Short Answer

Imagine you are analyzing data from a study with a small sample size (N=15N = 15) and observe a very weak correlation between the two variables. Apply the general heuristic for intuitive judgment of statistical significance to state your expectation for the formal null hypothesis test, and explain how this expectation helps you when you run the analysis.

Question: Imagine you are analyzing data from a study with a small sample size (N=15N = 15) and observe a very weak correlation between the two variables. Apply the general heuristic for intuitive judgment of statistical significance to state your expectation for the formal null hypothesis test, and explain how this expectation helps you when you run the analysis.

Sample answer: Based on the general heuristic, a weak relationship in a small sample is not statistically significant. Therefore, I should expect the formal null hypothesis test to be non-significant. If the statistical software unexpectedly reports a significant result, this expectation acts as a safeguard, prompting me to check for computational or interpretive errors.

Key points:

  • Expect the result to be non-significant due to a weak relationship and small sample size.
  • Use this expectation to detect potential computational or interpretive errors if the software reports a significant result.

Rubric: Award full credit if the student expects a non-significant result based on the weak relationship and small sample size, and explains that this expectation serves as a safeguard to detect computational or interpretive errors if the software reports otherwise.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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