One method of testing a person's reaction time is to use an online, computer click timer test. Some students carried out a test using the method described. • Each student looks at a computer screen and clicks a start button on the screen and waits for the background colour to change. • As soon as the background colour changes the student clicks a stop button on the screen. • The reaction time appears on the screen. A student in the class thought that boys had a faster reaction time than girls. A group of students from the class decided to repeat the test to investigate the hypothesis: Boys have a faster reaction time than girls. Another group of students decided to test the hypothesis: Right-handed people have a faster reaction time with their right hand than with their left hand. Table 1.1 shows their results. Table 1.1 student | reaction time using right hand/s | reaction time using left hand/s ---|---|--- A | 0.26 | 0.28 B | 0.23 | 0.23 C | 0.22 | 0.25 D | 0.25 | 0.22 E | 0.26 | 0.27 F | 0.24 | 0.24 G | 0.28 | 0.26 H | 0.25 | 0.30 I | 0.21 | 0.25 J | 0.26 | 0.29 K | 0.27 | 0.31 mean | 0.25 | 0.26 mode | | median | | Table 1.2 shows the probability values of t. Table 1.2 degrees of freedom | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 ---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|--- probability 0.05 | 2.23 | 2.18 | 2.14 | 2.12 | 2.10 | 2.09 | 2.07 | 2.06 | 2.06 | 2.05 | 2.04 | 2.02 | 2.01 | 2.00 One student noticed that the more repetitions of the online test that were carried out, the faster the reaction time. The student decided to carry out a different test to investigate the effect of repetition and feedback on the accuracy of carrying out a task. Three students each carried out a task which involved drawing straight lines, without using a ruler, on sheets of paper. The three students did the task in separate rooms. • Each student drew 20 straight lines, as close as possible to 7.5 cm long, on separate pieces of paper. • The teacher measured all the lines and recorded the lengths to the nearest 0.1 cm in a table. • The teacher gave feedback to each student by telling them the actual length of line 20. • Each student then drew another 20 lines which were measured by the teacher and recorded in the table. Table 1.3 shows the data that the teacher recorded. Table 1.3 line | length of measured line before feedback/cm | length of measured line after feedback /cm ---|---|---|---|---|--- | student 1 | student 2 | student 3 | student 1 | student 2 | student 3 1 | 7.2 | 5.0 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 5.2 2 | 7.5 | 4.3 | 7.4 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 5.2 3 | 7.4 | 4.0 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 5.2 4 | 7.5 | 3.9 | 7.9 | 7.3 | 7.6 | 4.9 5 | 8.0 | 4.2 | 8.2 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 6.3 6 | 7.5 | 4.3 | 8.8 | 7.2 | 7.7 | 6.5 7 | 7.5 | 4.0 | 8.8 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 6.3 8 | 7.2 | 4.0 | 9.5 | 7.2 | 8.0 | 6.2 9 | 7.1 | 4.4 | 9.3 | 7.0 | 7.6 | 6.2 10 | 7.4 | 3.8 | 9.0 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 5.7 11 | 7.2 | 7.9 | 9.3 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 6.7 12 | 7.4 | 4.0 | 8.8 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 6.6 13 | 7.5 | 4.2 | 9.7 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 6.6 14 | 7.5 | 4.0 | 9.7 | 8.0 | 7.6 | 6.6 15 | 7.4 | 4.2 | 10.0 | 8.0 | 7.4 | 6.4 16 | 6.5 | 4.1 | 10.0 | 8.2 | 7.4 | 6.6 17 | 6.7 | 4.4 | 9.6 | 7.9 | 7.0 | 6.5 18 | 6.8 | 4.0 | 9.8 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 6.2 19 | 7.9 | 4.2 | 9.7 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 6.9 20 | 7.5 | 4.0 | 10.2 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 6.1 mean ± s | 7.3 ± 0.36 | 4.2 ± 0.26 | 9.0 ± 0.90 | 7.5 ± 0.47 | 7.4 ± 0.27 | 6.1 ± 0.59
- (a)(i)Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable in this investigation. independent dependent[2]
- (a)(ii)State the type of qualitative variable which best describes the independent variable.[1]
- (a)(iii)Describe a method the students could use to collect the data needed to test their hypothesis. Your method should be set out in a logical order and be detailed enough for another person to follow.[6]
- (a)(iv)Suggest one feature of the online test which may be a source of error.[1]
- (b)Complete Table 1.1 to show the mode and median values.[1]
- (c)(i)The students decided to carry out a t-test to find out if the difference in reaction time was significant. State why a t-test is suitable for these data.[1]
- (c)(ii)State a null hypothesis for this test.[1]
- (c)(iii)State the number of degrees of freedom for this t-test.[1]
- (c)(iv)The students concluded that the difference in reaction time was not significantly different. State what this tells you about their calculated value of t.[1]
- (d)(i)Indicate, by drawing a circle on Table 1.3, the length which is an anomalous result.[1]
- (d)(ii)Suggest what the students should do with the anomalous result.[1]
- (d)(iii)Identify the student who drew lines that were most inconsistent in length and give a reason for your choice. student reason[1]
- (d)(iv)The student concluded that receiving feedback on performance leads to an improvement in accuracy. State one way in which the data support the conclusion and one way in which it does not. supports does not support[2]
Mark scheme
Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.
- [2] independent: sex / male or female / boy or girl ; dependent: reaction time ;
- [1] categoric;
- [6] any 6 of: 1. ref. to suitable number of people in total ; 2. same/similar ages; 3. same number boys and girls in each group ; 4. ref. to consent form (e.g. using data / children / AW) ; 5. ref. to standard conditions for the test, e.g. same (type of) computer / tablet / software / same colour change ; 6. ref. to same, stated, room conditions ; 7. ref. to avoiding people with conditions affecting reaction time e.g. poor eyesight / colour-blind / neurological disorders ; 8. no, (named) drugs / medications / caffeine / alcohol; 9. ref. to testing at same time of day / stated time ; 10. ref. to using same hand to push the button ; 11. minimum of three tests on each subject and taking a mean OR minimum of three subjects of each sex and taking a mean ; 12. low/medium risk experiment / parent or guardian present for children / carer for vulnerable adults ;
- [1] idea of processing delay from computer / AW ;
- [1] mode 0.26 0.25 median 0.25; 0.26
- [1] comparing (two) means / continuous data / normal distribution;
- [1] there is no (significant) difference in the (mean) reaction time (in right handed people) when using the left or right hand ;
- [1] 20;
- [1] less than 2.09 / less than the critical value (at p = 0.05);
- [1] 7.9 (trial 11, student 2, before measurement);
- [1] idea that affected data should be left out ;
- [1] student 3 (no mark) (as their) standard deviations / s, are largest ;
- [2] supports any 1 of: 1. Idea that mean measurement for students was close(r) to, the actual measurement/7.5, after feedback had been given ; 2. mean +/- s before feedback does not overlap with mean +/- s after feedback for, students 2/3; 3. AVP; does not support any 1 of: 4. small sample size / only 3 students tested; 5. mean +/- s for student 1 before and after feedback overlap 6. idea that improvement in accuracy in student 3 is small / 1.5 to 1.4 (cm) change in closeness to mean ; 7. idea of no statistical analysis to determine if difference in results is significant or not ; 8. AVP;
Write your answer and get it marked
On Oracle Prep you can write or photograph your own answer and have it marked by AI against this mark scheme, with feedback on what you missed.
Sign up free →