Results section - Statistics Project Example

Results Section In this study, two hypotheses were posted. The first hypothesis was that there is no significant difference between the average guilt rating chosen by witnesses and non-witnesses regarding the level of guilt or innocence of the defendant. The second hypothesis was that there is no significant difference between the average punishment assigned to the defendant by witnesses and non-witnesses based on the evidence presented in the case. H0: There is no significant difference between the average guilt rating chosen by witnesses and non-witnesses regarding the level of guilt or innocence of the defendantH1: There is no significant difference between the average guilt rating chosen by witnesses and non-witnesses regarding the level of guilt or innocence of the defendantH0: There is no significant difference between the average punishment assigned to the defendant by witnesses and non-witnesses based on the evidence presented in the case.

H1: There is a significant difference between the average punishment assigned to the defendant by witnesses and non-witnesses based on the evidence presented in the case. The results of the study warranted the rejection of both hypotheses. In testing the hypotheses, a 95% confidence interval was applied in both cases. Table 1 presents the descriptive statistics obtained for the guilty rating and prescribed punishment as chosen by witnesses and non-witnesses. Table 1: Group StatisticsConditionNMeanStd.

DeviationStd. Error MeanGuilt Ratingwitness635.18251.54058.19410no witness634.03171.76862.22282Punishwitness623.25811.43647.18243no witness622.14521.34099.17031Figure1: Error bar graph for guilt ratingAs can be seen from table 1 and figure 1, the mean value for the guilt rating for witnesses was 5.1825 with a standard deviation of 1.54058 and a standard error for the mean for of 0.19410. For non-witnesses, the mean guilt rating was 4.0317 with a standard deviation of 1.76862 and a standard error for the mean for of 0.22282. Figure 2: Error bar graph for punishment ratingThe mean value for the punishment for witnesses was 3.

2581with a standard deviation of 1.43647 and a standard error for the mean for of 0.18243 as can be seen from table 1 and figure 2. Non-witnesses had a mean of 2.1452 with a standard deviation of 1.34099 and standard error of the mean of 0.17031 in regard to the punishment to be ascribed to the defendant. Table 2: Guilty CrosstabulationCount GuiltyTotalyesnoConditionwitness421658no witness273158Total6947116Based on the crosstabulation of results regarding whether or not the defendant was guilty, 42 witnesses believed that the defendant was guilty against 16 who believed that he was not guilty.

Thirty one non-witnesses believed that the defendant was not guilty while 27 of them believed that he was guilty. Of the 116 respondents that presented their views regarding whether or not the defendant was guilty, 69 stated that they believed that he was guilty. Results indicate a significant difference between the views of witnesses (M = 5.1825, SD= 1.54058) and non-witnesses (M= 4.0317, SD = 1.76862) in regard to the guilt rating of the defendant, t(124) = 7.788, p= 0.05. Since the calculated the calculated value of t is greater than 1.

9793, we reject the null hypothesis. Results further indicate a significant difference between the views of witnesses (M= 3.2581, SD= 1.43647) and non-witnesses (M= 2.1452, SD= 1.34099)in regard to the punishment to be assigned to the defendant, t(122) = 8.918, p= 0.05. Since the calculated the calculated value of t is greater than 1.9796, we reject the null hypothesis.