A psychologist gives a group of participants 20 personality tests. He looks at the correlations between each test and each of the other 19 (a total of 180 correlation coefficients). He finds two correlations that are statistically significantthat is, that his statistical tests tell him would not occur more than five times out of 100 . What should the psychologist conclude from his study?
A. The two statistically significant correlations probably represent real relationships.
B. The tests he used probably were not valid.
C. The two statistically significant correlations might very well be chance findings.
D. The tests he used may not be reliable.
Question 2Which of the following is correct about interpreting the results of statistical tests?
A. Obtaining a probability value of .05 tells us the difference between groups is definitely not caused by chance fluctuation.
B. If a probability value falls above .05, then the results will have to be replicated before we can have confidence in them.
C. Obtaining a probability value of .05 gives us confidence that the findings are not the result of chance, but does not eliminate this possibility.
D. A .05 probability value means there is a 5 percent chance the finding reflects a real difference.
Question 3Which of the following describes the relationship between your credit card balance each month and the amount of interest you are paying (not interest rate)?
A. A perfect negative correlation
B. A weak negative correlation
C. No correlation
D. A strong positive correlation
Question 4If the difference in a measured behavior is so small between experimental groups that it could be caused by a chance fluctuation, then we say
A. the result failed to reach statistical significance.
B. the result reached statistical significance.
C. the result was reliable between groups.
D. the result established a cause-and-effect relationship.
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