Solving the Mystery: Number of Participants in a Research Study

How can we determine the number of participants in a research study based on statistical test results?

A one sample t test was conducted and the result was t(21) = -3.12, p < .05. The number of participants in this study was:

a) 20

b) 21

c) 22

d) -3.12

The number of participants in this study was 21.

When analyzing the results of a statistical test like a one sample t-test, the t-value and degrees of freedom can provide valuable information to determine the number of participants in the study.

In this scenario, the t-value given as t(21) = -3.12 indicates that the number within the parentheses, 21, represents the degrees of freedom, which is equal to the sample size minus 1.

The p-value of less than .05 suggests that the results are statistically significant at the 0.05 level of significance, further confirming the accuracy of the determined number of participants.

It is essential to understand the significance of these statistical values in interpreting research findings accurately and ensuring the validity of the study results.