Assignment 2: This Written Assignment Is Based On The Work C

Assignment 2this Written Assignment Is Based On The Work Conducted In

This written assignment is based on the work conducted in the “Independent-Samples t Test or ANOVA” discussion forum. Based on this initial work, feedback received, and additional research, students should submit a basic research proposal that calls for the use of an independent-samples t test or ANOVA. The paper should be APA formatted as a research proposal, and contain approximately words of content. Include a title page, and a reference page that includes any resources utilized. Please include the following in the research proposal:

1. Introduction (1-2 paragraphs) Present the research question of interest. Explain how the chosen statistical test applies to this research question. Provide the statistical notation and written explanations for the null and alternative hypotheses.

2. Methods (1 paragraph) Participants List how many participants will be selected. Identify who will be the participants and their major demographic characteristics (e.g., sex, age, etc.). Explain how participants will be selected for the study.

3. Procedures (1-2 paragraphs) Identify the variables in the study. Describe each variable’s scale of measurement (nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio) and characteristics (i.e., discrete vs. continuous, qualitative vs. categorical, etc.). Provide an operational definition for each variable, explaining how the variables will be measured.

4. Results (2-3 paragraphs) Describe the statistical test that will be conducted. Be sure to include why the test was chosen and why it is appropriate for this study. Include in the discussion the necessary assumptions that should be met for the chosen test and how these will be addressed. Identify the information that will be obtained from the results of this test and what will be needed to draw conclusions regarding the hypotheses. Be sure to include a discussion of applicable critical and calculated values, p levels, confidence intervals, effect sizes, post-hoc tests, and/or tables.

5. Discussion (1 paragraph) Identify any expected biases, assumptions, or faults with the proposed study and the use of the identified statistical test. Explain what conclusions can and cannot be made for this study, and using this statistical test. Describe the practical significance or importance of the results.

Paper For Above instruction

This research proposal aims to investigate the effect of a specific intervention on students' test scores, using an independent-samples t-test. The research question is: "Does participation in a supplemental tutoring program significantly improve academic performance among high school students?" The choice of an independent-samples t-test is appropriate because the study compares the means of two separate groups: students who participate in the tutoring program and those who do not. Null hypothesis (H₀): There is no difference in mean test scores between students who participate in the tutoring program and those who do not (μ₁ = μ₂). Alternative hypothesis (H₁): There is a significant difference in mean test scores between the two groups (μ₁ ≠ μ₂). The statistical notation and hypotheses clearly specify the expected relationship, guiding the analysis.

Regarding the methods, a total of 100 students will be recruited, with 50 students in the intervention group and 50 in the control group. Participants will be selected through stratified random sampling to ensure demographic diversity, particularly regarding sex and age, with an aim to reflect the overall high school population. The demographic data such as age range (15-18 years) and sex distribution (approximately equal male and female) will be recorded to analyze potential confounding effects.

The procedures involve two variables: the independent variable, which is participation in the tutoring program (categorical, nominal: yes or no), and the dependent variable, which is the students' test scores (continuous, interval scale). The independent variable will be operationally defined as attendance in the tutoring sessions, recorded as a binary variable, while the test scores will be measured by standardized test results, expressed numerically on a continuous scale. These variables will be measured through school records and test score reports, ensuring operational clarity and consistency.

The planned analysis involves conducting an independent-samples t-test to compare the mean test scores between the two groups. This test was selected because it effectively compares the means of two independent groups and is suitable given the nature of the variables. Assumptions for the t-test include normality of the distribution of test scores within each group, homogeneity of variances, and independence of observations. Normality will be assessed via Shapiro-Wilk tests, and homogeneity of variances will be examined using Levene’s test. If assumptions are violated, alternative methods such as the Mann-Whitney U test will be considered. The analysis will yield a t-value, degrees of freedom, and p-value, which will determine if the observed differences are statistically significant. Effect sizes, such as Cohen’s d, will measure practical significance. Confidence intervals will provide the range of plausible values for the difference in means, and if significant differences are found, post-hoc analyses may be conducted.

In the discussion, limitations such as potential selection bias, measurement error, and the assumption violations will be acknowledged. The study's conclusions will be limited to the specific population and context, emphasizing that causal inferences should be made cautiously. The statistical test allows for evaluating whether the observed differences are likely due to the intervention or chance, but cannot establish causality definitively. The practical significance of the findings could inform policy on targeted tutoring programs and their impact on academic achievement, emphasizing the importance of education interventions aligned with empirical evidence.

References

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