Question

Think of a research idea in which you will compare 2 groups (sample v population or sample v sample) on some variable (e.g., the book uses the example of the IQ of a particular group vs. the IQ of the general population—do not use this example). Answer all of the following questions for this study.

Study

a) What are your two groups?

b) What is the variable you will test?

c) State your null hypothesis using the formula notation shown in the book.

d) State your alternative hypothesis using the formula notation shown in the book.

e) In sentence structure state your alternative hypothesis.

f) Based on your hypothesis is your study one- or two-tailed?

Answer 1

The research question that can be explored in this example study can be to find if the practice of yoga decreases exam anxiety.

a) In this study, there would be an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group would attend yoga classes for a three-month duration whereas the control group would not be attending any yoga classes for the same time duration.

b) The independent variable, in this case, would the practice of yoga, whereas the dependent variable would be exam anxiety.

c) The null hypothesis would be:

H₀: ?₁ = ?₂ (where ?₁ = mean of exam anxiety scores of the experimental group and ?₂ = mean of exam anxiety scores of the control group).

d) The alternative hypothesis would be:

H1: ?₁ < ?₂ (where ?₁ = mean of exam anxiety scores of the experimental group and ?₂ = mean of exam anxiety scores of the control group).

e) The practice of yoga leads to a significant decrease in exam anxiety.

f) The study is one-tailed.