Question

The measure of cleaning behavior was subjected to a ______. Participants removed the crumbs substantially more often in the scent condition (M = 3.54) than in the control condition (M =

1.09), t(20) = 2.37, p = .02, thus showing a direct link between scent perception and behavior.

What kind of study design is this (experimental or correlational)?

If experimental, what is the independent variable?

If experimental, what is the dependent variable?

What kind of statistical test did the author run, and how do you know the used this test?

What do you think the null and alternative hypotheses are in this study? You might have to guess, but make it an educated guesses!

Answer 1

The above mentioned research study is an example of experimental study design. Here the researcher introduces a change and then monitors it's effects. The researcher created two groups, an experimental and a control group.

The independent variable here is the scent perception that is the exposure to the scent. Here the participants of the study were randomly assigned to the scent or control condition.

The dependent variable is was the behavior exhibited by the participants to keep their table clean that is it is a measure of cleaning behavior, thus showing a direct link between scent perception and behavior.

The author here has used the t test to find the measure of cleaning behavior. This is used when we want to know if two sets of data differ significantly. In the above study, the exposure to the scent influenced actual performance of cleaning behavior. Thus it proves that scent can have a nonconscious influence on thinking and doing.

The null hypothesis here is there is no change or difference as a result of the independent variable that is the scent exposure. Exposure to scent will cause participants to keep the environment around them clean during an eating task thus showing a direct link between scent perception and behavior.