Student t-Test questions

Comparing sample mean with a population mean or apriori mean

1. Explain the following types of t-tests

a. Paired samples t-test

b. One sample t-test

c. Unpaired t-test

d. Independent sample t-test

2. An engineer measured the hardness of 25 pieces of ductile iron that were sub-

critically annealed. The resulting data were:

170 167 174 179 179

156 163 156 187 156
183 179 174 179 170
156 187 179 183 174
187 167 159 170 179
The engineer hypothesized that the mean hardness of all such ductile iron pieces is

greater than 170. Prove his hypothesis.

3. A biologist was interested in determining whether sunflower seedlings treated with an

extract from Vinca minor roots resulted in a lower average height of sunflower

seedlings than the standard height of 15.7 cm. The biologist treated a random sample

of n = 33 seedlings with the extract and subsequently obtained the following heights:

11.5 11.8 15.7 16.1 14.1 10.5

15.2 19.0 12.8 12.4 19.2 13.5
16.5 13.5 14.4 16.7 10.9 13.0
15.1 17.1 13.3 12.4 8.5 14.3
12.9 11.1 15.0 13.3 15.8 13.5
9.3 12.2 10.3
 Given that the standard deviation of the above data is 2.544, determine whether

sunflower seedlings treated with an extract from Vinca minor roots resulted in a lower

average height of sunflower seedlings than the standard height of 15.7 cm

T-test questions: comparing means of two samples

1. A research study was conducted to examine the differences between older and
younger adults on perceived life satisfaction. A pilot study was conducted to examine
this hypothesis. Ten older adults (over the age of 70) and ten younger adults (between
20 and 30) were give a life satisfaction test (known to have high reliability and
validity). Scores on the measure range from 0 to 60 with high scores indicative of
high life satisfaction; low scores indicative of low life satisfaction. The data are
presented below. Compute the appropriate t-test.

Older Adults Younger Adults

45 34
38 22
52 15
48 27
25 37
39 41
51 24
46 19
55 26
46 36
Mean = Mean =
S= S=
2
S = S2 =

1. What is your computed answer?

2. What would be the null hypothesis in this study?
3. What would be the alternate hypothesis?
4. What probability level did you choose and why?
5. What is your tcrit?
6. Is there a significant difference between the two groups?
7. Interpret your answer.
8. If you have made an error, would it be a Type I or a Type II error? Explain your
answer.
2. Sleep researchers decide to test the impact of REM sleep deprivation on a
computerized assembly line task. Subjects are required to participate in two nights of
testing. On the nights of testing EEG, EMG, EOG measures are taken. On each night
of testing the subject is allowed a total of four hours of sleep. However, on one of the
nights, the subject is awakened immediately upon achieving REM sleep. On the
alternate night, subjects are randomly awakened at various times throughout the 4
hour total sleep session. Testing conditions are counterbalanced so that half of the
subject experience REM deprivation on the first night of testing and half experience
REM deprivation on the second night of testing. Each subject after the sleep session is
required to complete a computerized assembly line task. The task involves five rows
of widgets slowly passing across the computer screen. Randomly placed on a one/five
ratio are widgets missing a component that must be "fixed" by the subject. Number of
missed widgets is recorded. Compute the appropriate t-test for the data provided
below.

REM Deprived Control Condition

26 20
15 4
8 9
44 36
26 20
13 3
38 25
24 10
17 6
29 14
Mean = Mean =
S= S=
2
S = S2 =

1. What is your computed answer?

2. What would be the null hypothesis in this study?
3. What would be the alternate hypothesis?
4. What probability level did you choose and why?
5. What is your tcrit?
6. Is there a significant difference between the two testing conditions?
7. Interpret your answer.
8. If you have made an error, would it be a Type I or a Type II error? Explain your
answer.
3. Researchers want to examine the effect of perceived control on health complaints of
geriatric patients in a long-term care facility. Thirty patients are randomly selected to
participate in the study. Half are given a plant to care for and half are given a plant but the
care is conducted by the staff. Number of health complaints are recorded for each patient over
the following seven days. Compute the appropriate t-test for the data provided below.

Control over Plant No Control over Plant

23 35
12 21
6 26
15 24
18 17
5 23
21 37
18 22
34 16
10 38
23 23
14 41
19 27
23 24
8 32
Mean = Mean =
S= S=
S2 = S2 =

1. What is your computed answer?

2. What would be the null hypothesis in this study?
3. What would be the alternate hypothesis?
4. What probability level did you choose and why?
5. What are your degrees of freedom?
6. Is there a significant difference between the two groups?
7. Interpret your answer.
8. If you have made an error, would it be a Type I or a Type II error? Explain your
answer.