Case Study

Based on the reported pp-value and alpha threshold, diagnose whether the result is statistically significant, decide whether to reject or retain the null hypothesis, and justify the conclusion the researcher should make about the relationship in the population.

Case context: A researcher is studying the relationship between people's calorie estimates and their weight. After running a correlation test in their statistical software, the program reports a pp-value of .348.348. The researcher had previously established an alpha threshold of .05.05.

Question: Based on the reported pp-value and alpha threshold, diagnose whether the result is statistically significant, decide whether to reject or retain the null hypothesis, and justify the conclusion the researcher should make about the relationship in the population.

Sample answer: The reported pp-value of .348.348 is greater than the alpha threshold of .05.05, meaning the correlation is not statistically significant. Therefore, the researcher must retain the null hypothesis. The researcher should conclude that the sample does not provide enough evidence to support a relationship between people's calorie estimates and their weight in the population.

Key points:

  • Compare the pp-value of .348.348 directly to the alpha threshold of .05.05.
  • Conclude that the result is not statistically significant.
  • State the decision to retain the null hypothesis.
  • Conclude that there is insufficient evidence for a relationship between calorie estimates and weight in the population.

Rubric: Grading Criteria: - 1 point for identifying that .348.348 is greater than .05.05, making the result not statistically significant. - 1 point for deciding to retain the null hypothesis. - 1 point for concluding that there is insufficient evidence of a population relationship between calorie estimates and weight.

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Updated 2026-05-26

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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