Sample T Test Analysis For Caffeine And Memory Study

One Sample T Test Analysis for Caffeine and Memory Study

Perform a one-sample t test to determine whether caffeine improves memory recall compared to a known population mean of 6. Use SPSS to analyze the data from 30 subjects who each took a caffeine pill, studied a list of 10 words, and were tested for recall. Input the data into SPSS, run the one-sample t test with the population mean set at 6, and interpret the output to assess the effect of caffeine on memory performance.

Paper For Above instruction

The investigation into the effects of caffeine on memory recall necessitates a rigorous statistical analysis to determine whether caffeine intake significantly enhances performance compared to the established population mean of 6 words recalled. A one-sample t test is appropriate for this analysis because it compares the mean recall score of a sample to a known population mean when the population standard deviation is unknown. This method evaluates whether the sample mean significantly deviates from the known mean, providing insights into the potential cognitive benefits of caffeine.

To perform this analysis, data collection involved 30 subjects who participated in a controlled experiment. Each subject consumed a caffeine pill, allowed sufficient time for absorption, studied a list of 10 words, and was subsequently tested for recall. The resulting recall scores were entered into SPSS, with the variable labeled as "CAFFEINE" and defined as a numeric scale measure. This process involved creating a new data file in SPSS, entering raw scores into a single column, and assigning appropriate variable labels and measure levels in Variable View.

Next, the one-sample t test was conducted by navigating through SPSS's Analyze menu under "Compare Means," selecting "One-Sample T Test." The "CAFFEINE" variable was moved into the Test Variable box, and the known population mean of 6 was entered as the Test Value. Executing the test generated an output displaying the sample mean, standard deviation, standard error, t statistic, degrees of freedom, and significance (p-value).

Interpreting the results involves examining the p-value to determine statistical significance. A p-value less than the alpha level of 0.05 indicates a statistically significant difference between the sample mean and the population mean, suggesting that caffeine may have a positive effect on memory recall. Conversely, a p-value greater than 0.05 implies no significant difference, meaning caffeine does not significantly improve recall in this sample.

The output can be exported from SPSS directly into a Word document by using the export function or by copying and pasting as necessary. This facilitates the inclusion of results in reports or presentations. The combination of descriptive statistics and inferential testing provides a comprehensive understanding of the data and the hypothesis under investigation.

It is crucial to ensure data quality and integrity during entry, and assumptions of the t test—such as normality—should be verified to validate the results. If normality is violated, alternative non-parametric tests may be considered, but with a sample size of 30, the Central Limit Theorem generally justifies the t test's use.

In conclusion, the one-sample t test offers a straightforward approach to evaluate whether caffeine has a measurable impact on memory recall, contributing valuable insights to cognitive enhancement research. Proper execution and interpretation of the analysis are essential for deriving valid conclusions that could inform future dietary or pharmacological recommendations.

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