Question 2: Expressive writing and physical health

A team of researchers is interested in the effect on physical health of writing about thoughts and feelings associated with traumatic life events (Expressive Writing). Previous research e.g., Niles et al (2014), published in Anxiety Stress and Coping, has identified the moderating role of emotional expressivity, on physical and psychological health.

The researchers recruit fifteen undergraduate students to take part in the two-part study. In part 1 the participants were instructed to write a twenty-minute essay about their most traumatic life experiences. In part 2, the same students were again asked to write a 20 - minute essay, but this time they were instructed to write describing their plans for that day/week.

At the conclusion of each session, the researchers asked the students to use a Well-Being survey to rate their overall level of physical health (on a scale 0 = very poor health to 10 = perfect health). The sessions were counter balanced.

Below are the readings from the two sessions:

EW: 7.5, 8, 7, 9, 5.5, 7, 6, 9, 8, 8, 9, 6, 8, 9, 9

NEW: 8.5, 8, 7, 7.5, 6, 5, 6, 6, 7, 6, 6, 7, 5, 6, 6.5

Does the research support the previous findings on the health effect of expressive writing? Conduct the proper t-testto see if the previous research is supported.

Requirement:

1. Independent variable: ______________________________________________________
2. Dependent variable: _______________________________________________________
3. Hypotheses (Symbols): H₀: ___________________ H₁: ______________________
4. State Hypotheses in words:

H₀: ______________________________________________________________

H₁: ______________________________________________________________

1. Proper t-test: ___________________ One-tailed or two-tailed? _ _______________
2. t_crit = ___________