Psych 101: Introductory Psychology Lab

Week 4 Highlights

On table 4-2 (pg 73)

1. Change columns that read "S" to "A" and "M" to "B"&endash;

A- indicates Type-A personality; B- indicates Type B- personality

1. Record smallest score, indicating if it's from the "A" or "B" group with a small tick. Continue recording scores from the smallest to the largest.
2. For each score, write the rank (number in column 1) in the column with the tick- "A" or "B".
3. Look out for ties in scores; if there is a tie, use the average rank for both scores.
4. Sum the ranks for "A" and "B".
5. Determine the total number of scores for each group.

Type "A" n = Type "B" n =

1. Determine which sum is larger.
2. Determine the constant by using table 4 A on page 67 by matching the sample size from Type "A" and "B".
3. If there are two numbers, and the largest sum of ranks comes from the largest group, use the larger constant.
4. If the largest sum of ranks comes from the smaller group, use the smaller constant.
5. Subtract the larger of the sum of ranks from the constant determined from table 4 A.
   OR #7 - #6 THIS IS THE U-value!!!

BUT WAIT!!!

1. Did the test detect a statistically significant difference between groups A and B?
2. Check your U- value against the 5% and 1% significance levels on table 4 A.
3. If your number is less than or equal to the value for the sample size, you have detected a significant statistical difference between groups A and B.

What does this mean?

Students who come early to class score endorse more "Type A" personality traits as measured by the Personality Type measure.

If we were to conduct the same experiment 100 times, 5 of the outcomes would be due to chance (or random error) and NOT whether students endorsed more "Type A" personality traits as measured by the Personality Type measure. (if 5% error level)

 

Begin thinking about ideas for your IRP.

• Formulate 3 ideas for potential IRP proposals.
• Write an experimental hypothesis
• Write the what, who, and why of your ideas

Resources:

• You can get ideas from lecture topics; Myers text
• Refer to the IRP guidelines (found on the file server) for ethical limitations; working in pairs, etc.

Assignment: Write an Methods for the Type "A" / Type "B" Personality measure.

Include headings for:

Subjects

• Describe attributes of group sampled

Apparatus

• All materials used
• Be sure to describe the Apparatus (the Jenkin's, 20 items test, etc.)

Design

• Independent/Dependent Variables;
• Between subjects;
• How groups were determined

Procedures

• How measures were administered,
• recorded & scored;
• Which statistical analysis used and why

Make sure to write in the third person, use conventional grammar and spelling, and identify yourself and your section on all pages.

Last update: 31 March 1998