Complete the worksheet focusing on hypothesis testing, t-tests, and statistical significance.
Note: The assessments in this course build upon each other, so you are strongly encouraged to complete them in sequence.
When understanding what we learn from a t-test, the key is to
remember that we are comparing groups. The question we are answering:
are these two groups the same (or different)?
This assessment will focus on t-tests and exploring how to
determine if your results are statistically significant. You’ll also
continue to work with your data for Assessment 4.
Note: The assessments in this course build upon each other, so you are strongly encouraged to complete them in sequence.
Before you begin the assessment, complete the following:
Download the Thinking About Your Data [DOCX] worksheet.
Below are the data files for your reference:
Note: The GSS Data 2018 [XLSX]
has all of the data for all of the variables. The other files are
JASP-compatible files with two variables each. These data files are
labeled with the names of the two variables. To find the data file for
your specific project, look for the file that names both of your
variables.
News and Depress [CSV].
News and Happy [CSV].
News and Life [CSV].
News and Mntlhlth [CSV].
Raclive and Depress [CSV].
Raclive and Happy [CSV].
Raclive and Life [CSV].
Raclive and Mntlhlth [CSV].
Wwwhr and Depress [CSV].
Wwwhr and Happy [CSV].
Wwwhr and Life [CSV].
Wwwhr and Mntlhlth [CSV].
In your General Social Survey (GSS) reading list, review the following:
Hout and Hastings’s 2016 article, “Reliability of the Core Items in
the General Social Survey: Estimates From the Three-Wave Panels,
2006–2014.” Please note that the GSS data in the course is from 2018;
the information in this article still applies.
Preview the GSS Documentation available to you.
Complete and submit the Thinking About Your Data [DOCX] worksheet.
Tips for Success
Do each step one at a time. Running statistical tests requires paying attention to details.
Pay special attention to which data file to use—you’ll use several of them.
Keep JASP, your textbook, and Statistical Analysis in JASP: A Guide for Students open when working on your worksheet.
Read, don’t skim, each part of the worksheet. The text will often help you find the answer.
Do the entire worksheet (it’s long).
When you are done, scroll to the very end of the document. Then
scroll up slowly to double-check that you have an answer in each box.
Going in reverse (from the end to the beginning) is often the best way
to spot something you overlooked earlier.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your
proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide
criteria:
Competency 1: Interpret complex statistical findings and graphs in
the context of their level of statistical significance, including the
influence of effect size.
Interpret the results of a t-test on the variables sex and wwwhr.
Interpret the results of a Mann-Whitney test.
Competency 2: Apply statistical analyses to problems in the social sciences.
Perform a t-test on the variables sex and wwwhr.
Perform a t-test on the variables raclive and mntlhlth.
Describe t-tests.
Perform a Mann-Whitney on the variables raclive and happy.
Perform a Mann-Whitney on the variables raclive and life.
Perform a Mann-Whitney on the variables news and depress.
Describe Mann-Whitney.
Determine whether a t-test and Mann-Whitney can be used for your study.
Competency 3: Determine the generalizability of specific findings based on parameters of the research design.
Determine the generalizability of specific findings based on parameters of the research design.
Competency 5: Determine the reliability and validity of measures and research design.
Determine the reliability and validity of measures.
Competency 6: Communicate quantitative data in statistics, graphs, tables, and in common language.
Communicate statistical information in academic language.
Communicate statistical information about a Mann-Whitney in common language.
Communicate Mann-Whitney results in academic language.
Must meet the Distinguished Criteria: Thinking About Your Data Scoring Guide
Criteria Non-performance Basic Proficient Distinguished
Perform a t-test on the variables sex and wwwhr. Does not perform a t-test on the variables sex and wwwhr. Performs a t-test on the variables sex and wwwhr with more than three errors. Performs a t-test on the variables sex and wwwhr with 1–3 errors. Performs a t-test on the variables sex and wwwhr with no errors.
Interpret the results of a t-test on the variables sex and wwwhr. Does not interpret the results of a t-test on the variables sex and wwwhr. Interprets the results of a t-test on the variables sex and wwwhr with more than three errors. Interprets the results of a t-test on the variables sex and wwwhr with 1–3 errors. Interprets the results of a t-test on the variables sex and wwwhr with no errors.
Perform a t-test on the variables raclive and mntlhlth. Does not perform a t-test on the variables raclive and mntlhlth. Performs a t-test on the variables raclive and mntlhlth with more than three errors. Performs a t-test on the variables raclive and mntlhlth with 1–3 errors. Performs a t-test on the variables raclive and mntlhlth with no errors.
