Scientists follow specific processes in order to determine valid explanations and conclusions from scientific data. Students graduating from Rydell High School in 2010 were asked to fill out an exit survey the last week of school. When students were asked to compare language arts courses with science courses, 20% of males reported preferring language arts and 80% reported preferring science. For females, 90% reported preferring language arts and 10% reported preferring science. Which of the following would be a valid conclusion based on the data from this study?
Answer
A
Females are better at language arts than males, and males are better at science than females
B
Females at Rydell High School are better at language arts than males at RHS, and males at RHS are better at science than females at RHS
C
Females at Rydell High School prefer language arts courses to science courses, and males at Rydell High School prefer science courses to language arts courses
D
For a specific graduating class at Rydell High School, the majority of male students preferred science courses over language arts, and the majority of female students preferred language arts courses over science
Explanation
The survey describes students graduating from Rydell High School in 2010, so the conclusion should be limited to that particular class. Since 80% of surveyed males preferred science and 90% of surveyed females preferred language arts, a majority of males preferred science and a majority of females preferred language arts. The data do not show who is better at either subject or establish preferences for all Rydell students.
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