Although there is a popular belief that herbal remedies such as Gingko biloba and Ginseng may improve learning and memory in healthy adults, these effects are usually not supported by well-controlled research (Persson, Bringlov, Nilsson, & Nyberg, 2004). In a recent study, a researcher obtained a sample ofn = 16 participants and had each person take the herbal supplement every day for 90 days. At the end of the 90 days, each person took a standardized memory test. For the general population, the scores on this memory test form a normal distribution with a = 50 and = 12. The sample of research participants had an average score of M = 54.

If the researchers were to include more participants in their study, for example 25 instead of just 16, what would this do to the standard error?

1. The standard area would stay the same

2. The standard area would increase

3. Standard error is conceptual, not computational, so sample size has nothing to do with it

4. The standard area would decrease