In: Statistics and Probability
QUESTION 10
A researcher finds that there is a statistically significant difference between men and women when it comes to hours a day they spend on social media. Specifically, men spend more time on social media than women. What does "statistical significance" mean in this case?
The difference in number of hours spent on social media between men and women is not random
The results of the study will make a significant contribution to existing research on the use of social media
The difference in number of hours spent on social media between men and women occurred due to chance alone.
The difference in the number of hours spent on social media was computed using a statistically significant test.
Answer: Option d) The difference in the number of hours spent on social media was computed using a statistically significant test.
Statistical significance means that a statistical test was applied to the data and the result was that there is a statistically significant difference between the means of the data.
For the other options:
The difference in number of hours spent on social media between men and women is not random. A statistical test is not used for this. So, option a) is incorrect.
The results of the study will make a significant contribution to existing research on the use of social media. This is not the meaning of "statistical significance". So, option b) is incorrect.
The difference in number of hours spent on social media between men and women occurred due to chance alone. A statistical test does not highlight this. So, option c) is incorrect.
So, option d) is the only correct choice.