Chapter 4

Question 1

Hypothesis Testing

Answer 1

A procedure for deciding whether the outcome of a study supports a particular theory of practical innovation

Question 2

Hypothesis

Answer 2

Prediction

Question 3

What are hypotheses based on?

Answer 3

Informal observation,
Previous research,
Theory

Question 4

Theory

Answer 4

Set of principles that attempt to explain one or more facts, relationships, or events

Question 5

What do theories explain?

Answer 5

Important psychological processes

Question 6

What do theories lead to?

Answer 6

Various specific hypotheses that can be tested in research studies

Question 7

Why is hypothesis testing used?

Answer 7

Allows experimenters to reject certain hypotheses and ideas based on results of the sample studied

Question 8

Research Hypothesis

Answer 8

Statement in hypothesis testing about the predicted relation between the two populations being tested

Question 9

Null Hypothesis

Answer 9

Statement about a relation between populations that is the opposite of the research hypothesis

Question 10

What population mean is lower in a research hypothesis?

Answer 10

Population 1

Question 11

What population mean is lower in a null hypothesis?

Answer 11

There is no difference

Question 12

Comparison Distribution

Answer 12

Represents the population situation if the null hypothesis is true

Question 13

When is a comparison distribution used?

Answer 13

In hypothesis testing to compare the score based on your sample’s results

Question 14

Cutoff Sample Score

Answer 14

Point in hypothesis testing that if reached or exceeded by the sample score, you reject the null hypothesis

Question 15

What is the cutoff score also called?

Answer 15

The critical value

Question 16

Example of Conventional Levels of Significance

Answer 16

P < .05 or P < .01

Question 17

Statistically Significant

Answer 17

Conclusion that the results of a study would be unlikely if in fact the sample studied represents a population that is no different than the population in general

Question 18

Steps for the Hypothesis Testing Process (5)

Answer 18

1. Restate the question as a research hypothesis and a null hypothesis about the populations
2. Determine the characteristics of the comparison distribution
3. Determine the cutoff sample score on the comparison distribution at which the null hypothesis should be rejected
4. Determine your sample’s score on the comparison distribution
5. Decide whether to reject the null hypothesis

Question 19

What is being said when the null hypothesis is rejected?

Answer 19

Your results support the research hypothesis

Question 20

What is being said when the null hypothesis cannot be rejected?

Answer 20

Does not support the null hypothesis

Results are not statistically significant

Question 21

Inconclusive

Answer 21

Results are not extreme enough to reject the null hypothesis

Question 22

Directional Hypothesis

Answer 22

Research hypothesis predicting a particular direction of difference between populations

Question 23

One-Tailed Test

Answer 23

Situation in which the region of the comparison distribution (for when the null hypothesis would be rejected) is all on one side (tail) of the distribution

Question 24

Nondirectional Hypothesis

Answer 24

Research hypothesis that does not predict a particular direction of difference between the populations

Question 25

Two-Tailed Test

Answer 25

Situation in which the region of the comparison distribution (for when the null hypothesis would be rejected) is divided between the two sides (tails) of the distribution

Question 26

How to determine the cutoff scores with a two-tailed test?

Answer 26

Have to divide the significance percentage between the two tails

Question 27

If a one-tailed test is chosen...

Answer 27

The result is extreme in the direction opposite to what was predicted and cannot be considered statistically significant, no matter how extreme

Question 28

When do you use a one-tailed test?

Answer 28

When you have a clearly directional hypothesis

Question 29

When do you use a two-tailed test?

Answer 29

When you have a clearly nondirectional hypothesis

Question 30

What are some subtle concerns about significance testing?

Answer 30

Does it make sense to worry about rejecting the null hypothesis when it is extremely unlikely to be true that there was no effect at all? The foundation of hypothesis testing, populations, and samples

Question 31

What is the majority view on significance tests?

Answer 31

The way hypothesis testing is used by researchers is reasonable despite the minor adjustments that need to be made

Question 32

Why is Baye's theorem hotly debated?

Answer 32

Using this method sometimes showed results much less strong/significant than other methods

Question 33

Bayesian Approach

Answer 33

Actually computing the odds of the research hypothesis being more likely than the null hypothesis

Question 34

Baye's Factor

Answer 34

The odds calculated from the Bayesian approach

Question 35

When do the Baye's Factor Odds usually favor the research hypothesis?

Answer 35

When the standard method used is significant

Question 36

When do the Baye's Factor Odds usually favor the null hypothesis?

Answer 36

When the standard method used is nonsignificant

Question 37

What is the biggest complaint of significance testing?

Answer 37

The standard meaning is interpreted incorrectly Researchers decide that if a result is not significant then the null hypothesis is shown to be true rather than inconclusive