Scenario: Imagine you are a researcher who is interested in studying whether sleep deprivation leads to increased reaction times (i.e., being slower) when driving. You randomly select a sample of 30 licensed drivers. Fifteen participants are randomly assigned to get 5 hours of sleep for three consecutive nights. The other 15 participants are randomly assigned to get 8 hours of sleep for three consecutive nights. For the purposes of this Assignment, assume that all participants sleep exactly the required amounts. After the third night, all participants take a driving simulation test that measures their reaction times.
To complete this Assignment, submit a response to each of the following. Use SPSS to determine if amount of sleep is related to reaction time.
- Explain whether the researcher should use an independent-samples t-test or a related-samples t-test for this scenario. Provide a rationale for your decision.
- Identify the independent variable and dependent variable.
- Knowing the researcher believes that people who sleep less will have slower reaction times, state the null hypothesis and alternate hypothesis in words (not formulas).
- Explain whether the researcher should use a one-tailed test or two-tailed test and why.
- Identify the obtained t value for this data set using SPSS and report it in your answer document.
- State the degrees of freedom and explain how you calculated it by hand.
- Identify the p value using SPSS and report it in your answer document.
- Explain whether the researcher should retain or reject the null hypothesis. Provide a rationale for your decision. Are the results statistically significant?
- Explain what the researcher can conclude about the relationship between amount of sleep and reaction times.
