7. RESEARCH METHODS (Sign test) Flashcards
What is the purpose of the sign test?
The sign test is used to determine whether there is a significant difference between two related conditions or sets of data, by comparing the direction of change (positive or negative) for each participant.
What do you need to do first when calculating the sign test?
First, insert the data into a table and use plus (+) or minus (-) signs to indicate the direction of difference for each participant, based on the hypothesis.
How do you calculate the value for the sign test (called “s”)?
Count the number of times the less frequent sign (either plus or minus) occurs in the data. This number is your calculated value, “s.”
What does “s” represent in the sign test?
”s” represents the number of times the less frequent sign (either + or -) appears in the data.
How do you determine whether the result from the sign test is significant?
Compare the calculated value of “s” to the critical value from the table. If “s” is equal to or less than the critical value, the result is significant.
What happens if the result of the sign test is significant?
If the result is significant, the hypothesis can be accepted.
What happens if the result of the sign test is not significant?
If the result is not significant, the hypothesis must be rejected.
What does “N” represent in the sign test?
N” represents the number of scores that have been labelled as either plus (+) or minus (-) signs. Omitted scores (=) are taken from the n value
In the sign test, how do you decide which sign is the less frequent one?
You compare the number of plus signs (+) to the number of minus signs (-). The less frequent sign is the one with the smaller count.
Can you give an example of how to calculate “s” in the sign test?
If you have 10 data points and 8 are labeled with a plus sign (+) and 2 with a minus sign (-), then the calculated value “s” would be 2 (the number of minus signs).
What is the formula for calculating the critical value for the sign test?
The critical value is found from a table, and it depends on the sample size (N). You compare your calculated “s” value with the critical value for the given N.
What is the role of the critical value in the sign test?
The critical value is used to determine whether the calculated “s” value is significant. If “s” is equal to or smaller than the critical value, the hypothesis is supported.
When would you use the sign test in research?
The sign test is typically used in cases where you have related data and want to assess the significance of the difference between two conditions or time points.
Why is the sign test considered a non-parametric test?
The sign test is non-parametric because it does not assume any specific distribution of the data and is based solely on the signs (direction of difference), not on the actual data values.
How can you tell if you should accept or reject the hypothesis based on the sign test?
After calculating “s” and comparing it to the critical value, if “s” is less than or equal to the critical value, the hypothesis is accepted. If “s” is greater than the critical value, the hypothesis is rejected.
