[Date (May 23, 2013)]
- Introduction to alcohol consumption
Alcohol consumption is taken as a leisure activity among many people across the world. There are many forms of alcohol available depending on the level of alcohol content and the manufacturing process used. Based on the alcohol content, it is classified as wines, spirits and beer while under manufacturing processes it is classified as commercial and traditional brew. Commercial alcohol (manufactured in industries) is a legal drink worldwide while the traditional brew is outlawed in majority of the countries. The question on the effect of alcohol on the behaviour of human beings has been a centre of research for a long time. Many researchers agree that consumption of alcohol to certain level has adverse effects on the level of judgment of individuals. In medical field alcohol is classified under depressant drugs since it slows down the nervous system (Mealey).
There are the main effects of alcohol on a person; alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Alcohol abuse is the overconsumption of alcohol while alcoholism is the addition to alcohol. Over consumption of alcohol is (alcohol abuse) has been associated with a lot of social problems being experienced in the society. Among the problems associated with alcohol abuse include; road accidents, domestic violence and even murder.
Murder is the taking away of life of another human being either intentionally or under the influence of drugs. Murder has been on the rise of recent past across different countries in the world. On many occasions it has been assumed that in those countries where people indulge in the consumption of alcohol, there are increasing cases of murder. The main objective of this research people is to determine whether alcohol has an influence on murder in countries(Overton).
Hypothesis statement
- Alcohol has an influence on murder in countries.
- Alcohol has no influence on murder in countries.
- A sample of thirty countries was taken and data on alcohol consumption and murder per 100,000 was recorded as shown in the table below.
- Mathematical processes
Using t test hypotheses.
The null hypothesis Ho= Alcohol has no influence on murder in countries.
Alternative hypothesis Ha= Alcohol has an influence on murder in countries.
Using excel data analysis, it gives the following solutions
First the rejection list has to be determined; the rejection region sets the conditions that enable the null hypothesis to be rejected. The critical values as per this test are obtained using the degrees of freedom of the problem. The degrees of freedom are equal to 58 (30+30-2). The critical t values are -2.834112 and -2.834112. Since the test measurement is greater than 2.834112 and less than -2.834112, we will do away with the null hypothesis and we instead accept the alternative hypothesis.
C. Interpreting the Results of the Test
The results obtained in the calculation of the statistical values are shown in the table above. From the Excel calculations the critical values and the test statistic of alcohol levels and corresponding murder are obtained. From the hypothesis formula if the test statistic is less than -2.834112 or greater than 2.834112, the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted. The test statistic is -2.614765, which falls in the rejection region, so reject the null hypothesis that Alcohol has no influence on murder in countries and accept the alternative hypothesis that Alcohol has an influence on murder in countries with 95% confidence.
Conclusion
The results found go hand in hand with the common belief that alcohol consumption has a positive correlation with the murder cases. This is very significant and important particularly to law formulators and enforcers in their effort to bring into control the number of murder cases reported.
Works Cited
Mealey, Noel. Murder and redemption. Sydney: HarperCollins Publishers, 2012. Print.
Overton, Frank. Applied physiology: including the effects of alcohol and narcotics. New York: American Book Co., 1897. Print.
