Question

Does the ability to empathize-the capacity to understand and experience the emotional states of another person-increase with age? A researcher gave a test of empathy to a group of 20 first graders and then re-tested these same children when they were in the sixth grade.

State for each:

a. the null hypothesis

b. whether you would analyze the data with the t test for two independent samples or the t test for two related samples.

c. Explain the basis for your selection of the statistical test.

d. Also state for each study whether the researcher could reasonably conclude that the difference in the independent variable was causally responsible for differences in the dependent variable. Explain the basis for your answer.

Answer 1

(A) We have to test the claim that "the capacity to understand and experience the emotional states of another person increase with age". So, this will be the alternate hypothesis statement.

Let us assume the and are the mean value for the group when they were in first grade and sixth grade

According to question

Null hypothesis

Alternate hypothesis

(B) I will analyze the data using t test for two related samples because the same group of graders is used in first grade and sixth grade, So there is no change in the sample.

(c) I choosed the t test for two related samples because the samples used in the pre and post conditions are sample, only difference is the time between first grade and sixth grade. The sample data is same for both samples, thats why i choosed t test for two related samples.

(d) Yes, researcher can conclude that the difference in the independent variable was causally reponsible for the differences in the dependent variable because the capacity to understand and experience the emotional states of another person increase with the age, i.e. this capacity will increase for the sixth grader as compared to the first grader.