Applicants and Admissions for Six Graduate Programs at US Berkeley, 1973

Source: P. Bickel and J. W. O’Connell, Science, Vol. 187, 1975, pp. 398-404 .

Men Women

Department Applied Admitted Applied Admitted

A 825 512 108 89

B 560 353 25 17

C 325 120 593 202

D 417 138 375 131

E 191 53 393 94

F 373 22 341 24

• Calculate the percentage of the TOTAL number of Men and number of Women admitted (NOT the percentage admitted to each department).

• Discuss the admission rates with your group.

Is there the possibility that the University discriminated against women?

• Calculate the percentage of Men and Women admitted for each department.

• Discuss the admission rates with your group.

Is there the possibility that the University discriminated against women?

Simpson’s Paradox

• A situation in which the results of disaggregated data appears to contradict the results of summary data.

• Caused by groups that are very unequal in size.