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Case Study

Based on the provided scenario, what would be the null hypothesis for Dr. Smith's experiment?

Case context: Dr. Smith is conducting an experiment to determine if a new cognitive behavioral therapy program reduces anxiety scores more effectively than a standard relaxation technique. She measures the anxiety levels of two groups of participants after they complete their respective programs.

Question: Based on the provided scenario, what would be the null hypothesis for Dr. Smith's experiment?

Sample answer: The null hypothesis for this experiment is that there is no difference in the reduction of anxiety scores between the cognitive behavioral therapy program and the standard relaxation technique, meaning there is no relationship between the type of therapy received and the resulting anxiety scores.

Key points:

  • Identifies the two measured items (type of therapy and anxiety scores)
  • States that there is no relationship or difference between these items

Rubric: The response must accurately reflect that the null hypothesis assumes the independent variable (type of therapy) has no effect on the dependent variable (anxiety scores).

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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