Question

In psychology research, since humans are less consistent and less predictable than chemicals or gasses, we typically use an alpha (α) coefficient of _________ to determine the internal consistency of a set of data:

Answer 1

In psychology research, an alpha (α) coefficient of 0.05 is typically used to determine the internal consistency of a set of data, which denotes a 5 percent risk of making a Type I error in statistical hypothesis testing.

Step-by-step explanation:

In psychology research, to determine the internal consistency of a set of data, researchers typically use an alpha (α) coefficient. This alpha level represents the probability of making a Type I error, that is, the probability of incorrectly rejecting a true null hypothesis. In most psychological research, an alpha level of 0.05 is used, which corresponds to a 5 percent risk of making a Type I error. The chosen alpha level affects the decision of whether to reject or not to reject the null hypothesis, based on the comparison of the obtained p-value with the predetermined alpha level. If the p-value is less than the alpha, the null hypothesis is rejected, indicating that there is statistically significant evidence to support the research hypothesis.