For each of the following situations, identify whether the appropriate test is a
ID: 3131902 • Letter: F
Question
For each of the following situations, identify whether the appropriate test is a paired t-test (for parameter µd) or a two-sample t-test (for parameter µ1 µ2). Explain your answer.
(a) Sixty students were matched by initial pulse rate, with the two with the highest pulse forming a pair, and so on. Within each pair, one student was randomly chosen to drink a caffeinated beverage, while the other one drank an equivalent amount of water. Their pulse rates were measured 10 minutes later, to test whether caffeine consumption elevates pulse rates.
(b) To determine whether lack of sleep increases appetite, researchers recruited 50 volunteers and randomly assigned 25 of them to sleep at least 8 hours a night and the other 25 to sleep at most 5 hours a night, for 3 days. Calorie intake was recorded for all 50 volunteers for the 3-day period.
Explanation / Answer
(a)A paired t-test means whether means from a within-subjects test group vary over 2 different conditions. The paired t-test is commonly used to compare a sample group’s scores before and after a treatment.a paired t test (for parameter µd) is suitable here because the sixty students are paired in some way.
(b)a two sample t-test (for parameter µ1 µ2) is appropriate here. The independent-samples t-test compares the means between two unrelated groups on the same continuous, dependent variable.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.