Case Study

Based on the provided case context, what specific statistical decision should the researchers make regarding the null hypothesis, and what substantive conclusion should they draw about talkativeness in the population?

Case context: Suppose you are reading a research report by Mehl and colleagues investigating whether men and women differ in talkativeness. The researchers note that they assumed the null hypothesis to be true, meaning there is no difference in the population. They then calculate the difference between the two groups in their sample, finding an effect size of d=0.06d = 0.06. Finally, they state that observing this sample difference is fairly likely under their initial assumption.

Question: Based on the provided case context, what specific statistical decision should the researchers make regarding the null hypothesis, and what substantive conclusion should they draw about talkativeness in the population?

Sample answer: Because the result is fairly likely under the initial assumption, the researchers should decide to retain the null hypothesis. Substantively, they should conclude that there is no evidence of a sex difference in talkativeness in the population.

Key points:

  • Identify the statistical decision to retain the null hypothesis.
  • Recognize the substantive conclusion that there is no evidence of a sex difference.
  • Connect the fairly likely sample result (d=0.06d = 0.06) to the decision to retain the null hypothesis.

Rubric: The answer must correctly identify that the statistical decision is to retain the null hypothesis and that the substantive conclusion is that there is no evidence of a difference in talkativeness between men and women in the population.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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