RQ, Hypotheses and Corresponding Parametric & Non-Parametric tests

Example of Research questions and Types of Statistical Independent Dependent variable Essential features
corresponding hypotheses analysis variable
01 RQ: What is the relationship between gender and Parametric: None One Categorical One categorical The number of
dropout rates from Therapy? Nonparametric variable Sex: M/F variable cases in each
Ho Being female is not associated with smoking alternative: Chi- Dropout/complete category is
Ha square for test of therapy: Yes/No considered, not
scores
impendence
02 RQ: Is there a relationship between age and Parametric: Pearson Two continuous One sample with
optimism scores? product moment variables Age, scores on two
Ho There is no statistically significant relationship Optimism scores different
correlation
between the age and optimism score. measures, or
Ha coefficient (r) same measure at
Nonparametric Time 1 and Time
alternative: 2
Spearman’s Rank
Order Correlation
(rho)
03 RQ: After controlling for the effects of socially Parametric: Partial Two continuous One sample with
desirable responding bias, is there still a correlation variables and one scores on two
relationship between optimism and life Nonparametric continuous different
satisfaction? alternative: None variable for which measures, or
Ho: There is no significant relationship between you wish to same measure at
plant growth and amount of fertilizer, adjusting control Optimism, Time 1 and Time
for amount of sunlight. life satisfaction, 2
Ha scores on a Social
desirability scale

04 RQ: How much of the variance in life satisfaction Parametric: Multiple Set of two or more One continuous One sample with
scores can be explained by self-esteem, regression continuous dependent variable scores on all
perceived control and optimism? Which of these Nonparametric independent Life satisfaction measures
variables is the best predictor? alternative: None variables Self-
Ho In the presence of self-esteem, perceived esteem, perceived
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 RQ, Hypotheses and Corresponding Parametric & Non-Parametric tests

control and optimism, there will be no significant control, optimism

prediction by optimisim.
Ha

05 RQ: What is the underlying structure of the items Parametric: Factor Set of related One sample,
that make up the Positive and Negative Affect analysis continuous multiple
Scale? How many factors are involved? Nonparametric variables Items of measures
Ho There is no valid and reliable construct/ alternative: None the Positive and
component in this set of items. Negative Affect
Ha Scale
06 RQ: Are males more likely to drop out of therapy Parametric: None One categorical One categorical You are
than females? Nonparametric independent dependent variable interested in the
Ho There is no association between the drop out alternative: Chi- variable Sex Dropout/complete number of people
of therapy and gender. square for therapy in each category,
Ha not scores on a
goodness of fit
scale
07 RQ: Is there a difference in optimism scores Parametric: One categorical One continuous
between males and females? Independent independent variable
Ho There is no significant difference between Samples T-test variable Sex
males and females in optimism scores.
Ha
08 RQ: Is there a change in participants’ anxiety Parametric: Paired One categorical One continuous Same people on
scores from Time 1 to Time 2? samples t-test independent dependent variable two different
Ho Nonparametric variable (two Anxiety score occasions
Ha levels) Time
alternative: Wilcoxon
1/Time 2
Signed Rank Test
09 RQ: Is there a difference in optimism scores for Parametric: One-way One categorical One continuous Three or more
people who are under 35 yrs, 36–49 yrs and 50+ between Groups independent dependent variable groups: different
yrs? variable (three or Optimism score people in each
ANOVA
Ho There is no significant difference between more levels) Age group
Nonparametric
three groups of people in optimism scores. group
Ha alternative: Kruskal-
Wallis Test

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 RQ, Hypotheses and Corresponding Parametric & Non-Parametric tests

10 RQ: Is there a change in participants’ anxiety Parametric: One-way One categorical One continuous Three or more
scores from Time 1, Time 2 and Time 3? repeated measures independent dependent variable groups: same
Ho There is no significant difference between variable (three or Anxiety score people on two
ANOVA
three groups of people in optimism scores across more levels) Time different
Nonparametric
three times. 1/ Time 2/ Time 3 occasions
alternative:
Ha
Friedman Test
11 RQ: Is there a difference in the optimism scores Parametric: Two-way Two categorical One continuous Two or more
for males and females, who are under 35 yrs, 36– between groups independent dependent variable groups for each
49 yrs and 50+ yrs? variables (two or Optimism score independent
ANOVA
Ho There is no significant difference for both more levels) Age variable: different
Nonparametric
males and females across three age groups in group, Sex people in each
alternative: None
optimism scores. group
Ha
12 RQ: Which intervention (maths skills/confidence Parametric: Mixed One between One continuous Two or more
building) is more effective in reducing between within groups dependent variable groups with
participants’ fear of statistics, measured across independent Fear of Stats Test different people
ANOVA
three time periods? variable (two or scores in each group,
Nonparametric
Ho more levels), one each measured
alternative: None
Ha within-groups on two or more
independent occasions. (Same
variable (two or sample surveyed
more levels) Type three times)
of intervention,
Time
13 RQ: Is there a difference between males and Parametric: One or more Two or more related
females, across three different age groups, in Multivariate categorical continuous
terms of their scores on a variety of adjustment ANOVA (MANOVA) independent dependent variables
measures (anxiety, depression and perceived Nonparametric variables (two or Anxiety, depression
stress)? alternative: None more levels) Age and perceived stress
Ho group, Sex scores
Ha

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 RQ, Hypotheses and Corresponding Parametric & Non-Parametric tests

14 RQ: Is there a significant difference in the Fear of Parametric: Analysis One or more One continuous
Stats Test scores for participants in the maths of Covariance categorical dependent variable
skills group and the confidence building group, independent Fear of Stats Test
(ANCOVA)
while controlling for their scores on this test at variables (two or scores at Time 2
Nonparametric
Time 1? more levels), one
alternative: None
Ho continuous
Ha covariate variable
Type of
intervention, Fear
of Stats Test
scores at Time 1

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