A researcher studies the effect on reading comprehension level of ...

[burton19126]

A researcher studies the effect on reading comprehension level of providing fourth-grade boys who are slow and ponderous readers with illustrated comic books for a six-week summer session instead of textbooks,
 
  hypothesizing that reading associated with pictures will results in a higher reading comprehension level. The researcher set a level of significance at p <.05. Analysis of the data from a study indicates that there was a significant difference between the two groups, which were randomly selected and composed of 100 subjects each. However, the experimental comic book group's scores improved less than did the scores of the boys who used the textbooks. The measured p-level was 0.026. What type of finding is this?
  a. Significant results that are in keeping with those predicted by the researcher
  b. Nonsignificant results
  c. Significant results that oppose those predicted by the researcher
  d. Mixed results

Question 2

What are the principal reasons why any nonparametric test of causality was used instead of a parametric one? (Select all that apply.)
 
  a. The assumptions for parametric analyses were not achieved.
  b. The effect that the interventional conditions produced was not measurable.
  c. The data were not normally distributed.
  d. The dependent variable was measured at the ordinal level.
  e. The results were not statistically significant.

[mfedorka]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Significant results opposite those predicted, if the results are valid, are an important addition to the body of knowledge. An example would be a study in which the researchers proposed that social support and ego strength were positively related. If the study showed that high social support was related to low ego strength, the result would be the opposite of that predicted. Such results, when verified by other studies, indicate that the theory being tested needs modification and refinement. Because these types of studies can affect nursing practice, this information is important.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A, C, D
If the assumptions for parametric analyses are not achieved or if study data are at the ordinal level, then the nonparametric analyses of Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon signed-ranks test, and Kruskal-Wallis H are appropriate techniques to use to test the researcher hypotheses. T-tests and ANOVA assume a normal distribution and measurement of the dependent variable at the interval/ratio level.