If we find that an inferential test for an experiment is significant, this means that ______.
A) the condition means significantly differed
B) the null hypothesis should be accepted
C) the condition means did not differ
D) a Type I error has been made

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If an inferential test is significant, this means that the difference between the conditions is unlikely to be due to chance alone, and thus the condition means significantly differed. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer. Choice B (accepting the null hypothesis) would be incorrect because a significant result means that the null hypothesis is rejected. Choice C (the condition means did not differ) would be incorrect because a significant result indicates that the condition means did differ. Choice D (Type I error) would be incorrect because a significant result means that the null hypothesis is unlikely to be true and a Type I error occurs when the null hypothesis is incorrectly rejected.

If We Find That an Inferential Test for an Experiment