Problem

Self-concepts of female students. A study reported in the Journal of Psychology (Mar. 1991...

Self-concepts of female students. A study reported in the Journal of Psychology (Mar. 1991) measures the change in female students’ self-concepts as they move from high school to college. A sample of 133 Boston College female students was selected for the study. Each participant was asked to evaluate several aspects of her life at two points in time: at the end of her senior year of high school and during her sophomore year of college. Each student was asked to evaluate where she believed she stood on a scale that ranged from the top 10% of the class (1) to the lowest 10% of the class (5). The results for three of the traits evaluated are reported in the following table:

		Senior Year of High School	Sophomore Year of College
Trait	n
Leadership	133	2.09	2.33
Popularity	133	2.48	2.69
Intellectual self-confidence	133	2.29	2.55

a. What null and alternative hypotheses would you test to determine whether the mean self-concept of females decreases between the senior year of high school and the sophomore year of college, as measured by each of the three traits listed?
b. Are these traits more appropriately analyzed with an independent samples test or a paired difference test? Explain.
c. Noting the size of the sample, state what assumptions are necessary to ensure the validity of the tests.
d. The article reports that the leadership test results in a p-value greater than .05, while the tests for popularity and intellectual self-confidence result in p-values less than .05. Interpret these results.