7/12/2014 Slide 1

SOLVING THE PROBLEM

The two-sample t-test compare the means for two groups on a single variable. the
The paired t-test compares the means for two variables for a single group. The
purpose of this test is to determine whether or not the variables were rated
differently by the subjects in the sample.

This is frequently used to measure change over time, or compare before/after scores,
but is can be used more generally to see if one item in a pair was rated higher or lower
for the single sample.

The test actually computes and compares the differences in scores for the two
variables, and is equivalent to a one-sample t-test of the computed difference scores.

To test for normality suing SPSS, we create a variable for the difference scores, and
check this variable for skewness, kurtosis, and outliers.

The null hypothesis for this test is: there is no difference between the population
mean for the first variable and the population mean for the second variable.

Like our other t-test, we analyze the sample data to infer statements about the
population represented by the sample.




7/12/2014 Slide 2
The introductory statement in the question indicates:
The data set to use (GSS2000R)
The variables to use in the analysis: confidence in
the executive branch of the federal government
[confed] and confidence in the United States
Supreme Court [conjudge]
The task to accomplish (a paired t-test)
The level of significance (0.05, two-tailed)
7/12/2014 Slide 3
The first statement asks about
the level of measurement.
A paired t-test requires
that both variables be
quantitative.
7/12/2014 Slide 4
"Confidence in the executive branch of the
federal government" [confed] is quantitative
and "confidence in the United States Supreme
Court" [conjudge] is quantitative, satisfying the
level of measurement requirement.

Mark the statement as correct.
7/12/2014 Slide 5
To justify the use of probabilities based on a normal
sampling distribution in testing hypotheses, either the
distribution of the variable must satisfy the nearly
normal condition or the size of the sample must be
sufficiently large to generate a normal sampling
distribution under the Central Limit Theorem.
A paired t-test requires that the distribution of the paired
differences between the variables satisfy the nearly
normal condition, which we will operationally define as
having skewness and kurtosis between -1.0 and +1.0,
and having no outliers with standard scores equal to or
smaller than -3.0 or equal to or larger than +3.0.
7/12/2014 Slide 6
To evaluate the variables conformity to the nearly
normal condition in a paired t-test, we must
compute a difference variable by subtracting the
second variable from the first variable.
To start, select the Compute
Variable command from the
Transform menu.
7/12/2014 Slide 7
We will name the new
variable differences by
typing the name in the
Target Variable text box.
In the Numeric Expression
text box, we type the first
variable minus the second
variable.
7/12/2014 Slide 8
To evaluate the
variables conformity to
the nearly normal
condition, we compute
descriptive statistics
and standard scores for
the difference variable.
To compute the descriptive
statistics and standard scores,
select the Descriptive Statistics
> Descriptives command from
the Analyze menu.
7/12/2014 Slide 9
Move the variable for the analysis
differences to the Variable(s) list box.
Click on the Options button
to select optional statistics.
7/12/2014 Slide 10
The check boxes for Mean
and Std. Deviation are
already marked by default.
Click on Continue
button to close
the dialog box.
Mark the Kurtosis and
Skewness check boxes. This
will provide the statistics
for assessing normality.
7/12/2014 Slide 11
Click on the OK button
to produce the output.
Mark the check box Save
standardized values as variables.
7/12/2014 Slide 12
"Paired differences between confidence in the
executive branch of the federal government and
confidence in the United States Supreme Court"
satisfied the criteria for a normal distribution.
The skewness of the
distribution (-0.073) was
between -1.0 and +1.0.
The kurtosis of the
distribution (0.563) was
between -1.0 and +1.0.
7/12/2014 Slide 13
There were no outliers
that had a standard score
less than or equal to -3.0.
Sort the column Zdifferences in
ascending order to show any negative
outliers at the top of the column.
7/12/2014 Slide 14
There were two outliers that had a
standard score less than or equal to -
3.0 or greater than or equal to +3.0:
- 20000029 with a value of 2 (z=3.07)
- 20001379 with a value of 2 (z=3.07)
Sort the column Zdifferences in
descending order to show any positive
outliers at the top of the column.
7/12/2014 Slide 15
Since it is unusual to have an outlier for the difference
between two likert scale items, I looked at the
combination of scores that would produce an outlier.

These two cases had a great deal (3) of confidence in
the executive branch and hardly any (1) confidence in
the supreme court.
7/12/2014 Slide 16
Because of the presence of outliers,
we do not satisfy the nearly normal
condition for the difference variable.

The check box is not marked.
7/12/2014 Slide 17
Since we cannot justify the use of probabilities based
on a normal sampling distribution by satisfying the
nearly normal condition, we will try applying the
Central Limit Theorem.

