Inferential Stas- Use of Staistcal Tables and Critical values

Question 1

what is done to interpret the result from a statistical test?

Answer 1

calculated value is compared to the appropriate critical value from a critical values table to determine either the calculated value is significant (reject null hypothesis) or not significant (accept null hypothesis)

Question 2

What must be known in order to select the appropriate critical value from the relevant critical values table?

Answer 2

1. Whether the test is one-tailed (directional hypothesis) or two-tailed (non-directional).
2. Level of significance (for most studies this is p≤0.05).
3. The number of participants in the condition(s) (N) or the degrees of freedom (df).

Question 3

What is a one tailed test used for?

Answer 3

a directional hypothesis which states a specific outcome (e.g. more, slower, greater, positive, negative, etc.).

Question 4

What is a one tailed test used for?

Answer 4

a directional hypothesis which states a specific outcome (e.g. more, slower, greater, positive, negative, etc.).

Question 5

What is a two tailed test used for?

Answer 5

a non-directional hypothesis, which does not state a specific outcome (e.g. difference, correlation).

Question 6

What is the level of significance used in psychology?

Answer 6

p≤0.05.

Question 7

if the outcome of a study has potential implications for society, what is selected?

Answer 7

a stricter level may be selected (e.g. p≤0.01)

Question 8

What happens if the study is a replication of previous research?

Answer 8

a more lenient level may be selected (e.g. p≤0.1).

Question 9

What does each statistical test require knowledge of?

Answer 9

the number of participants/scores or degrees of freedom.

Question 10

What must be done with the calculated value to assess its significance?

Answer 10

must be compared with the critical value

Question 11

How must the result of a statistical test be reported?

Answer 11

in a specific way- should include all the information looked up in the critical values table and a statement of whether to accept or reject the null hypothesis.

Question 12

what is the example template of reporting the result of a statistical test?

Answer 12

For a one/two-tailed test when p<=
_ and N/N1,N2/df = _ the calculated
value (_) is greater than/equal to/less than the critical value (____) so the
result is significant/not significant. The null hypothesis is therefore accepted/rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted/rejected.