As part of a large,ongoing diet study,some subjects of the study are taking part in an intensive exercise program for four weeks.Several variables are measured on these subjects,both at the beginning and at the end of the four-week period.Some of these variables are weight,cholesterol,and triglyceride level.One objective of this particular study is to assess the effect of diet and intense exercise on increasing triglyceride levels.The data for a simple random sample of nine of these subjects are given in the table below. The data are to be analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.The null hypothesis is that triglyceride levels have the same distribution at the beginning and at the end of the study.What is the appropriate alternative hypothesis?
A)Triglyceride levels are systematically higher at the beginning of the study.
B)Triglyceride levels are systematically higher at the end of the study.
C)Triglyceride levels at the beginning of the study are systematically different from triglyceride levels at the end of the study.
D)None of the above

Question

As part of a large,ongoing diet study,some subjects of the study are taking part in an intensive exercise program for four weeks.Several variables are measured on these subjects,both at the beginning and at the end of the four-week period.Some of these variables are weight,cholesterol,and triglyceride level.One objective of this particular study is to assess the effect of diet and intense exercise on increasing triglyceride levels.The data for a simple random sample of nine of these subjects are given in the table below.  The data are to be analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.The null hypothesis is that triglyceride levels have the same distribution at the beginning and at the end of the study.What is the appropriate alternative hypothesis?
A)Triglyceride levels are systematically higher at the beginning of the study. 
B)Triglyceride levels are systematically higher at the end of the study. 
C)Triglyceride levels at the beginning of the study are systematically different from triglyceride levels at the end of the study. 
D)None of the above

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The appropriate alternative hypothesis is that triglyceride levels are systematically higher at the end of the study, as the study is assessing the effect of diet and intense exercise on increasing triglyceride levels. Therefore, if the intervention is effective, we would expect to see higher triglyceride levels at the end of the study compared to the beginning.

As Part of a Large,ongoing Diet Study,some Subjects of the Study