Steven Schmidt (1994) conducted a series of experiments examining the effects of humor on memory. In one study, participants were given a mix of humorous and non-humorous sentences and significantly more humorous sentences were recalled. However, Schmidt argued that the humorous sentences were not necessarily easier to remember, they were simply preferred when participants had the choice between the two types of sentences. To test this argument, he switched to an independent measures design in which one group got a set of exclusively humorous sentences and another group got a set of exclusively non-humorous sentences. The following data are similar to the results from the published study:

Humorous Sentences	Non-Humorous Sentences
4	6
5	3
2	5
4	3
6	3
7	4
6	2
6	6
2	4
5	3
4	4
3	4
3	5
3	2
5	6
3	4

Q1) Use the dataset above to calculate each of the following statistics. Note that the Humorous Sentences Group is the sample for Population 1 and the Non-Humorous Sentences Group is the sample for Population 2. x₁ and x₂ (1 point per sample mean)

• df₁ , df₂, and df_total (1 point per degree of freedom value) o ²₁o²₂ , and o²_pooled (estimated population variances)
• Correct computation of each population variance (1 point; .5 points each)
• Correct equation used to compute pooled variance (1 point)
• Correct pooled variance value obtained (1 point)

• Standard error of the sample distribution
  • Correct equation used (1 point)
  • Correct value obtained (1 point)
• t_obtained
  • Correct equation used (1 point)
  • Correct value obtained (1 point)

Q2) Your statistics professor is considering changing the amount of humor used in his/her lectures, but is not sure whether this will impact students memory for the lecture material. Use the statistics calculated in Q1 to perform a hypothesis test using an independent samples t-test (two-tailed, with a=.05 ). As part of your results, make a recommendation about whether your statistics professor should use humor in his/her lectures to ensure that students will remember the content. (12 points total)

• State your hypotheses using both words and statistical notation
  • Null hypothesis in written and statistical notation form and independent and dependent variables are clearly stated (1 point)
  • Alternative hypothesis in written and statistical notation form and independent and dependent variables are clearly stated (1 point)
  • Calculate standard error (Note: This was calculated in Q1)
  • Correct value (1 point)
  • Determine the critical value (1 point)
  • Conduct hypothesis test
  • Correct equation (1 point)
  • Correct value (1 point)
  • Comparison of obtained t and critical t in either words or statistical notation form (1 point)
  • Make a decision about rejecting/failing to reject the hypothesis
  • Explicitly states reject or fail to reject (1 point)
  • Writes a 1-2 sentence conclusion interpreting the results (1 point)
  • Includes direct recommendation to professor based on results (2 points)
  • Writes correct conclusion using statistical notation (1 point)