When people learn a new task, their performance usually improves when they are tested the next day, but only if they get 6 hours sleep (Sticckgold, et al., 2000). The following data demonstrate this phenomenon. The participants learned a visual discrimination task on one day. Half of the participants were allowed to have at least 6 hours of sleep and the other half were kept awake all night.
6 hours sleep
No sleep
n =14 n = 14
M = 72 M =65
SS = 932 SS = 706
Will the 6-hour sleep show a much higher performance rate? This time use a one-tail with alpha = .05 Show all of the steps.
Remember use the attached t-distribution chart when obtaining your critical region.
Problem solving template
n =
df1 + df2
M1=
M2=
μ1-μ2 = 0
SS1 + SS2=
s2p =
S(M1-M2) =
- State the hypothesis s and select alpha (consider one tailed or two tailed) Sate hypothesis in words:
Null stated in words:
Alternative stated in words:
State hypothesis in symbols: Hₒ:
State alternative in symbols: Hₗ:
- Locate critical region for stated alpha
- Compute test statistic (Independent t-score)
Pooled variance S2p:
Estimated standard error S(M1-M2) :
Computed Independent t statistic:
- Make a decision about the null hypothesis and state a conclusion.
Decision: Are you going to reject the null or fail to reject the null Conclusion: ex. The independent variable did or did not have a significant effect Remember: