Week 6 discussion
Research Design and t Tests: How Are They Connected?
The best way to solidify your understanding of statistical
testing is to actually engage in performing some data analysis. This week you
will work with a real, secondary dataset to construct a research question,
perform a t test, and interpret the results.
Whether in a scholarly or practitioner setting, good
research and data analysis should have the benefit of peer feedback. For this
Discussion, you will post your response to the hypothesis test, along with the
results. Be sure and remember that the goal is to obtain constructive feedback
to improve the research and its interpretation, so please view this as an opportunity
to learn from one another.
To prepare for this Discussion:
Review the Learning Resources and the media programs related
to t tests.
Using the SPSS software, open the High School Longitudinal
Study dataset found in this week’s Learning Resources and construct a research
question that involves a comparison of a means test.
By Day 3
Use SPSS to answer the research question you constructed and
post your response to the following:
What is your research question?
What is the null hypothesis for your question?
What research design would align with this question?
What comparison of means test was used to answer the
question (be sure to defend the use of the test using the article you found in
your search)?
What dependent variable was used and how is it measured?
What independent variable is used and how is it measured?
If you found significance, what is the strength of the
effect?
Identify your research question and explain your results for
a lay audience, what is the answer to your research question?
Be sure to support your Main Post and Response Post with
reference to the week’s Learning Resources and other scholarly evidence in APA
Style.
By Day 5
Respond to one of your colleagues’ posts and:
Make recommendations for the design choice.
Explain whether you think that this is the appropriate t
test to use for the question. Why or why not?
As a lay reader, were you able to understand the results and
their implications? Why or why not?
Click on the Reply button below to reveal the textbox for
entering your message. Then click on the Submit button to post your message.
