Accounting and Machiavellianism. Refer to the Behavioral Research in Accounting (January 2008) study of Machiavellian traits in accountants, Exercise 1.6 (p. 4). Recall that Machiavellian describes negative character traits that include manipulation, cunning, duplicity, deception, and bad faith. A Machiavellian (‘‘Mach'') rating score was determined for each in a sample of accounting alumni of a large southwestern university. Scores range from a low of 40 to a high of 160, with the theoretical neutral Mach rating score of 100. The 122 purchasing managers in the sample had a mean Mach rating score of 99.6, with a standard deviation of 12.6.
(a) From the sample, estimate the true mean Mach rating score of all purchasing managers.
(b) Form a 95% confidence interval for the estimate, part b.
(c) Give a practical interpretation of the interval, part c.
(d) A director of purchasing at a major firm claims that the true mean Mach rating score of all purchasing managers is 85. Is there evidence to dispute this claim?