Psychology week three assignment

RSM801

Week 3 Assignment

The purpose of this exercise is to give you the opportunity to determine appropriate tests to run, carry out the analyses, and interpret the results of the statistics. Be sure to open this document and SAVE IT as yourlastname_lab_Week3.doc to the desktop. Once complete, upload it to the Week 3 Blackboard dropbox.

General Instructions:

· Read each question carefully before answering.

· Plan your time effectively: Review all questions before starting and develop a strategy. If you get stuck on one question, move on and return to it later.

· Clear documentation matters: Clearly indicate your steps to maximize the potential for partial credit.

· Refer to course materials: You may consult your textbook or other course materials for assistance with statistical tests.

· Label all figures: Figures should have numbers and titles per APA guidelines.

· Ask for clarification if needed: I may provide general guidance, but not answers. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have questions!

Use JAMOVI OR SPSS data file

QUESTION 1 (14 points)

Describe the variables SOUND, ENVIRONMENT, and TESTSCORE:

· Generate frequency tables and bar charts for all categorical (nominal or ordinal) variables.

· For continuous (scale) variables, generate and interpret descriptive statistics.

· Include histograms with a normal curve superimposed for each scale variable.

· Summarize the data in a paragraph, highlighting key findings (e.g., distribution shape, central tendency, variability).

QUESTION 2 (6 points)

Analyze whether the TESTSCORE variable has any significant outliers:

· Identify potential outliers, including relevant JAMOVI OR SPSS output and writing a brief justification for whether or not these are true outliers. [4 points]

· Justify whether any potential outliers should be kept, removed, or transformed. Be sure not to remove or transform outliers, simply report what you would do based on this analysis. [2 points]

QUESTION 3 (11 points)

You want to determine whether participants in your sample performed significantly differently from a benchmark average score (80) on the math exam (variable TESTSCORE in the data set).

· What statistical test would you conduct? Explain your reasoning. [3 points]

· Run the test in JAMOVI OR SPSS. Paste your output into the document. [3 points]

· Write up your findings as if reporting them in a journal article, following APA guidelines. [5 points]

QUESTION 4 (16 point s)

Is test taking environment (variable ENVIRONMENT) associated with math test scores (variable TESTSCORE)?

· Identify the appropriate statistical test for this analysis. Explain your choice. [3 points]

· Identify the independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV). [2 points]

· Conduct the test in JAMOVI OR SPSS. Paste your output into the document. [2 points]

· Write up your findings as if reporting them in a journal article, following APA guidelines. [9 points]

QUESTION 5 (13 points)

Participants rated the attractiveness of a potential romantic partner while under the influence of alcohol (ATTRAC_ALC) and again when completely sober (ATTRAC_SOB). Ratings were on a scale from 1 to 14 (higher values indicate greater attractiveness). These variables should be treated as scale (continuous) variables. Analyze whether alcohol influenced ratings of attractiveness:

· What test would you conduct? Why is this test appropriate? [3 points]

· Conduct the test in JAMOVI OR SPSS. Paste your output into the document. [2 points]

· Write a results section as if reporting for a journal article, following APA guidelines. [6 points]

QUESTION 6 (10 points)

A researcher examined how free time affects creativity:

· One group of children had 30 minutes of unstructured play time (Unstructured), while another had 30 minutes of an observer directing play time (Structured).

· All children were then asked to draw a picture of something they had imagined.

· Independent observers rated the creativity of drawings (higher scores = more creativity).

The researcher conducted a t-test for independent means on the data. The SPSS output is below.

1. Explain what Levene's Test for Equality of Variances tells us, why it matters, and how it affects interpretation. Use the information provided under “Levene’s Test for Equality of Variances.”[4 points]

2. Describe the results of the t-test in a way that would be clear to a reader unfamiliar with the data set. Write up the results thoroughly, following APA guidelines. [6 points]

QUESTION 7 (14 points)

A psychologist studied the effects of location and noise level impacted math exam scores. The results are displayed in the figure below.

What statistical test was performed? You should base your answer on the study description as well as the figure above. Explain your reasoning. [3 points]

· Label and number the figure according to APA guidelines. [3 points]

· Write the hypotheses for the impact of location and noise sound level on exam scores. [4 points]

· Based on the figure, describe the results of the study. Follow APA guidelines. [4 points]

QUESTION 8 (8 points)

A psychologist is studying the effect of sleep deprivation on reaction times. Participants were asked to complete a reaction time task after three conditions: (1) a full night's sleep, (2) 24 hours of sleep deprivation, and (3) 48 hours of sleep deprivation. Reaction times (in milliseconds) for each condition were recorded as continuous variables. The researcher hypothesizes that sleep deprivation will significantly impact reaction times.

What statistical test would you conduct to analyze the data? Explain why this test is appropriate. [2 points]

Write the hypotheses for the test you selected. Clearly state the null and alternative hypotheses. [2 points]

If you were to run this test in JAMOVI OR SPSS, how would you check assumptions (e.g., sphericity) and what would you do if they are violated. [4 points]

** End of Week 3 Application **