Question

Two teaching methods and their effects on science test scores are being reviewed. A random sample of 1515 students, taught in traditional lab sessions, had a mean test score of 71.871.8 with a standard deviation of 6.16.1. A random sample of 1010 students, taught using interactive simulation software, had a mean test score of 84.384.3 with a standard deviation of 5.25.2. Do these results support the claim that the mean science test score is lower for students taught in traditional lab sessions than it is for students taught using interactive simulation software? Let μ1μ1 be the mean test score for the students taught in traditional lab sessions and μ2μ2 be the mean test score for students taught using interactive simulation software. Use a significance level of α=0.05α=0.05 for the test. Assume that the population variances are equal and that the two populations are normally distributed.

Step 2 of 4 :  

Compute the value of the t test statistic. Round your answer to three decimal places.

Answer 1

n1 = 15

= 71.8

s1 = 6.1

n2 = 10

= 84.3

s2 = 5.2

Claim:  The mean science test score is lower for students taught in traditional lab sessions than it is for students taught using interactive simulation software.

The null and alternative hypothesis is

Level of significance = α=0.05

The population variances are equal.

So we have to use here pooled variance.

Test statistic is

Degrees of freedom = n1 + n2 - 2 = 15 + 10 - 2 = 23

Critical value = 1.714    ( Using t table)

| t | > critical value we reject null hypothesis.

Conclusion:

The mean science test score is lower for students taught in traditional lab sessions than it is for students taught using interactive simulation software.