A social worker wishes to examine the effectiveness of an innovative method for the treatment of people with a diagnosis of pedophilia. She suspects that it may improve symptoms among some clients, but may make them worse among others. However, she would like to learn if the intervention makes a statistically significant difference in client behaviors. What statistical test should she use?
A) simple ANOVA
B) Mann-Whitney U
C) Kolmogorov-Smirnov
D) Moses test of extreme reactions

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Moses Test of Extreme Reactions is designed to detect differences in the variability or dispersion of scores between groups, rather than differences in central tendency (mean or median). This makes it suitable for the scenario described, where the intervention is suspected to have varying effects on different individuals, potentially improving symptoms for some while worsening them for others. This test specifically looks for significant differences in the extremities of reactions (improvements or deteriorations), which aligns with the social worker's interest in understanding the diverse impacts of the innovative treatment method on clients with a diagnosis of pedophilia.

A Social Worker Wishes to Examine the Effectiveness of an Innovative