Communicate statistical information in academic language. Does not communicate statistical information in academic language. Communicates statistical information in academic language with more than three errors. Communicates statistical information in academic language with 1–3 errors. Communicates statistical information in academic language with no errors.
Describe t-tests. Does not describe t-tests. Describes t-tests with more than two errors. Describes t-tests with an error. Describes t-tests with no errors.
Perform a Mann-Whitney on the variables raclive and happy. Does not perform a Mann-Whitney on the variables raclive and happy. Performs a Mann-Whitney on the variables raclive and happy with more than three errors. Performs a Mann-Whitney on the variables raclive and happy with 1–3 errors. Performs a Mann-Whitney on the variables raclive and happy with no errors.
Interpret the results of a Mann-Whitney test. Does not interpret the results of a Mann-Whitney test. Interprets the results of a Mann-Whitney with more than three errors. Interprets the results of a Mann-Whitney with 1–3 errors. Interprets the results of a Mann-Whitney with no errors.
Perform a Mann-Whitney on the variables raclive and life. Does not perform a Mann-Whitney on the variables raclive and life. Performs a Mann-Whitney on the variables raclive and life with more than three errors. Performs a Mann-Whitney on the variables raclive and life with 1–3 errors. Performs a Mann-Whitney on the variables raclive and life with no errors.
Communicate statistical information about a Mann-Whitney in common language. Does not communicate statistical information about a Mann-Whitney in common language. Communicates statistical information about a Mann-Whitney in common language with more than three errors. Communicates statistical information about a Mann-Whitney in common language with 1–3 errors. Communicates statistical information about a Mann-Whitney in common language with no errors.
Perform a Mann-Whitney on the variables news and depress. Does not perform a Mann-Whitney on the variables news and depress. Performs a Mann-Whitney on the variables news and depress with more than three errors. Performs a Mann-Whitney on the variables news and depress with 1–3 errors. Performs a Mann-Whitney on the variables news and depress with no errors.
Communicate Mann-Whitney results in academic language. Does not communicate Mann-Whitney results in academic language. Communicates Mann-Whitney results in academic language with more than three errors. Communicates Mann-Whitney results in academic language with 1–3 errors. Communicates Mann-Whitney results in academic language with no errors.
Describe Mann-Whitney. Does not describe Mann-Whitney. Describes Mann-Whitney with two or more errors. Describes Mann-Whitney with one error. Describes Mann-Whitney with no errors.
Determine whether a t-test and Mann-Whitney can be used for your study. Does not determine whether a t-test or Mann-Whitney can be used for your study. Determines whether a t-test or Mann-Whitney can be used for your study but does not make a decision on both. Determines whether a t-test or Mann-Whitney can be used for your study. Accurately determines whether a t-test or Mann-Whitney can be used for your study.
Determine the reliability and validity of measures. Does not determine the reliability and validity of measures. Determines the reliability and validity of measures with multiple errors. Determines the reliability and validity of measures. Determines the reliability and validity of measures with no errors.
Determine the generalizability of specific findings based on parameters of the research design. Does not determine the generalizability of specific findings based on parameters of the research design. Determines the generalizability of specific findings based on parameters of the research design with significant errors. Determines the generalizability of specific findings based on parameters of the research design. Determines the generalizability of specific findings based on parameters of the research design with no errors.
May need to download Jasp if you don’t have it. https://jasp-stats.org/
text book is :
Ph.D., A. A., Ph.D., E.N. A., Ph.D., E.J. C., & PhD, E. C. (2022). Statistics for Psychology (7th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://capella.vitalsource.com/books/9780136658313
ISBN: 9780136658313
The following resources will help you understand statistical significance and t-tests.
Statistical Significance
Aron, A., Coups, E. J., & Aron, E. N. (2022). Statistics for psychology (7th ed.). Pearson Education. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 6, “Making Sense of Statistical Significance.”
t-Tests
Aron, A., Coups, E. J., & Aron, E. N. (2022). Statistics for psychology (7th ed.). Pearson Education. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 7, “Introduction to t Tests.”
Chapter 8, “The t Test for Independent Means.”
The data you will use throughout the course
comes from the GSS. This survey has been used since 1972, and all data
collected are available to the public (for free).
In your General Social Survey (GSS) reading list:
Read Hout and Hastings’s 2016 article on the core items in the GSS.
Please note that the GSS data in the course is from 2018; the
information in this article still applies.
Go to the Documentation page on the GSS website. Take notes on how
the surveys are conducted and on the details of the data you are using
for your project.
https://gss.norc.org/Get-Documentation
