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Two Interpretations of a Statistical Relationship in a Sample
Whenever researchers observe a statistical relationship within a sample, they must choose between two mutually exclusive interpretations. The first interpretation asserts that a genuine relationship exists within the broader population, and the sample merely reflects this reality. The alternative interpretation posits that there is no true relationship in the population at all, meaning the observed result in the sample is entirely an artifact of random sampling error.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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Purpose of Null Hypothesis Testing
Null Hypothesis Testing
What are the two mutually exclusive interpretations researchers must choose between when they observe a statistical relationship within a sample?
A researcher surveys 80 university students and finds a positive correlation between daily study hours and exam scores. According to the logic of statistical inference, it is a legitimate interpretation that no real relationship between study hours and exam scores exists in the broader student population, and that the correlation appeared in the sample solely because of chance variation in which individuals happened to be selected.