A psychologist is studying the effects of high blood pressure (i.e., hypertensio

Question

A psychologist is studying the effects of high blood pressure (i.e., hypertension) on memory and learning. He uses a task that requires a person to study six digits on a screen and then later to indicate whether a single digit presented on the screen was part of the original set. Previous research has shown that the average time to answer for adults with normal blood pressure on the six digit task is 1.5s with a standard deviation of .25s. He believes that hypertensives will answer more slowly than people with normal blood pressure.

a) What is the null and alternative hypothesis using plain english.

b) State in words what it would mean in this context if a type 1 error was committed.

Explanation / Answer

a)

Here in this case, the null hypothesis would be that the hypertensives would answer in the same speed as the people with normal blood pressure. Alternative would be that hypertensives will answer more slowly than people with normal blood pressure.

b)

Type 1 error occurs if a null hypothesis is rejected when it holds true. Hence, here it would be that null hypothesis would be true meaning that  the hypertensives would answer in the same speed as the people with normal blood pressure is rejected when it holds true.

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