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A cognitive researcher has computed a mean reaction time of 350 milliseconds for a sample, but wants to make sure this statistic is not misleading. How should the researcher apply a histogram during their preliminary analyses to verify whether this mean is representative of the sample's actual distribution?
Question: A cognitive researcher has computed a mean reaction time of 350 milliseconds for a sample, but wants to make sure this statistic is not misleading. How should the researcher apply a histogram during their preliminary analyses to verify whether this mean is representative of the sample's actual distribution?
Sample answer: The researcher should plot the frequency of the reaction time scores on a histogram to evaluate the shape and distribution of the single variable. By visually assessing the shape for features like unimodality or skewness, they can apply this visual context to determine whether the calculated mean of 350 milliseconds accurately represents the sample in real-world terms.
Key points:
- Construct a histogram to plot the frequency of the reaction time scores.
- Visually evaluate the distribution and shape of the single variable.
- Apply the visual assessment (checking for unimodality or skew) to determine if the mean is representative in real-world terms.
Rubric: The response must describe applying the histogram by plotting the frequency of different scores to visually assess the shape of the single variable. It should explain that evaluating the distribution (e.g., checking for unimodality or skewness) allows the researcher to determine if their calculated descriptive statistics represent the data in real-world terms.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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A cognitive researcher has computed a mean reaction time of 350 milliseconds for a sample, but wants to make sure this statistic is not misleading. How should the researcher apply a histogram during their preliminary analyses to verify whether this mean is representative of the sample's actual distribution?