A recent study evaluated the effect of rider education on mean heart rate of hor

Question

A recent study evaluated the effect of rider education on mean heart rate of horses. In a study of 20 horses, horses with beginner riders had lower heart rates (mean = 75.6 beats per minute, with a standard error of 3.0 beats per minute) than horses ridden by advanced riders (mean = 89.1 beats per minute, with a standard error of 2.6 beats per minute). If the authors had reported the standard deviation instead of the standard errors, we would have still had some idea of the variation around the mean.

a) Why is it less appropriate to use the standard deviation instead of the standard error?

b)How would it have affected our interpretation of these particular results?

Explanation / Answer

a) Because standard error is the ratio of standard deviation and square root of the sample size

if sample size increases then standard error will also decrease,

b) if interpretation is the effect of rider education on mean heart rate of horses. Then researcher increases sample size then standard error will be decreased. In this way there may be not effect of rider education because of increasing sample size.

So researcher always prefers to increase the sample size regarding relaible results.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.