What This Document Is
This resource is a focused instructional guide designed to deepen your understanding of hypothesis testing within the context of research methods. Specifically, it centers on applying statistical tests to compare groups and interpret the results. It builds upon foundational statistical concepts and transitions into practical application using statistical software. The material explores both manual calculations and software-generated outputs, fostering a comprehensive grasp of the process.
Why This Document Matters
This guide is invaluable for students in Research Methods I (FREC 408) at the University of Delaware who are learning to analyze data and draw meaningful conclusions. It’s particularly helpful when you’re tasked with designing and executing your own hypothesis tests, or when you need to critically evaluate research findings presented by others. This resource will be most beneficial when you are actively working on assignments involving data analysis and interpretation, or preparing for assessments on statistical inference.
Topics Covered
* Difference of means testing
* Hypothesis formulation (null and alternative hypotheses)
* Interpretation of p-values and critical values
* Confidence interval construction
* Statistical significance and rejection regions
* Comparing variances between groups
* Proportion tests
* Application of statistical software (Excel & SAS) for hypothesis testing
* Pooled variance estimation
What This Document Provides
* A framework for conducting hypothesis tests step-by-step.
* Guidance on interpreting statistical outputs from software packages.
* Illustrative examples to demonstrate the application of concepts.
* Discussion of the assumptions underlying different statistical tests.
* Exploration of the implications of test results for research conclusions.
* Considerations for choosing appropriate statistical tests based on data characteristics.