The sign test

Question 1

What are inferential statistics?

Answer 1

A way of determining whether differences or relationships between variables are statistically significant or have occurred by chance.

Question 2

What is statistical significance?

Answer 2

The researcher can state that the relationship between the variables is due to more than just chance- they can accept the alternative hypothesis and reject the null hypothesis.

Question 3

What is probability?

Answer 3

The likelihood that certain events will occur

Question 4

Which 3 pieces of information do you need to locate the critical value?

Answer 4

1. The significance level desired
2. The number of participants in the investigation (the N value)
3. Whether the hypothesis is directional (one-tailed) or non-directional (two-tailed)

Question 5

What is the accepted level of probability in Psychology?

Answer 5

p ≤0.05 (or 5%)

Question 6

What does the calculated value have to be to be significant?

Answer 6

It has to be equal to or lower than the critical value

Question 7

What is the difference between a one-tailed and two-tailed test?

Answer 7

One-tailed test=directional hypothesis
Two-tailed test- non-directional hypothesis

Question 8

What is the sign test?

Answer 8

A statistical test used to analyse the difference in scores between related items.

Question 9

What are the 3 criteria for using a sign test?

Answer 9

1. Looking at a difference between variables, not association
2. Use repeated measures or matched pairs design
3. Data is nominal