Question

The research study has a type I error that may occur when which of the following occurs?

A. Researcher concludes that there is no difference between groups when there is a difference
B. Researcher concludes that there are differences between groups when in reality there is no difference
C. Sample size is large, thus increasing the applicability of the study

Answer 1

A Type I error occurs when a researcher concludes that there is a difference between groups when no such difference exists, effectively rejecting a true null hypothesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

A Type I error may occur in a research study when a researcher wrongfully concludes that there are differences between groups when in reality there is no difference. This type of error involves rejecting the null hypothesis when it is actually true.

It's crucial to understand that a Type I error is different from a Type II error, which happens when a researcher fails to reject a false null hypothesis, incorrectly concluding there is no effect or difference when one actually exists.

The probability of making a Type I error is denoted by the alpha level (α), and it is typically set at 0.05 in social sciences, meaning there is a 5% risk of committing a Type I error in decision-making based on the hypothesis test.