Given Scenario:
Behavioral researchers often use statistical techniques to support conclusions about behavioral
differences between particular groups of people and the general population of people. This
approach has been useful, for example, in identifying memory decrements that result from head
injuries. One such study observed participants with lesions in the frontal lobe of the brain, which
is thought to be involved in memory functions, and compared their performance on a simple
recall task to established norms on the task to see if memory performance was reduced. The
normative (general population) data for the task was normally distributed. The researcher
measured the performance of 24 people in the sample being studied and compared their scores to
the normative data, using an alpha value of .05.
Answer the following regarding the scenario:
1. State the null and alternative hypotheses, both in words and in symbols.
2. Under the conditions described in the scenario, what statistical test would be appropriate?
Explain the rationale for your answer.
3. Would it be most appropriate to use a two-tailed test, a left-tailed test, or a right-tailed
test? Why?
4. In one paragraph, describe the conclusion you would reach about the participants’
performance if the P-value of the hypothesis test was determined to be .035. Include the
rationale for your conclusion.
