Bouman was denied a promotion to sergeant in the LA county Sheriff's Department after she took a competitive exam for the position. She filed suit in federal court in April 1980, claiming that the exam was discriminatory. Data for 1975 and 1977 are shown below. In 1975, the pass rate for women was 10/79 = 12.7%; for men, it was 250/1,312=19.1%. The "selection ratio" was 66.5%; in other words, the women's pass rate was only 66.5% of the men's pass rate. For 1977, the selection ratio was 67.1%. Selection ratios below 80% are generally regarded by the equal opportunity employment commission as showing "adverse impact" on a protected group."

Results can also be analyzed by "pooling" data for the two years- just adding up the numbers. For the two years combined, there were 102+79=181 women applicants of whom 10+18=28 passed, and so forth. True or false, and explain: "The selection ratio was 66.5% in 1975 and 67.1% in 1977; therefore, the selection ratio for the pooled data must be between 66.5% and 67.1%"

1975

Applicants Women- 79; Men: 1,312

Passed the exam - Women: 10; Men: 250

1977

Applicants - Women: 102; Men: 1,259

Passed the exam - Women: 18, Men: 331

Explanation / Answer

Total number of men: 1259+1312 = 2571

Total number of men pass: 250 +331 = 581

So pass rate of men = ( 581/2571)*100 = 22.6%

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Total number of women: 79+102 = 181

Total number of women pass: 18 +10 = 28

So pass rate of women = ( 28/181)*100 = 15.5%

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So pass rate of women in comparison to pass rate of men :

(15.5 / 22.6) *100 = 68.6%

So given statement is false.

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