A scientist compares a randomization distribution that shows chance outcomes with a randomization distribution showing data from several trials of an experiment. She notices the the means of the two randomization distributions are the same. What she she conclude?

Question

A. The scientist cannot make a conclusion from the similarity of the two distributions
B. The experimental results are most likely due to chance
C. The explanatory variable had a slight effect on the response variable
D. The explanatory variable has a big effect on the response variable

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

A. The scientist cannot make a conclusion from the similarity of the two distributions.

The similarity of the means of the two randomization distributions does not provide enough evidence to draw conclusions about the effect of the explanatory variable. It suggests that the observed difference could be due to chance, but it does not confirm the absence of an effect. More statistical analysis would be needed to make a definitive conclusion about the effect of the explanatory variable on the response variable.