Essay

A researcher wants to test if a new reading program changes the average reading speed of 3rd graders compared to the national average of 110 words per minute. Apply the concepts of null and alternative hypotheses to formulate the hypotheses for this study in the context of a one-sample tt-test. Provide both the conceptual descriptions and the formal mathematical expressions.

Question: A researcher wants to test if a new reading program changes the average reading speed of 3rd graders compared to the national average of 110 words per minute. Apply the concepts of null and alternative hypotheses to formulate the hypotheses for this study in the context of a one-sample tt-test. Provide both the conceptual descriptions and the formal mathematical expressions.

Sample answer: For a one-sample tt-test, the null hypothesis posits that the true population mean (μ\mu) of reading speed for 3rd graders using the new program is identical to the hypothetical population mean (μ0\mu_0) of 110 words per minute, formalized as μ=110\mu = 110. Conversely, the alternative hypothesis posits that the actual population mean significantly deviates from this expected standard, formalized as μ110\mu \neq 110.

Key points:

  • Define the null hypothesis conceptually as the true population mean being identical to the national average.
  • State the formal null hypothesis expression as μ=110\mu = 110.
  • Define the alternative hypothesis conceptually as the actual population mean significantly deviating from the national average.
  • State the formal alternative hypothesis expression as μ110\mu \neq 110.

Rubric: The student must correctly identify the hypothetical population mean (μ0\mu_0) as 110 and properly articulate both hypotheses conceptually and mathematically using the parameters μ\mu and μ0\mu_0.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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