Question

Miller (1956), and subsequent researehers, found that adults can remembet an average of 7 numbers aising a digit-span task (μ=7.00,σ=2.00). A researchet wants to test the idea that sieep deprivation in college students produces a loss in memory. Using a sample of 15 college students, the researsher monitors their task is conducted, and the average number of digits recalled is 6.08, with a standard deviation of 1.70. Conduct an analysis to test the researcher's question that sleep deprivation results in poorer memory compared to average adults. Which analysis is appropriate in this situation and why?

Answer 1

A one-sample t-test is appropriate to test the researcher's question about sleep deprivation and memory in college students compared to average adults.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate analysis to test the researcher's question that sleep deprivation results in poorer memory compared to average adults is a hypothesis test. Specifically, a one-sample t-test would be appropriate in this situation.

To conduct the hypothesis test, the null hypothesis would state that there is no difference between the average number of digits recalled by college students and the average number of digits recalled by average adults. The alternative hypothesis would state that there is a difference between the two groups.

The t-test would compare the sample mean of 6.08 with the hypothesized population mean of 7.00. Using the sample standard deviation of 1.70 and the sample size of 15, the t-value can be calculated. The t-value can then be compared to the critical value to determine if the null hypothesis should be rejected or not.