What This Document Is
This is a practice homework assignment for Oakland University’s PSY 251: Statistics and Research Design course, specifically focusing on Chapter 8 and the independent means t-test. It’s designed to help students apply the concepts learned in class to a real-world scenario involving sales data and customer behavior. The assignment requires both manual calculations and the use of SPSS statistical software.
Why This Document Matters
This practice assignment is crucial for students preparing for exams and demonstrating their understanding of the independent means t-test. It’s intended for students enrolled in PSY 251 who need to practice applying statistical methods to analyze data and interpret results. Successfully completing this assignment will reinforce the skills needed for more complex statistical analyses later in the course. It serves as a direct preparation tool, mirroring the expected format and grading rubric of assessed work.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document is a *practice* assignment. It does not provide instruction on *how* to perform the t-test or use SPSS. It assumes students have already been taught these concepts in class or through other course materials. It also requires access to SPSS software, which is not included. The assignment focuses on application, not foundational learning.
What This Document Provides
The full document includes:
* A scenario involving a consumer psychologist studying the impact of smiling sales clerks on customer purchases.
* Sales data for stores with and without the “smiling clerk” intervention.
* Specific questions requiring students to:
* Formulate null and research hypotheses.
* Perform a t-test calculation by hand, showing all steps and formulas.
* Calculate the effect size (Cohen’s d).
* Conduct the same analysis using SPSS.
* Write a report summarizing the findings, including significance testing results, confidence intervals, and effect size.
* A detailed grading rubric based on an example assignment provided in Moodle.
* Formatting guidelines for submission (file name, PDF format).
This preview does *not* include the solutions, SPSS output, or detailed calculations. It only describes the assignment’s content and requirements.