Example of inferential analysis in research methodplogy
One example of inferential analysis in research methodology is conducting a hypothesis test to determine whether there is a significant difference between two groups or conditions.
For instance, let's say a researcher wants to investigate whether a new teaching method improves students' test scores compared to the traditional teaching method. They randomly select a group of students and divide them into two groups: one group receives the new teaching method, while the other group receives the traditional teaching method. After a certain period, they administer a test to both groups and record the scores.
To conduct inferential analysis, the researcher could use a t-test to compare the mean test scores of the two groups. The null hypothesis would state that there is no significant difference between the two teaching methods, while the alternative hypothesis would propose that the new teaching method leads to higher scores.
By calculating the t-value and comparing it to a critical value, the researcher could determine whether the observed difference in test scores is statistically significant. If the calculated t-value exceeds the critical value, they could reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there is a significant difference between the two teaching methods.
This example illustrates how inferential analysis helps researchers draw conclusions about a larger population based on a smaller sample.