Statistical Tests Analysis

Statistical Tests Analysis

Study A

A researcher wants to know if there is a relationship between reported level workplace stress and reported Level of dispositional mindfulness (awareness of thoughts and feelings in the present moment).  The research recruits a sample of 100 participants and asks them to complete two self-report surveys:  the Workplace Stress Scale (WSS) and the Mindfulness Awareness Scale (MAS).  Both of these surveys consist of several questions with Likert-type responses.

1. What are the Independent (IV) and Dependent (DV) variables in this study?

The independent variable, in this case, is the Level of workplace stress while the dependent variable is the reported Level of dispositional mindfulness.

1. What are the operational definitions for the IV and DV in this study?

The researcher wants to assess whether individual feelings and thoughts in the present moment, which form the dispositional mindfulness can be influenced by the level of workplace stress. Workplace stress is defined based on the assessment of different elements within the workplace.

1. What are the most appropriate measurement scales for the IV and DV?

Both of the independent and dependent variables are measured on a scale which shows that they are measured on a ratio scale.

1. What would be the null hypothesis for this study?

Null hypothesis (Ho): There is no statistically significant relationship between reported level workplace stress and reported Level of dispositional mindfulness.

1. What would be the appropriate statistical test for analyzing data from this study, and what would the results of this test reveal?

The best statistical test to test the relationship between variables is correlation analysis. The use of correlation analysis would help reveal the strength of the relationship and the direction of the relationship, which is either positive or negative. It will also help reveal the significance.

Study B:

A researcher wants to know if caffeine influences reaction time.  The researcher recruits a sample of 100 participants.  In the first condition, the 100 participants ingest no caffeine and are asked to select the appropriate name for a series of simple images presented on a computer screen.  The time it takes to respond appropriately is measured in milliseconds.  In the second condition, the same 100 participants ingest a 200mg caffeine pill and are then asked to select the appropriate name for the second series of simple images presented on a computer screen.  Again, the time it takes to respond appropriately is measured in milliseconds.

1. What are the Independent (IV) and Dependent (DV) variables in this study?

The independent variable is caffeine intake, while the dependent variable is the reaction time.

1. What is the operational definition for the DV in this study?

The independent variable, which is the caffeine intake, is assessed based on whether the participants ingested caffeine or not while the reaction time measures the time taken by the participant to respond based on the different groups assessed.

1. What are the most appropriate measurement scales for the IV and DV?

Caffeine intake is a categorical variable that is measured on a nominal scale, while the reaction time is a continuous variable that is measured on a ratio scale.

1. What would be the null hypothesis for this study?

Null hypothesis (Ho): There is no statistically significant mean difference in reaction time based on caffeine intake.

1. What would be the appropriate statistical test for analyzing data from this study, and what would the results of this test reveal?

The appropriate statistical test, in this case, is Dependent sample t-test. The same sample population is measured twice based on different levels. The results from the analysis will show whether the intake of caffeine improves the reaction time based on an assessment of the reaction time between the two groups.

Study C:

A researcher wants to know if background music has an effect on studying efficacy.  The researcher recruits a sample of 150 participants and randomly assigns these participants into three groups of 50 participants.  Each group is asked to study the same textbook chapter on statistics.  Group 1 listens to no music while studying, Group 2 listens to rock music while studying, and Group 3 listens to classical music while studying.  After the study session, participants in each group take the same short quiz on statistics and receives a grade that ranges from 0-100.  A mean quiz score is then calculated for each group.

1. What are the Independent (IV) and Dependent (DV) variables in this study?

The independent variable is Music while the dependent variable is the statistics score

1. What is the operational definition for the DV in this study?

Music is the independent group which includes the three variables that have been included in the study, including no music, rock music and classical music. The dependent variable is the score from the statistics test.

1. What are the most appropriate measurement scales for the IV and DV?

The independent variable is music which is a categorical variable measured on a nominal scale while the score is a continuous variable measured on a ratio scale.

1. What would be the null hypothesis for this study?

Null hypothesis (Ho): There is no statistically significant mean difference in statistics score based on music.

1. What would be the appropriate statistical test for analyzing data from this study, and what would the results of this test reveal?

One way analysis of variance. The findings will help in understanding whether there is any difference between the three groups being investigated based on the statistics test score.

Study D:

A researcher wants to know if males and females differ in their Level of Emotional Intelligence (EI) (awareness of the emotions in the self and others).  The researcher recruits a random sample of 50 males and 50 females and asks them to complete the Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (EIQ).  This questionnaire presents several self-report questions with Likert-type responses.  The mean score on the EIQ is then calculated for both the male and female group.

1. What are the Independent (IV) and Dependent (DV) variables in this study?

The independent variable is Gender while Dependent variable is Level of emotional intelligence.

1. What is the operational definition for the DV in this study?

Gender variable includes male and female while  Dependent variable measures individual emotional intelligence levels.

1. What are the most appropriate measurement scales for the IV and DV?

Gender is measured on a nominal scale, while EIQ is measured on a ratio scale.

1. What would be the null hypothesis for this study?

Null hypothesis (Ho:) There is no significant difference in their level of emotional intelligence based on gender.

1. What would be the appropriate statistical test for analyzing data from this study, and what would the results of this test reveal?

The appropriate test would be an independent sample’s test. The findings will help in defining a focus on whether the mean difference in EIQ based on individual gender.

References

Bartee, L. (2019). Hypothesis Testing. MHCC Biology 112: Biology for Health Professions.