Weighting: 30%
Learning outcomes being assessed:
• Implement the processes required to plan and conduct psychological studies as an
individual researcher.
• Analyse quantitative data in JASP to answer psychological research questions.
• Apply practical methodological and statistical skills to address real-world research issues.
Introduction
You will conduct and report a series of statistical analyses to answer a range of research
questions, using the statistical techniques you learnt in Modules 4 and 5. You will also
synthesise the information from these analyses to summarise and draw conclusions. Your
analyses will be guided by the short-answer questions provided.
Purpose and resources
The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate your ability to analyse and interpret data.
Learning materials from Modules 3, 4, and 5 will help prepare you for this assessment.
Conducting statistical analyses and synthesising the information to draw appropriate
conclusions are important skills when conducting psychological research.
Requirements
Your assignment will be submitted via MyUni. Write your answers to the questions in the
space provided. There will be a separate textbox for each question. Each question will give
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you a guide to the expected length of your response and the points allocated to each
question. Refer to the Marking Guidelines to see the criteria for each question. When you
have answered all the questions, select ‘Submit quiz’ to submit your answers for grading.
It is recommended that you work on your answers in a separate word document and copy
them over so that you have a separate copy of your responses. When you have answered all
the questions, select ‘Submit quiz’ to submit your answers for grading.
For the analyses in Assessment 3, you are not required to check that the assumptions of each
statistical test are met, unless specifically instructed to do so as part of a question. You will be
required to report your findings using correct APA formatting.
Your tasks
Assessment 3 is divided into four sections, each based on a different type of statistical test or
procedure that you have learnt about in the course. Section 1 is based on Module 3 content,
Sections 2 and 3 are based on Module 4 content, and Section 4 is based on Module 5 content.
The quiz questions that correspond to each section are indicated below.
Section 1: (3 marks, Question 1–2)
In Section 1, you will conduct sensitivity analysis in G*Power to estimate the minimum effect
size that a study with a fixed sample size will be able to reliably detect.
Section 2: (9 marks, Question 3–6)
In Section 2, you will use factorial ANOVA to analyse the data from a fictional experiment
exploring the influence of oxytocin on social behaviour, in a computerised ball-throwing task
used to explore the effects of social exclusion.
In the computerised ball-throwing task, participants believe they are throwing a virtual ball
with three other participants in the experiment. In actuality, the behaviour of the other
players is automated. Each time the ball is passed to them, the participant can choose to pass
the ball to one of three other players in the task.
To explore the effects of social exclusion or acceptance on behaviour in the task, the
experiment has three conditions. In the neutral condition, all of the other players return the
ball to the participant 33% of the time. In the acceptance condition, one of the other players
(Player A) favours the participant, returning the ball to them 66% of the time. In the exclusion
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condition, one of the other players (Player A) is programmed to never return the ball to the
participant.
To explore the impact of oxytocin on behaviour in the task, participants were also assigned to
either an experimental group, who received oxytocin prior to the task, or a control group,
who did not receive oxytocin.
The outcome variable for the study was the proportion of the time that participants returned
the ball to Player A.
Rows consist of different participants in the experiment. The three variables in the dataset
are:
• Oxytocin: whether the participant was in the control or experimental group.
• Social: whether Player A passed the ball to them more (acceptance), the same
(neutral), or less (exclusion) than the other players.
• Response: the proportion of times the participant passed the ball to Player A.
The file section2.jasp contains all of the data you will need to complete this section.
Section 3: (9 marks, Question 7–12)
Section 3 focuses on the exploits of a fictitious chemist known as Dr Bob. He is rather
disorganised and cuts corners in a variety of ways. Hearing that you have taken Applying
Research Methods in Psychology, he hires you to mop up his mistakes using your statistical
knowledge, presenting you with a series of problems.
The files section3a.jasp and section3b.jasp contain all of the data you will need to complete
this section. You will use section3a.jasp to answer questions 7-9, and section3b.jasp to
answer questions 10–12.
Section 4: (9 marks, Question 13–17)
Section 4 compares different episodes of a children’s television show. The key issue you will
be investigating is what variables predict the linguistic complexity of an episode. There are
many ways to measure linguistic complexity, but one very simple measure is just the total
number of words spoken per episode. In Section 4, you will use regression analysis to explore
which factors predict the number of words in an episode.
Rows consist of data points taken from one episode of the show. The three variables in the
dataset are:
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• words: the total number of words spoken in that episode
• length: the total length of that episode (in seconds)
• chars: the total number of characters speaking in that episode.
The file section4.jasp contains all of the data you will need to complete this section.
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The tables below detail the allocation of marks for each question.
Each point will be awarded as follows:
• 1 point = your answer needs to include the details listed, both correctly and clearly,
and in APA style where instructed in the question.
• 0.5 points = the information you provided is partially incorrect, partially unclear or
incomplete.
• 0 points = your answer is incorrect, unclear, or the information was not included.
Question Information required Point(s) Total
Section 1
1 The sensitivity of the study is identified correctly. 1 2
Sufficient detail is provided about the parameters for the analysis. 1
2 Recommendation is appropriate and well justified. 1 1
Section 2
3 Main effect of oxytocin condition is correctly presented with appropriate
stat block.
1 3
Main effect of social condition is correctly presented with appropriate stat
block.
1
Interaction effect is correctly presented with appropriate stat block. 1
4 Recommendation is appropriate and well justified with reference to the
Levene’s test.
1 1
5 Correct p-values for simple main effects are correctly reported. 1.5 2
Correct interpretation is provided of which conditions were significant. 0.5
6 Means plot has been correctly generated and uploaded. 1 3
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Overall interpretation has been provided, which provides an appropriate
theoretical explanation for the findings in Section 2.
2
Section 3
7 The correct test has been identified. 1 1
8 Results of the test are correctly presented with appropriate stat block. 1 1
9 Null hypothesis for the test is correctly identified and explained. 1 2
Correct recommendation is provided based on the results of the test
regarding whether the pills are likely to have come from the main vat.
1
10 The correct test has been identified. 1 1
11 An appropriate stat block has been included for the test. 1 2
Results of the test are correctly presented, including measure of effect
size.
1
12 Correct recommendation is provided as to whether pills have likely been
added to the two bottles.
1 2
An appropriate justification is provided based on the tests conducted. 1
Section 4
13 Overall model is described with appropriate stat block. 1 3
Length predictor is described with appropriate stat block. 1
Chars predictor is described with appropriate stat block. 1
14 Standardised β coefficients are correct. 1 2
An accurate interpretation of these coefficients is provided. 1
15 Residuals histogram has been correctly generated and uploaded. 1 2
The relevant regression assumption and whether it has been met is
correctly identified.
1
16 Largest Cook’s distance value and corresponding case number have been
correctly provided.
0.5 1
Interpretation is correct, referring to an appropriate cut-off value. 0.5
17 Bootstrapped regression coefficients have been correctly provided. 0.5 1
The percentile of the bootstrap distribution the coefficients represent has
been correctly identified.
0.5