To apply the Central Limit Theorem for a paired t-test
requires that the sample contain 40 or more cases.
7/12/2014 Slide 18
The number of valid cases available for the test
was 172, larger than requirement of 40 cases to
apply the Central Limit Theorem. Since the
distribution did not satisfy the nearly normal
condition, we will rely upon the Central Limit
Theorem to satisfy the sampling distribution
requirements of a paired t-test.
7/12/2014 Slide 19
Since the number of valid cases
available for the test was larger
than requirement of 40 cases to
apply the Central Limit Theorem,
we mark the statement as correct.
7/12/2014 Slide 20
The next statement asks us to
identify the mean difference and
the standard error of the sampling
distribution of differences.
To answer this question, we
need to produce the output
for the paired t-test.
7/12/2014 Slide 21
To produce the paired t-test,
select the Compare Means >
Paired-Samples T Test command
from the Analyze menu.
7/12/2014 Slide 22
For the paired t-test, we have to
select the two variables for the
test and move them as a pair.
Click on the first variable
name, confed, and it moves to
the Current Selections panel.
If you move the wrong variable,
click on its name a second time
to de-select it, or you can click
on the Reset button.
7/12/2014 Slide 23
Click on the second variable
name, conjudge, and it moves
to the Current Selections panel.
With the pair of variables selected,
click on the right arrow button to
move the variables to the Paired
Variables list box.
7/12/2014 Slide 24
Finally, click on the
OK button to
produce the output.
7/12/2014 Slide 25
The correct value for the mean
was -0.314. The standard error of
the paired differences was 0.057.
7/12/2014 Slide 26
The correct value for the mean
was -0.314. The standard error of
the paired differences was 0.057.

Mark the check box as correct.
7/12/2014 Slide 27
The next statement asks us about the null
hypothesis for the paired t-test.

We should check to make certain the
relationship is stated correctly for the test.
7/12/2014 Slide 28
The null hypothesis for a paired t-test states that there is no
difference between the population mean for "confidence in
the executive branch of the federal government" and the
population mean for "confidence in the United States
Supreme Court". The hypothesis states that the average
difference is equal to 0 for paired scores for "confidence in
the executive branch of the federal government" and
"confidence in the United States Supreme Court".
Mark the statement
as correct.
7/12/2014 Slide 29
The next statement asks
us to relate the t-test to
the data in our problem.
7/12/2014 Slide 30
The t-test statistic is based on the mean
difference between paired scores on the
two variables (-0.314) relative to the
standard error of the paired differences
between sample means (0.057).

Both values are identified correctly.
7/12/2014 Slide 31
The t-test statistic is based on the mean
difference between paired scores on the
two variables (-0.314) relative to the
standard error of the paired differences
between sample means (0.057).

Mark the statement as correct.
7/12/2014 Slide 32
The next statement asks about the probability for
the comparison made by the t-test. i.e. what is the
probability that the differences in the ratings for
the two variables was equal to zero.
7/12/2014 Slide 33
The probability that the mean
difference between paired scores in the
population was equal to 0 was p < .001.
7/12/2014 Slide 34
The probability was p < .001 that the mean
difference between paired scores in the
population was equal to 0.

Mark the statement as correct.
7/12/2014 Slide 35
When the p-value for the statistical test is
less than or equal to alpha, we reject the
null hypothesis and interpret the results of
the test. If the p-value is greater than alpha,
we fail to reject the null hypothesis and do
not interpret the result.
7/12/2014 Slide 36
The p-value for this test (p < .001) is
less than or equal to the alpha level of
significance (p = .050) supporting the
conclusion to reject the null hypothesis.

Mark the check box as correct.
7/12/2014 Slide 37
The final statement asks us to
interpret the result of our statistical
test as a finding in the context of
the problem we created.

We only interpret the results when
the null hypothesis is rejected.
7/12/2014 Slide 38
The mean for "confidence in the executive branch of
the federal government" [confed] (1.808) is actually
smaller than the mean for "confidence in the United
States Supreme Court" [conjudge] (2.122).
7/12/2014 Slide 39
Since we rejected the null hypothesis and since the mean for
"confidence in the executive branch of the federal
government" [confed] (1.808) is actually smaller than the
mean for "confidence in the United States Supreme Court"
[conjudge] (2.122), it is reasonable to suggest that survey
respondents had less confidence in the executive branch of the
federal government than they had in the U. S. Supreme Court.

Mark the check box as correct.
7/12/2014 Slide 40

Variables are
quantitative?
Yes
Do not mark
check box.
Mark statement
check box.
No
Mark only None of
the above.
Stop.

Compute difference
variable.

7/12/2014 Slide 41
Yes
Difference variable
nearly normal
distribution?
Do not mark
check box.
No
Mark statement
check box.
Nearly normal:
Skewness between
-1.0 and +1.0
Kurtosis between
-1.0 and +1.0
Z-scores between
-3.0 and +3.0 CLT applicable
(Sample size 40)?
Do not mark
check box.
Mark statement
check box.
Stop.
CLT stands for Central
Limit Theorem.
If the difference
variable is not
normal and the
sample size is less
than 40, the test is
not appropriate.
Yes
No
CLT applicable
(Sample size 40)?
Yes
No
Do not mark
check box.
The path is complicated because we
check two conditions, but only one
needs to be correct to continue.
7/12/2014 Slide 42
Yes
Do not mark
check box.
No
Mark statement
check box.
Mean difference and
standard error correct?
Yes
Do not mark
check box.
No
Mark statement
check box.
H
0
: mean
difference = 0
7/12/2014 Slide 43

T-test accurately
described?
Yes
Do not mark
check box.
Mark statement
check box.
No
P-value (sig.) stated
correctly?
Yes
Do not mark
check box.
Mark statement
check box.
No
7/12/2014 Slide 44

Yes
Do not mark
check box.
No
Mark statement
check box.
Reject H
0
is correct
decision (p alpha)?
Stop.
We interpret results
only if we reject
null hypothesis.
Interpretation is
stated correctly?
Yes
Do not mark
check box.
Mark statement
check box.
No