In: Statistics and Probability
A researcher wonders if people who listen to music via ear buds have a different hearing loss compared to the general population. On a standard hearing test, the mean (μ) is 24.75. Higher values indicate better hearing; lower values indicate worse hearing. The researcher gave this same test to a random sample of 10 individuals who regularly use ear buds. Their data on the hearing test is below. Calculate descriptive statistics for the data and use the five steps of hypothesis testing to determine if using ear buds significantly changes hearing.
24, 26, 27, 21, 28, 30, 30, 35, 29, 20 -
Compute the mean and standard deviation.
Mean = 27 SD = 4.4969 Step
1: What are your null and alternative hypotheses?
Null hypothesis = There is no significant difference in hearing loss between individuals who listen to music via earbuds and the general population. Alternative hypothesis = There is a significant difference in loss between individuals who listen to music via earbuds and the general population.
Step 2: What is the alpha level, will you run a one-tail or two-tail test? Why? What is the t critical value? (One point) The alpha level is 0.05. We will run a two tailed test because the alternative hypothesis is not directional. The critical t-value is 2.262.
Step 3: Your data is already collected but obtain the test statistic! Begin by computing the estimated population variance. Population variance = 18.2. T obtained value = 1.5822.
Continue by computing the estimated standard error of the mean. Standard error of mean = 1.422. -
Finally, compute a t test. What is your obtained value? (One point). T obtained value = 1.5822.
Step 4: Make your decision: Do you reject, or fail to reject the null hypothesis? (One point). We fail to reject the null hypothesis.
QUESTION
Step 5: How would your study read in a scientific article?