Short Answer

Imagine you are a researcher who has just observed a novel behavioral pattern in a group of children under a new teaching method. Applying Robert Abelson's defense of null hypothesis testing, how would you justify your choice to use this statistical framework to a colleague who argues that statistical significance tests are a waste of time?

Question: Imagine you are a researcher who has just observed a novel behavioral pattern in a group of children under a new teaching method. Applying Robert Abelson's defense of null hypothesis testing, how would you justify your choice to use this statistical framework to a colleague who argues that statistical significance tests are a waste of time?

Sample answer: I would justify using null hypothesis testing by explaining that it is a 'principled argument' rather than a waste of time. Because the behavioral pattern is novel, the framework provides me with a systematic way to demonstrate to colleagues that my observations are not mere chance occurrences.

Key points:

  • Applies the concept of a 'principled argument' to the novel behavioral pattern scenario.
  • Justifies the use of the framework as a systematic way to show results are not mere chance occurrences.
  • Links this justification to the goal of convincing skeptical colleagues of the novel findings.

Rubric: The response must apply Abelson's concepts to the scenario by framing null hypothesis testing as a 'principled argument' and explaining that it systematically demonstrates that the novel findings are not mere chance occurrences.

0

1

Updated 2026-05-26

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

KPU

Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

Related