Final answer:
To maximize the likelihood of obtaining a significant statistical result when comparing the scores of two groups, you would want to minimize between-group variability.
Step-by-step explanation:
To maximize the likelihood of obtaining a significant statistical result when comparing the scores of two groups, you would want to minimize between-group variability. Minimizing within-group variability alone would not necessarily increase the likelihood of obtaining a significant result, as it is the difference between the groups that is being examined. Additionally, having a small sample size would reduce the power of the test, making it less likely to detect a significant difference. Finally, increasing the null hypothesis wouldn't help in obtaining a significant result, as the null hypothesis assumes no difference between the groups.