A researcher finds that men make more errors on a memory task than do women. After conducting the appropriate statistical test on this difference, he finds a probability level of less than .05. The researcher will probably conclude that
A) the difference represents a chance fluctuation.
B) the difference is statistically significant.
C) if he conducts the study again, there is a high probability that no difference would be found or that women would make more errors.
D) there is only a five in 100 chance that his finding represents a real difference between men and women.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A probability level of less than .05 means that there is less than a 5% probability that the difference is due to chance. Therefore, the researcher can conclude that the difference is statistically significant, and not likely to be due to chance fluctuation. Option C is not necessarily true, as repeating the study may yield the same or similar results. Option D is incorrect because it is a misinterpretation of the probability level, which represents the likelihood that the results are not due to chance, rather than the likelihood that the findings are inaccurate.

A Researcher Finds That Men Make More Errors on a Memory