Statistical Methods for Psychology
1. A random sample of N = 25 individuals is selected from a population with μ = 20, and
a treatment is administered to each individual in the sample. After treatment, the sample
mean is found to be X = 22.2 with SS = 384. Based on the sample data, does the treatment
have a significant effect?
2. To evaluate the effect of a treatment, a sample is obtained from a population with a mean of
μ = 30 and the treatment is administered to the individuals in the sample. After treatment,
the sample mean is found to be M = 31.3 with a standard deviation of ˆσ = 3
(a) If the sample consists of N = 9 individuals, are the data sufficient to conclude that the
treatment has a significant effect?
(b) If the sample consists of N = 49 individuals, are the data sufficient to conclude that the
treatment has a significant effect?
(c) Comparing your answers for parts (a) and (b), how does the size of the sample influence
the outcome of a hypothesis test?
3. Standardized measures seem to indicate that the average level of anxiety has increased gradually over the past 50 years (Twenge, 2000). In the 1950s, the average score on the Child
Manifest Anxiety Scale was μ = 15.1. A sample of N = 16 of today’s children produces a
mean score of X = 23.3 with SS = 240. Based on this sample, has there been a significant
change in the average level of anxiety since the 1950s?
4. A sample of N = 9 individuals participates in a repeated measures study that produces a
sample mean difference of X = 4.25 with SS = 128 for the difference scores. Is this mean
difference large enough to be considered a significant increase?